The Treatment for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders

Peripheral vestibular disorder can cause drunkenness-like symptoms.

Vestibular disorder is a disease that affects the balance centers of the middle ear, and can fall into either a central or peripheral classification. The disorder is classified as central when the brain is having difficulty recognizing the locator signals from the inner ear, while peripheral vestibular disorder means that there is a problem with the middle ear itself. In some cases, peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD) can go away on its own just as quickly as it appeared, but most cases require at least some treatment.

Peripheral Vestibular Disorder

A dog's middle ear contains a complicated system of weights and fluid-filled canals that allow the dog to perceive his position in space and compensate for it. The weights, called otoliths, respond to vertical motion and the fluid, called endolymph, responds to rotational movement. Whenever these structures detect movement, they send signals to the brain that allow your dog to retain his balance and motor control. When there is damage to these mechanisms, the signals misfire, causing drunkenness-like symptoms and extreme difficulty getting around.

Determining the Cause

According to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, the majority of cases of PVD stem from causes unknown, and resolve themselves within a week or two. However, you should never assume that this is the case, so a visit to the vet is in order. Middle ear infections also cause PVD, especially in dogs prone to ear infections. The middle ear is not visible with an otoscope, and the absence of debris in the ear canal does not rule out a middle ear infection. Special X-rays, a CT scan or MRI are necessary to examine the condition of the bones middle ear and determine the possibility of infection.

Medication

If a middle ear infection is present, the vet will prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for seven to 10 days. If the infection does not seem to be clearing up, or if a culture was taken of the infected tissue, a more targeted antibiotic may be prescribed. If the infection is severe, the ear may need to be surgically drained. Because so many cases of PVD resolve themselves without treatment, many vets prefer to wait a week or two before prescribing antibiotics, although they may prescribe an anti-nausea medication to combat motion sickness.

Home Care

If your dog is showing signs of PVD, including a head tilt and circling or falling to one side, understand that this is a very confusing and frightening time for him. Going out of your way to soothe him and make him comfortable can go a long way towards healing, and keeping a close eye on him can reduce the risk of injury from walking into walls and furniture. Many dogs with PVD will not eat because the loss of motor control makes it difficult to navigate a food bowl, so it may be necessary to hand-feed him at least until the symptoms begin to subside.

Prognosis

While central peripheral disorder carries a slightly less optimistic prognosis, dogs with PVD generally recover just fine once the underlying cause is discovered and treated. Some dogs are left with a slight head tilt, but most often, these dogs recover completely within a few weeks.

References

• Pet Place: Vestibular Disease in Dogs
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center: Vestibular Disease