The prognosis for dogs who are affected by vertigo is excellent in all but the most severe cases. Typically, the elimination of the underlying cause also eliminates the disorder itself, although the involvement of the central nervous system may negatively impact this prognosis. Although this disorder is rarely painful, it is disorienting for the animal, and their environment should be kept calm and quiet during their recovery period, which can range from two to three days to a few weeks, depending on how the disorder originated. Patients may have difficulty moving easily so ensuring that their food and water are easy to reach can be a crucial component to their recovery.
The treatment of this disorder is dependent on the underlying cause of the vertigo. One of the most common causes of peripheral vestibular disease is an inner ear infection. In these cases, a course of antibiotics will be used to eradicate the infection, and if your companion is experiencing nausea or anxiety, antinausea drugs, motion sickness medications and sedatives may also be prescribed to help keep the patient as comfortable as possible during the ordeal. If the disruption to the vestibular system is caused by any tumors, polyps, or other growths, then these lesions will also need to be removed surgically before the symptoms will be alleviated.
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. With out seeing your dog, I do not know why this might be happening. It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
If the condition is suspected to have central nervous system involvement, the use of an MRI or CT scan may be used in order to get a clearer picture of the structure of the brain itself and X-rays will help to determine if there are any issues with the bony structures in the ear that may be affecting the animal. Standard blood tests such as a biochemical profile and complete blood count can also help to expose any infections or imbalances that may be contributing to the problem.
Although this disorder can be relatively benign, it can also be caused by more dangerous disorders such as bleeding in the brain and cancer so a consultation with your dog’s doctor is a good idea. Your visit to the veterinarian is likely to start with a general physical examination. The doctor making the evaluation will most likely include an ear exam as well as neurological tests to try and clarify the origin of the disorder. A complete history of the animal will also be requested as certain medications and some allergic reactions can mimic the symptoms of vestibular disorders.
Vertigo is a syndrome in the elderly dog, which can be very frightening to the owners. The dog is suddenly afflicted with a balance problem, usually staggering, but occasionally unable to stand, and more rarely actually rolling over and over. There is a tilting of the head to one side and nystagmus, a rhythmic flicking movement of the eyes. Nausea and vomiting may also in present. It is not due to a stroke, as most people assume. It is thought to be due to an abnormal flow of fluid in the semi-circular canals of the inner ear. It is more common in older medium to large breeds of dogs. It is rarely seen in cats. Although the symptoms are alarming and often incapacitating to the dog, the prognosis is good. Improvement of clinical signs usually starts within 48-72 hours and most patients are normal within two to three weeks, even with no treatment. A mild head tilt may persist. Veterinarians should be consulted as the symptoms can also be caused by ear infections, foreign bodies in the ear, or tumors. The vestibular system may need treatment, with motion sickness drugs, or intravenous fluids if the nausea is severe or the dog is unable to eat or drink for a few days.
How to Tell if My Dog Has Vertigo
The most obvious sign of vestibular disease, or dog vertigo, is a sudden loss of balance, but there are other symptoms that help with diagnosis.
Signs of dog vertigo include:
Your dog is walking like a drunken sailor, leaning or falling to one side. Sometimes a dog is so off balance that it just rolls to one side over and over again like an alligator.
Your dog’s head is cocked to one side, so that one ear or one eye is lower than the other.
Your dog is experiencing involuntary, abnormal eye movements, characterized by slow movement in one direction and rapid movement in the opposite direction.
Your dog’s eyes are in an unusual position, so that both eyes cannot be directed at the same object at the same time.
As previously mentioned, conditions that affect the central vestibular system are generally much more serious and harder to treat than those that affect the peripheral vestibular system. So the short answer is yes, central vestibular disease can be dangerous. That’s why it’s so important to have any dog that shows signs of vertigo evaluated by a veterinary neurologist.
Whether the problem is in the peripheral vestibular system versus the central vestibular system determines the list of possible causes, diagnostics performed, treatment selected, and prognosis. Sometimes neurologists can tell the difference and even have a pretty good idea of what’s causing dog vertigo from the neurological examination alone. However, an accurate diagnosis is only achieved through testing.
Based on exam findings, tests such as blood and urine tests, blood pressure, chest X-rays, ear cultures and cytology, MRI of the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are often performed to rule out dangerous conditions.
Vertigo in Dogs: 5 New Remedies
When I awoke one night to the sound of Meadow, my 10-year-old Alaskan Malamute, throwing up and stumbling around, I was worried. But when I looked at her face and saw her eyes darting rapidly from side to side, I panicked. I called an emergency vet and was told to stay home and watch her through the night. I remembered how three years earlier, Iâd had a sudden case of extreme dizziness, and my own eyes had danced uncontrollably, just like Meadowâs. An ER doctor diagnosed me with vertigo. Could the same thing be happening to Meadow? Do dogs even get vertigo?
Also known as vestibular disease, vertigo in dogs is a real thing. Itâs a type of dizziness, a sense of motion when one is stationary, due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear. It is often associated with nausea and difficulty standing or walking.
âVertigo is a human description of a feeling; dogs canât tell us what theyâre feeling, so vestibular disease is the term used,â Dr. Beverly Sturges, associate professor of clinical neurology/neurosurgery at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, says.
According to Dr. Sturges, the most frequent cases are referred to as idiopathic or âold dogâ vestibular disease because itâs most often seen in older dogs and thereâs no obvious cause. âItâs benign; we still have no real understanding of why it occurs,â she says. âItâs self-limiting, [requiring] no treatment except supportive care and comforting the dog.â The second most common cause is infection â especially Rocky Mountain spotted fever â or inflammation.Related article
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Dr. Sturges describes two broad categories of canine vertigo: outside the brain, and inside. âWhen outside the brain, it involves the middle or inner ear and is referred to as peripheral vestibular disease. This type is more treatable, with a better prognosis,â she says. This includes the âold dogâ syndrome.
âInside the brain means it involves the brain stem and is referred to as central vestibular disease. In small breeds â Maltese, Yorkies, Pugs, Poms â itâs usually caused by a non-infectious inflammation of the brain stem, often referred to as inflammatory brain disease. It occurs mostly in younger dogs [less than] two years of age. In larger breeds, central vestibular disease is usually caused by brain tumors [putting] pressure on the brain stem. Or, sometimes, trauma to the head.â Symptoms of central vertigo may be more subtle, with gradual onset.Related article
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That frightening eye-darting I saw in Meadow? Itâs called nystagmus, a rapid, involuntary eye movement, side to side or, less frequently, up and down. âNystagmus is not seen in all cases, but [it] is common,â says Dr. Sturges. âIt lessens as the dog gets used to the sensation.âÂ
Struges adds that nystagmus can be profound in old dog vestibular disease, but it usually dissipates after a couple of weeks â max. Itâs a reliable symptom, too: If thereâs nystagmus, vestibular disease is usually the diagnosis, not a seizure.
An online search of âvertigo in dogsâ and âdogs with nystagmusâ brings up plenty of videos of pups showing classic symptoms of vertigo, such as head tilt, a drunken-like walk (also known as ataxia), and nystagmus. The videos are hard to watch, but being aware of the symptoms could save you a night of fear and stress, or help you notice warning signs of vertigo, allowing early intervention and an increased likelihood of a good outcome for your dog.