my dog might have vestibular disease?

Question

The vet thinks my dog had a seizure and two weeks later, she's still not her normal self. Is anyone familiar with vestibular disease?

Answer 1

I've seen a few animals with vestibular disease. There are two forms- peripheral (PVD) and central (CVD).

PVD is usually caused by either a lesion involving cranial nerve VIII, or something like otitis media-interna (middle-inner ear infection), while CVD is associated with lesions in the brain itself (medulla oblongata, brainstem, cerebellum). You tend to see things like a head tilt, falling/rolling to one side, nystagmus (jerky eye movements), or a wide based stance and swaying head movements. CVD can cause altered mental state and other neurological signs.

What makes you think that your dog has vestibular disease? (or if this is from your vet, did s/he explain why...has she got vestibular signs like I've outlined above?) Seizures aren't typical of vestibular disease...if she's having seizures it would suggest something involving her cerebral cortex (unless there's something else obviously going on like low blood glucose or a liver/kidney problem). If she is having seizures AND has vestibular signs, then it would be likely that she's got something fairly extensive going on (could be infection, inflammation, brain tumour, etc...without knowing what you're dealing with, it's hard to know whether it's treatable or not).

This is a really difficult thing to answer online, given that the info you've given is fairly limited and I can't see the dog myself, but hopefully I've been of some help. If you want to either add more info here, or email me, I may be able to be of more help. Good luck anyway :o)

Answer 2

My beardie had geriatric vestibular disease. However, between episodes, he was fine. The vet said in the beginning there was no way to know how it would go - he might be fine for another year or he may keep having more attacks. Unfortunately, he was having 3 a week and we had to make the decision to put him to sleep. It was much too scary for him not to be able to walk. Hope it goes better for your dog.

Answer 3

The only thing that i know about vestibular disease is that it affects balance/orientation so that ur dog doesnt know if it is lying down or standing up etc...it is usually treated with steroids. There are a number of websights which provide information on causes and treatments...i hope everything turns out ok

Answer 4

Sudden onset of symptoms doesn't suggest vestibular disease; rather, it is symptomatic of stroke, particularly in any mammal which is diabetic. The prognosis typically isn't so hot, though you may be pleasantly surprised if it was only a mild stroke. I put my dog down, but she was staggering and drooling, then lost bowel and bladder function. There was clearly no way she would recover.