You may have heard about vestibular disease in dogs and are wondering what it is. When the delicate vestibular system is disturbed, it can cause a few different symptoms, including balance problems. Here’s what you need to know about vestibular disease in dogs:

What is Vestibular Disease in Dogs?

The vestibular system is a network of nerves and sensors in the brain and inner ear. These sensors and nerves help animals maintain balance with functions like sitting, standing, and walking. Sometimes, this delicate system gets disrupted and dogs lose control of these functions.

Vestibular disease tends to come on very suddenly. When caring for a senior dog, you should be aware of this disease. it’s much more common, with it even sometimes dubbed Old Dog vestibular disease. However, younger dogs can experience this disease as well.

Symptoms of Vestibular Disease in Dogs

Symptoms of vestibular disease in dogs include a sudden loss of balance, falling over at times, and head tilting. It can be accompanied by vomiting and difficulty walking as well. You might notice your dog’s eyes in a weird position, too.

These symptoms can all be indicators of vestibular disease. If your dog presents with any of these symptoms, they are symptoms you should never ignore in your dog and you should see your vet immediately.

What Causes Vestibular Disease in Dogs?

Dysfunction in the vestibular system can be due to a variety of causes. Here are a few common causes of vestibular disease in dogs:

Ear Infections

Sometimes vestibular disease is caused by inflammation in the inner ear, which may be due to an ear infection. This is why it’s important to regularly check your dog’s ears and carefully clean your dog’s ears as needed. This can help prevent ear infections.

Inner Ear Damage or Brain Damage

Other damage to the inner ear such as cysts or tumors can cause vestibular disease as well. Trauma or injury to the ear or brain may be the cause of this disease. Strokes or physical injury to the head can cause brain damage which may lead to vestibular disease.

Hypothyroidism

In a few rare cases, hypothyroidism can cause vestibular disease. While hypothyroidism is a fairly common disease, the link to vestibular disease isn’t, but it’s still possible. If you suspect hypothyroidism, there are a few signs that you should get your dog’s thyroid checked. Low energy and weight gain not caused by overeating are just a few of them.

No Obvious Cause

In a few cases, the cause of vestibular disease may be idiopathic. This means there is no known or obvious cause behind vestibular disease. An idiopathic cause is more common in older or senior dogs.

Is Vestibular Disease in Dogs Fatal?

The good news is that while this disease can look serious because of the symptoms, it isn’t painful or fatal. It’s important to have any underlying issues addressed as those may be serious. Your veterinarian will be able to give a detailed treatment plan so your dog can recover safely and hopefully quickly.

How Long Does Vestibular Disease Last in Dogs?

Vestibular disease can last only a few days or for much longer. It depends on the cause of the disease. For dogs with an idiopathic cause, it usually clears up within a week or two.

Other underlying causes will depend on treatment. For instance, ear infections and hypothyroidism are common health problems in dogs so they’re usually easily treatable with medications.

Other causes like tumors or stroke may take much longer for recovery. Some symptoms like head tilting or “wobbling” while walking may be permanent but aren’t usually harmful or painful.

How to Treat Vestibular Disease in Dogs

Vestibular disease can clear up on its own in some cases. In others, you may need to seek medical treatment. To diagnose your dog, your vet will run some tests such as blood tests, urinalysis, and X-rays of their head. These results will help determine the best course of treatment.

Oral or Topical Antibiotics

In the case of inner ear infections, oral or topical antibiotics may be prescribed to treat the infection. Sometimes, debris may need to be cleared from the dog’s ear. This may be done under anesthesia.

Surgery

Vestibular disease caused by tumors or cysts is usually diagnosed by an MRI or X-ray. Surgery may be needed to remove tumors or cysts. If these turn out to be cancerous, further treatment may be needed.

Thyroid Medication

Hypothyroidism that is linked to vestibular disease will be treated with thyroid medication. Your vet will diagnose this with blood tests that determine thyroid levels. Until levels stabilize, supportive care may be needed.

Supportive Care of Specific Symptoms

In cases of idiopathic causes of vestibular disease, treatment typically involves supportive care of symptoms. This treatment is administered until symptoms resolve. medications may be given to help alleviate vertigo and vomiting. Most dogs tend to recover within a few days but sometimes it can be longer. In some extreme cases, the head tilt may be permanent.

This is an overview of what to know about vestibular disease in dogs. While it can appear serious, it often clears up on its own. Be sure to have your vet check your dog out to eliminate any underlying causes and they will be on the road to recovery soon.