Vestibular Disease in Dogs: What to Expect When Your Pup Loses Balance
Key takeaways:
Vestibular disease in dogs results in a sudden loss of balance. Symptoms typically include incoordination, rapid eye movement, and head tilt.
The condition can be caused by issues like infection, hypothyroidism, and injury. But often, there isn’t an underlying cause.
Treating vestibular disease in dogs depends on if there are any underlying conditions. In general, there are medications that can make your dog more comfortable while they recover.
If your dog suddenly loses their balance, it can be scary, especially when you don’t know what’s happening. You might think they’re having a stroke, because that can cause balance issues. But strokes are rare in dogs.
Vestibular disease doesn’t refer to a specific condition. Rather, it’s a broad term for a loss of balance in dogs. Different conditions can have an effect on a dog’s balance. This can lead to signs of vestibular disease.
What is vestibular disease?
Vestibular disease is a loss of balance that often occurs suddenly in dogs. It happens as a result of a disturbance in their vestibular apparatus.
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The vestibular apparatus controls the body's sense of balance. Without consciously thinking about it, a dog can stay upright, navigate their movements, and move their eyes in response to their movement — all thanks to the vestibular system.
This system involves the middle ear and the brain. As your dog moves, nerves in their middle ear send messages to their brain to keep them coordinated.
But many conditions can disrupt the vestibular system. As a result, dogs can have trouble moving and staying balanced. This is called vestibular disease.
There are two different forms of vestibular disease:
Peripheral vestibular disease: affects the middle ear
Central vestibular disease: impacts the brain
What are the symptoms of vestibular disease?
Vestibular disease can cause a number of symptoms. The most common symptoms of vestibular disease are:
Incoordination
Motion sickness
Rapid eye movement
Head tilt
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The rapid eye movement is usually slower in one direction, which generally indicates the side the disease is located on.
Some symptoms are specific to the type of vestibular disease your dog has. Dogs with peripheral vestibular disease display rapid horizontal (side-to-side) eye movements.
If your dog has central vestibular disease, typical symptoms include:
Vertical (up-and-down) rapid eye movement
Only able to step clumsily or unable to walk at all
Confusion
Seizures
Different pupil sizes
Symptoms are usually at their worst during the first day or two. If they progressively get worse after the first few days, your dog might have a more serious problem, such as inflammation or infection in the brain.
What causes vestibular disease in dogs?
In many cases, vestibular disease in dogs doesn’t have a specific cause. If your veterinarian can’t determine the cause of your dog’s symptoms, they might diagnose your dog with idiopathic vestibular disease.
Idiopathic vestibular disease doesn’t have a known cause. But it’s believed that it could be linked to issues in the middle ear. Dogs with idiopathic vestibular disease are also more likely to have the peripheral form of the condition.
Specific conditions that cause vestibular disease
However, a number of specific issues and conditions can cause vestibular disease in dogs. They include:
Injuries to the head
Middle ear infections
Tumors
Peripheral vestibular disease is more commonly caused by infections or hypothyroidism. Tumors, inflammation, and stroke are more likely to be associated with central vestibular disease.
Certain conditions that cause central vestibular disease — like granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) — can be severe and cause your dog’s health to decline. Because of this, your veterinarian will want to try and make a diagnosis of your dog’s balance issue quickly.
How is vestibular disease in dogs diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will take into account your dog’s history, symptoms, and any necessary diagnostic testing when diagnosing vestibular disease.
Some possible tests your vet may recommend when makings a diagnosis include:
Blood pressure reading
Blood tests
Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) test
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
Culture tests (to check for an infection)
Urine tests
X-rays
Sometimes, veterinarians recommend CT scans or an MRI. These tests are the best way for veterinarians to find potential problems in the brain and middle ear, including tumors and infections.
Idiopathic vestibular disease is usually diagnosed when veterinarians can’t find an underlying cause. The symptoms of idiopathic vestibular disease usually happen suddenly and resolve quickly.
Your vet may make an idiopathic diagnosis without more involved diagnostic work based on factors such as your dog’s age and their symptoms. Your veterinarian will advise you on a treatment plan based on your dog’s symptoms and test results.
How do you treat vestibular disease in dogs?
Treating vestibular disease in dogs generally comes down to addressing either any known underlying causes or the symptoms. This can include:
Idiopathic vestibular disease: Your veterinarian may prescribe your dog something to make them more comfortable, like anti-nausea medication. Often, vestibular symptoms will resolve on their own.
Severe vestibular disease: If your dog is unable to walk or stand, they may need to be hospitalized until they have improved. Or they may benefit from sedatives to keep them relaxed.
Middle ear infection: Your vet may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect your dog has a middle ear infection. Antibiotics typically need to be given for 6 to 8 weeks. But if antibiotics fail, your dog may need surgery to clear out their middle ear.
Stroke: If a stroke caused your dog’s symptoms, your dog will likely need supportive therapy. This may include fluids and medication for blood clots. Your vet will also try to find out the cause of the stroke.
Brain inflammation: Treating infections or inflammation in the brain depends on the cause of the problem. These cases often continue to get worse and don’t improve within a few days. A quick diagnosis is necessary to give the proper treatment.
What to expect long term if your dog has vestibular disease
In most cases, your dog’s vestibular disease symptoms should clear up within a few weeks. Incoordination and the head tilt should get better within about 10 days. But you might see improvement in as few as 3 days. However, some dogs may experience lingering symptoms long after they recover.
If your dog’s vestibular disease is caused by a more severe condition — such as a stroke or infection — it could take longer for them to recover. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you what to expect in that case.
The bottom line
Vestibular disease affects a dog’s balance. Symptoms of vestibular disease in dogs include incoordination, rapid eye movement, and head tilt. Different conditions can cause vestibular disease in dogs — such as a middle ear infection, hypothyroidism, or tumors. Often, an underlying cause can’t be found.
Treatment for vestibular disease depends on any underlying causes and your dog’s symptoms. Some dogs may need to be hospitalized until they can walk again. Sedatives or anti-nausea medications may help your dog be more comfortable until they improve.
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References
Brooks, W. (2001). Vestibular disease in dogs and cats. VeterinaryPartner.
Bush Veterinary Neurology Service. (n.d.). Vestibular disease.
Hanson, S. (n.d.). Vestibular disease in dogs and cats. Veterinary Neurology Center.
O’Neill, E. J., et al. (2005). Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs: A review. Irish Veterinary Journal.
Weir, M., et al. (n.d.). Vestibular disease in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals.
