As dogs grow older, sometimes they develop a condition known as peripheral vestibular syndrome. You may think your dog with this condition has had a stroke because the symptoms can look quite similar. The dog may tilt his head, and his balance may be off. This is caused by a problem with the vestibular organ in the inner ear. This condition also may cause the animal's eye to twitch, which is known as nystagmus. Vestibular syndrome is fairly common in older dogs and also is seen in older cats. Other terms for vestibular syndrome include canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome and geriatric vestibular syndrome. Some veterinarians even call the condition "old dog disease."
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Symptoms
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Vestibular disease is somewhat common in older dogs. Vestibular syndrome in dogs is much like vertigo for people. Often, a dog with vestibular syndrome circles around as if trying to decide where to sit or relieve herself. This can be very distressing to both the pet and the owner. If your pet has symptoms such as tilting her head, a loss of balance or an eye that darts back and forth, she should see a veterinarian immediately. It is important that the veterinarian observes these symptoms to diagnose the problem accurately. Vestibular syndrome may be caused by an ear infection, something small lodged in the ear canal or possibly a neurological condition.
Medication
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A veterinarian may prescribe medicine. While no cure for vestibular disease exists, some medications can be prescribed to help with its symptoms. Many dogs suffer from nausea when they develop this condition. So a Dramamine-type drug specifically for dogs may be prescribed. Oftentimes, vestibular syndrome clears in a matter of days. Sometimes the condition returns episodically. Some animals do not recover from the condition but still live good and happy lives. The medication Selegiline for dementia, or cognitive function, has had some success in combatting difficult cases of vestibular disease.
Anatomy
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The vestibular organ is essential in the maintenance of a dog's balance. These organs are not part of the cochlea and are not involved in hearing. The vestibular organ, which is also present in other animals and humans, consists of a labyrinth of bones and membranes in the inner ear. Two membranous sacs are within the vestibule: the utricle and the saccule. The organ also contains semicircular canals. The utricle and saccule help to maintain a sense of orientation when the head is tilted, thanks to two types of sensitive hair cells. The semicircular canals contain balance end organs called cristae, and the saccule and utricle contain similar end organs.
Eye Twitch
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The twitchlike reflex in the eye, nystagmus, that is related to vestibular syndrome is also known as vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). This is connected to the inaccurate readings by the inner ear as the eye tries to adjust to the perceived imbalance. The reflex is an attempt to stabilize images on the retina when the head moves.
Care
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The afflicted dog may need extra care. A dog suffering from peripheral vestibular syndrome needs extra care and attention. Some dogs are so disoriented from the dizziness that they need assistance eating and drinking. A dog may need to help getting up and down stairs or on and off furniture. She may need reassurance that her owner is around and that everything is OK. She should have a place where she can rest comfortably on the floor because it is unsafe to an afflicted dog on a couch or bed unattended. In any case, as dogs and other pets become seniors, they need a little extra tender loving care.
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