Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction

Peripheral vestibular hypofunction refers to a disorder of the middle ear that affects a dog's balance, causing it to stumble and fall. Although it can be very disconcerting, it is usually not a serious issue and is easily treatable.

  1. Vestibular Apparatus

    • The vestibular apparatus is a series of weights and fluid-filled canals in the middle ear that detect the dog's position in space and relay signals to the brain that enable the dog to maintain balance.

    Vestibular Hypofunction

    • Vestibular hypofuction is when the apparatus is not working correctly, throwing the dog off balance. This is usually the result of an infection, rarely a cranial mass or very rarely a stroke-like event.

    Symptoms

    • Affected dogs may appear drunk and will stumble, circle and fall. They will not eat due to an inability to navigate to the food bowl, and may vomit from motion sickness. A hallmark symptom is nystagmus, a rapid, uncontrollable back-and-forth movement of the eyes, and a head tilt.

    Diagnosis

    • The symptoms of vestibular hypofunction are characteristic, but CT scans and MRIs can help pinpoint the cause to determine appropriate treatment.

    Treatment

    • Treatment depends upon removal of the cause. Infections are treated with antibiotics and cranial masses are removed or shrunk with radiation therapy. If the cause is indiscernible, the dog will receive treatment to manage the motion sickness until the condition runs its course, usually within a couple of weeks.