Canine Vestibular
Disease
The vestibular system controls balance (preventing your dog from falling),
with parts in the brain and in the ear. Vestibular disease disturbs this system
suddenly.
There are 2 forms of this disease:
- Peripheral: when the balance center in the ear is
affected
- Central: when the balance center in the brain is
affected
The peripheral from is more common than the central form.
Older dogs are more susceptible to vestibular disease. It is usually not life
threatening, and can be resolved over a few days.
CAUSES:
Peripheral:
- Ear infections
- Trauma to the head
- Polyps
- Tumors
- Nerve damage
- Underactive thyroid
- Toxic drugs
- Sometimes the cause is not known
Central:
- Cancer
- Decreased blood flow
- Bleeding on the brain
- Infections
- Inflammatory diseases
SIGNS:
- Head tilted to one side
- Stumbling and falling in the direction of the tilted head
- Rolling
- Tight circling (wide circling may indicate a brain tumor)
- Abnormal eye movements: pupils drifting to the side, then
jerking to the middle
- Drooling and vomiting (because of
dizziness)
DIAGNOSIS:
Your veterinarian will do a physical exam of your pet and some of the
following:
- CT and MRI scans: to examine the brain
- Radiographs: to examine the middle ear
- Examination of the outer ear: to detect ear infections or
tumors
- Blood tests: to rule out thyroid disease
- Urine tests
- BAER test (tests for hearing loss)
TREATMENT:
Most veterinarians recommend the following treatments for dogs with
vestibular disease:
- Hospitalization with IV fluids: in severe cases, this
is needed to stabilize the pet until it can eat and walk
- Sedatives: may be given to help relax a very
disoriented dog
- Medications: for nausea and vomiting
- Antibiotics: for ear infections
- Surgery: to flush out the ear in the case of a
middle ear infection
PREVENTION:
If the condition is idiopathic (no known cause), there is no known
preventative measure.
For other causes that are preventable, avoid traumatic incidents by keeping
your dog on a leash or in an enclosed area. Keep your dog vaccinated and avoid
exposure to poisons.
PROGNOSIS:
If there is no major underlying cause (idiopathic), the prognosis is very
good. A lot of pets show improvement within a few days. Some will have a slight
head tilt and may wobble for the rest of their life.
However, if there is something directly causing the vestibular disturbance,
prognosis depends on the cause. Possible causes include:
Peripheral Causes:
- Underactive thyroid: with medication, there is a good
prognosis
- Toxic drugs: with immediate discontinuation, there is a good
prognosis, but it may cause life-long deafness
- Polyps: with surgical removal, there is a good prognosis
- Cancer: poor prognosis
Central Causes:
As these causes are from brain-related issues and there may be damage to the brain, the prognosis is generally poor.
