Vestibular Disease

Question
Hi, it seems like all my dogs are having problems right now :S. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions in treating a dog diagnosed with Idiopathic Vestibular Disease (Old dog vertigo) My 14 year old collie mix female has been having symptoms for 10 days now and she still wont eat. Did you have any advice on what I could maybe give her that would help her regain her coordination, maybe is helpful with inner ear infections (this was suspected as well and she is on antibiotics but has not improved) or worst case, anything you've known to shrink or halt brain tumors (as I have heard there are herbs out there that actually help with cancer). The vet cant say for certain if it is just Vestibular (heals itself in a week or two) or if its an inner ear infection or a brain tumor, as they all have the same symptoms. So I would just like to cover my bases. If you have any information on what could help this I would much appreciate it, as I don't know how much longer I can force feed her babyfood and milk before I'm going to have to take her in for a feeding tube. Thanks.

Answer
I don't know about anything that would help your dog.  Your best bet is to do what her vet says.  I would normally recommend a diet that strengthens her immune system, but if she is having trouble eating just baby food, usual dietary recommendations won't be appropriate.

You might go for a consultation with a holistic vet.  I wouldn't start playing with herbs, as they could just make her worse.

Fourteen years is a good age for a collie.  I know you love her, but this may be a time to talk with your vet about what you can do to make her comfortable, without force feeding her.  What will her quality of life be with a feeding tube?

I wish both of you the very best.

Susan