Vestibular Disease in Dogs
Vestibular disease in dogs is a disorder that causes an imbalance in the inner ear. It mostly affects middle-aged to older dogs and it usually appears without warning. There is no cure for vestibular disease but a dog can recover with the proper treatment and home care.
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Description
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The body's vestibular system keeps the head and body orientated in regard to gravity. It alerts the brain when a dog sits, stands, falls or spins in circles and it maintains balance. The system involves nerves that connect from the brain to the inner ear. When swelling occurs in the nerves that connect the inner ear to the cerebellum, the area that controls spatial orientation and balance, vestibular disease develops.
Symptoms
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In the early stages, the symptoms of vestibular disease may not be noticeable. Right-to-left eye movements and a head tilt are some early symptoms. As the disease progresses, a dog may have a wobbly walk and it may have trouble sitting and standing. It may lose its balance and fall down repeatedly. The dog may appear as if it had a stroke. Nausea and vomiting may accompany all of the symptoms mentioned.
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Treatment
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If a veterinarian cannot find a cause for the disease, such as an inner ear infection, then treatment will involve keeping a dog comfortable. Intravenous methods are used to replace fluids and nutrition in dogs that will cannot eat or drink. A veterinarian may prescribe motion sickness medication to alleviate dizziness, nausea and vomiting. If the inner ear is infected, a vet will prescribe antibiotics. Sedatives are used to reduce stress for dogs that are severely disoriented.
Supportive Care
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Treatments for vestibular disease only address the secondary symptoms. Since there is no cure, it is important for a dog to receive care at home that will make it comfortable while it recovers. Supporting a dog's body during normal activities and hand feeding are a few of the tasks that will help it during recovery. If a dog has trouble standing up to eliminate, its body will need support to urinate or defecate. Hand-feeding food and use of a water bottle will help dogs that are too disoriented to eat or drink from a bowl. Also, keeping a dog stabilized in a safe place will prevent it from hurting itself.
Prognosis
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Vestibular disease lasts from two days to three weeks. Most dogs recover within this time. In most cases, the disease disappears without treatment. However, symptoms such as a tilted head can linger, even after a full recovery. Lingering symptoms are typically mild and will not hinder a dog from completing daily activities. If an inner ear infection is the secondary cause, a three-week course of antibiotics will alleviate the infection.
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References
- Photo Credit dog image by Ramona smiers from Fotolia.com
