What is "old dog distibular disease? (Sp?). My friends 10 year old dog began walking wobbly yesterday..?

Question

My friend took his dog to the vet and that is what the vet diagnosed, but he does not understand. My friend thought it might be a stroke. Does anyone know what "old dog distibular disease" is?

Answer 1

Vestibular disease is a condition that causes neurologic signs like wobbling, head tilting, shaking. It usually happens in older dogs, and can be caused by either inner ear infection, or a tumor. If it is simply an infection, medications will treat it, though they may always have a slight head tilt, unfortunately if its a tumor its not likely to be curable. People often mistake it for a stroke, although its very rare for a dog to actually have a stroke.

Answer 2

Here is the definition> http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/devestib.html

Here is a good site with discussion> http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dvestib.html#Geriatric%20vestibular%20syndrome
Geriatric vestibular syndrome

Here is just one discussion, from Dr. Mike>>
Geriatric vestibular syndrome, which is also called peripheral vestibular syndrome and idiopathic
vestibular syndrome, occurs for unknown reasons. It can be really frightening, especially in dogs that
can't even lay still because they just roll over and over until something stops the movement.
However, like your experience, it usually clears up within a few days and most dogs never have
another recurrence. Some dogs seem to have the problem with a head tilt in one direction and then
have it again at another time with the head tilt in the other direction, but this isn't too common. We
have had one patient who had a number of episodes of this condition. So many that we referred him
to the neurologist at our state's veterinary school. Over the course of a year he had a number of
short episodes of balance loss and then lived for several more years with no problems.

There are some other causes of vestibular disease and if any signs of this problem persist beyond
three weeks it would be best to have Ziggy rechecked by your vet. The odds are high that won't be
necessary, though.

Mike Richards, DVM
1/23/2001 <<< (several more on that site)

Answer 3

Good question and great answers.

Also, spondelitis can make a dog's back legs paralytic. Which is the very best, but not the only reason, to never ever spank a dog on the behind. You could cause major and debilitating damage to the spine. Shepherds are notoriously susceptible to this.

Answer 4

I think you mean vestibular disease, which has to do with the inner ear and affects your equilibrium (maintaining balance). My dog was walking wobbly and died a month later from a stroke.