Feline Bilateral Vestibular Disease

Feline vestibular disease affects balance and eye-focusing ability in cats. Bilateral feline vestibular disease refers to the presence of vestibular disease in both sides of the vestibular system and causes disorientation in addition to balance problems.

  1. Types

    • Feline bilateral vestibular disease can be one of two types. Peripheral vestibular disease is dysfunction of the inner ear, while central vestibular disease affects the brain stem.

    Signs

    • Signs of feline bilateral vestibular disease include lack of coordination, head tilting, nausea or vomiting, falling and erratic eye movements, such as up and down or side to side without the cat being able to focus.

    Causes

    • Causes of feline vestibular disease can be injuries, infections, cancer, some medications like aminoglycoside antibiotics, or unknown reasons..

    Treatment

    • Treatment usually consists of supportive care since the vestibular symptoms typically improve without intervention within a few days to a few weeks. If there is a known cause for the disorder, your veterinarian will treat the underlying condition. Supportive care consists of hand-feeding your cat if it is too uncoordinated to lift its head, carrying it to the litter box and administering any medications your vet prescribes.

    Prognosis

    • Most cats recover from feline vestibular disease spontaneously. Some cats might have permanent deafness or a head tilt after recovery.