Acute vestibular syndrome may have a sudden and severe onset of symptoms. Many people confuse the symptoms of acute vestibular syndrome with seizures in dogs. In order to treat this condition, it is important to discover any underlying conditions that may cause a disturbance in the vestibular system.
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Identification
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The vestibular system is responsible for keeping the animal's head and body in the proper position. This system helps the dog to keep his balance and coordinate his eye movements. The receptors of the vestibular system are located in the dog's ear, next to the hearing receptors. The definition of acute vestibular syndrome is a sudden onset of any vestibular disorder.
Symptoms
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The most common symptom associated with acute vestibular syndrome is a head tilt. Animals that suffer from this condition may have a wide unstable stance and swaying of the head and trunk. Leaning to one side is common and animals may develop a rhythmic moving of the eyes known as nystagmus, as well as vomiting.
Causes
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Ear infections may cause an acute onset of vestibular syndrome, as well as hypothyroidism, cancer, medication toxicity and encephalitis. Canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome is the term that is used to describe an unknown cause of the illness. This most commonly occurs in dogs that are over 12 years of age.
Diagnosis
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The veterinarian will examine your dog for any underlying causes of acute vestibular syndrome. A health history will be taken and any diagnostic tests such as X-rays, an MRI or computed tomography may be performed.
Treatment
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Dogs that suffer from acute vestibular syndrome may begin to improve on their own within about two weeks. The veterinarian may prescribe anti-nausea medication for the dog until vomiting begins to improve. Dogs that suffer from this condition may fully recover, but may have a permanent head tilt as a result of the disorder.
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