The vestibular system is an intricate system of sensors found in the inner ear and the brain. Its primary role is to help organisms maintain balance, enabling them to stay upright during activities like walking, standing, or sitting. This system is present in nearly all animals, including humans, and disruptions to it can cause challenges in maintaining equilibrium.

Vestibular disease often appears suddenly in dogs, manifesting in pronounced symptoms. These can include dizziness, leaning or falling to one side, abnormal head and eye positions, and sometimes vomiting. These signs are indicative of vestibular dysfunction, which typically resolves spontaneously, depending on its underlying cause.

What Is Vestibular Disease?

Vestibular disease arises from issues within the vestibular system, a component of the nervous system responsible for managing balance and eye movements. This system encompasses the inner ear, brainstem, a section of the brain known as the vestibulocerebellum, and a cranial nerve called the vestibulocochlear nerve. Its function enables animals, including humans, to retain balance, adjust to head movements, and track visual stimuli smoothly without experiencing dizziness.

Symptoms of Vestibular Disease in Dogs:

Many dogs with vestibular dysfunction initially exhibit clumsiness and confusion, stemming from vertigo caused by issues in the vestibular system. Symptoms often arise suddenly. While vestibular disease can be mistaken for a stroke, this is uncommon. Typical signs include:

Symptoms:

• Dizziness.
• Inability or unwillingness to stand or walk.
• Falling to one side.
• Head tilt (usually to just one side).
• Nystagmus (rapid involuntary eye movements).
• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Facial drooping or paralysis.
• Loss of appetite.
• Standing with legs spread wide.

Dogs with vestibular disease often experience pronounced dizziness, which is evident through symptoms such as staggering, circling, difficulty walking in a straight line, or instability. They may show reluctance or inability to stand or walk, and could attempt to walk but stumble. Head tilting is common, and you might observe that the dog veers in the direction of the tilt while moving. Dizziness can lead to vomiting. Additionally, careful observation might reveal rapid eye movements, known as nystagmus, where the eyes move back and forth or up and down.

Causes of Vestibular Disease:

Vestibular dysfunction arises from disruptions within the vestibular system, which can be caused by issues originating in the inner ear, the brain, or both. There are multiple potential reasons for these disruptions to occur.

Vestibular dysfunction arises from disruptions within the vestibular system, which can be caused by issues originating in the inner ear, the brain, or both. There are multiple potential reasons for these disruptions to occur.

• An infection in the inner or middle ear can cause inflammation that damages the sensors in the inner ear.
• A tumor or cyst putting pressure on a nerve or critical area of the brain or inner ear.
• Injury or trauma affecting the brain and/or inner ear.
• Hypothyroidism, which is a common condition but an uncommon cause of vestibular dysfunction.
• A vascular accident or stroke, which is a rare cause of vestibular disease.
• Idiopathic vestibular syndrome refers to a condition where the cause of the disorder is unknown or unclear.

Diagnosing Vestibular Disease in Dogs:

Your veterinarian will conduct a comprehensive physical examination of your dog and likely request blood and urine tests to detect signs of systemic illness or dysfunction. X-rays of your dog’s head may be recommended to identify tumors or structural irregularities. Your observations and description of your dog’s symptoms will also provide valuable information for diagnosis.

If all tests yield normal results, particularly in older dogs, the diagnosis is likely to be idiopathic vestibular syndrome, the most frequent form of this condition.

Treatment:

Treatment choices for vestibular disease vary based on the underlying cause of the condition.

For idiopathic vestibular syndrome, treatment primarily consists of providing supportive care until symptoms resolve naturally. Many dogs experience improvement within a few days, though complete recovery may take months, and some may retain a permanent head tilt. Medications such as meclizine for vertigo and anti-nausea drugs are commonly prescribed. Similar treatments apply if the vestibular dysfunction stems from a stroke or vascular accident.

Dogs affected by trauma to the vestibular system may benefit from supportive care similar to those with idiopathic vestibular syndrome. Surgical intervention to repair the damage may be an option for some cases. Hospitalization and intensive care could be necessary during the recovery period.

If vestibular disease is due to hypothyroidism, treatment will typically begin with thyroid supplementation. Initially, supportive care may be required until the medication starts to take effect.

If the dog has an infection in the inner or middle ear, treatment may include applying topical ear medications and/or administering oral medications to eliminate the source of the infection, typically caused by bacterial and/or yeast overgrowth. Cleaning of ear debris may be necessary under general anesthesia.

Tumors and cysts are typically diagnosed using advanced imaging techniques such as CT scans or MRI scans. Surgery may be considered to remove the tumor or cyst when feasible. If the tumor is cancerous, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be advised.

How to Prevent Vestibular Disease:

Regrettably, there is no guaranteed method to prevent vestibular issues in dogs. For dogs prone to ear infections, regular cleaning with a veterinarian-recommended cleanser can aid in preventing infections. Routine veterinary check-ups, including annual or biannual exams and laboratory tests, can assist in identifying subtle health changes before they lead to vestibular dysfunction in your dog.

If you observe symptoms of vestibular disease in your dog, don’t delay seeking veterinary attention. Bring your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Prompt identification of any underlying cause allows for timely and effective treatment for your dog.