Vestibular disorder affects a dog's ability to maintain its balance, leading to dizziness or disorientation. Dogs can either suffer from peripheral vestibular disease or central vestibular disease. Such disorders typically develop in dogs who are between 12 and 13 years of age. Central vestibular disease can be caused by brain tumors while an abnormality in the dog's inner ear may cause peripheral vestibular disease. The underlying cause of the illness has yet to be discovered. Peripheral vestibular disease may bring about facial paralysis, while central vestibular disease may cause a weakened jaw, head tremors and depression.
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Medication for Motion Sickness
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If you suspect that your dog is suffering from the disease, bring him to the vet immediately. The initial treatment is based on the symptoms your dog is exhibiting or experiencing. The most common symptoms of vestibular disorders include falling, vomiting, circling, stumbling, uncoordinated movement, loss of appetite and drifting of eyes (side to side or up and down). If your dog is experiencing loss of appetite or vomiting, your vet may prescribe medication for motion sickness treatment. Examples of such medications include meclizine or diphenhydramine.
Treating the Root Causes of Vestibular Disease
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An effective long-term treatment will largely depend on determining the cause of the dog's disease. Usual causes include toxicity, ear infections, encephalitis, cancer and hypothyroidism. To treat ear infections, antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat both the infection and the vestibular disorder. Thyroid supplementation can be an effective form of treatment for hypothyroidism--the vestibular disorder can typically go away within two months. On the other hand, toxicity is treated through medications which are administered directly in the ear.
For cancer, any tumors that are found in the brain or inner ear may be the cause of the disease. Shrinking or extracting the tumor (if possible) is an effective form of treatment.
Home Treatment
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A dog's recovery time will vary depending on his age and overall health. It is very important to ensure that your dog gets enough rest and lots of relaxation time throughout the recovery period. Every time you lift or carry your pet, be sure to hold his paw pads in order to avoid dizziness or disorientation. Holding his paw pads helps him feel more secure and grounded because his feet are not simply dangling in the air. Your hands give him a point of reference. To aid your dog in regaining his sense of balance, try keeping his feet steady on the ground and keep the eyes facing on the horizon.
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