Vestibular syndrome is a condition that generally only affects senior dogs. The symptoms can be similar to those of a stroke: disorientation, walking in circles and inability to stand. Vestibular syndrome is actually a balance problem. The vestibular system controls balance in a dog. A disruption in that system produces the lack of balance. It will generally clear up in a few days or a week whether treated or not.
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Anatomy
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The vestibular system, which includes the ears, controls balance in a dog. The vestibular system controls balance in dogs according to Web-DVM. The system is composed of the brain and the vestibular nerve which leads from the cerebellum, the part of the brain which controls balance to the canals of the inner ear. Any disruption in this system will cause loss of balance known as vestibular syndrome.
Symptoms
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A dog with vestibular syndrom will have trouble walking. The typical symptoms are head tilt, circling and falling. The symptoms normally occur on one side of the dog. That indicates which side of the vestibular system is the problem. According to Web-DVM, the symptoms can come on suddenly. The dog may also vomit and have problems with its eyes.
Significance
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Disorientation in a dog is significant and should not be ignored. The symptoms of vestibular syndrome are similar to those of a stoke, poisoning or a seizure. These are all life-threatening conditions so immediate medical attention is required. One major cause of vestibular syndrome is an inner ear infection. That is generally the first matter checked by a veterinarian before checking out the more serious ailments.
Treatment
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If an ear infection is found following the symptoms of vestibular syndrome then the infection is assumed to have caused the problem and the ear infection is treated with medication. If there is no ear infection then treatment is not necessary. Vestibular syndrome will resolve itself in a short period of time. The symptoms will go away and the senior dog will be fine.
Prevention/Solution
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There is no known cause of vestibular syndrome other than ear infections. The best prevention for a senior dog is to check the dog's ears every day. An infection will manifest itself with redness. The senior dog will also scratch or rub its ears if there is a problem. Other than prevention and early treatment of ear infections, the best solution is to promptly seek a veterinarian when the symptoms appear. The good news is that, according to Web-DVM, most dogs only suffer from vestibular syndrome once in their lives.
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