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Vestibular disease in dogs: scary, but treatable

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I had a great scare last week when I was outside with my dog Chloe and noticed she was circling the yard repeatedly and walking like she was drunk. When I caught up to her, she looked at me with a distinct head tilt and I noticed a mixture of confusion and panic on her face, as though she had no idea why she had been moving about the yard in such a frenzied manner. Her symptoms had come on so suddenly I thought it could only possibly have been a stroke. As it turns out, she was suffering from something called old dog vestibular syndrome, a disease that is very common among senior dogs. If you, too, own a senior pet, you may experience the same situation I did.

The Cause

The vestibular system is responsible for helping maintain balance, and vestibular disease occurs when there is a disturbance between the brain and the inner ear. Common underlying causes are chronic ear infection, hyperthyroidism, tumors, trauma or injury, and reactions to medications. When the symptoms appear out of nowhere and then disappear on their own, it is referred to as idiopathic vestibular disease.

The Symptoms

The symptoms of vestibular disease are very similar to a stroke. You’ll notice your dog will tilt his or her head to the side and will have difficulty walking in a straight line. Chloe seemed to have little to no control over the direction she was walking and tended to keep circling in the same direction as her head tilt. Her back legs were also wobbly and, when she tried to sit up on her back legs, she fell over on her back. You’ll also notice your dog’s eyes darting back and forth, like they can’t focus on one place. This is called nystagmus. If your dog is displaying any of these symptoms or you notice him or her behaving oddly, contact your vet immediately. Remember – the symptoms of vestibular disease are very similar to the symptoms of other more serious health issues.

The Treatment

Vestibular disease gets better on its own with time, so, instead, your vet will look to treat your pet’s symptoms and the underlying cause of your pet’s illness. As a result of your dog’s vertigo, he might have trouble eating or drinking and may require IV fluids or hand feeding. The symptoms of vestibular disease can be stressful for dogs, so your vet may also prescribe something to help your pet calm down. Your vet will also determine the underlying cause of the vestibular disease and will work with you to treat it accordingly. This may mean something as simple as antibiotics for an ear infection or something more complex if the root cause of your pet’s illness is something more severe, like a tumor.

If your dog has idiopathic vestibular disease, you should see an improvement in their behavior within a few days and, after a few weeks, they should be back to normal. Even after your dog has recovered, he may have a head tilt for the rest of his life. If you do not notice any improvement, or if your dog’s symptoms get worse, contact your vet immediately as there may be a more serious underlying cause.

Vestibular disease is most common in older pets, so, if you have a senior pet, keep an eye out for any unusual behavior. Unfortunately, because the symptoms are so severe looking and so similar to other illnesses, many owners opt to euthanize their animals not realizing that, with time, they’ll make a full recovery. If your pet is diagnosed with vestibular disease, most cases are idiopathic and will clear up on their own if given a chance. Remember to always talk to your vet about the best plan for your pet before making any extreme decisions - you are better off waiting a week and monitoring your pet’s symptoms than making a snap decision to euthanize your pet when they possibly could’ve recovered on their own!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.

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