How To Spot Vestibular Syndrome In Dogs

Vestibular Syndrome is a common disorder in older dogs but can affect middle aged dogs as well. The condition develops due to inflammation in nerves that connect the inner ear to the cerebellum. The syndrome has a life of 2 days to 3 weeks and there is no specific treatment available.

Commonly known as vestibular syndrome, this condition is also referred to as geriatric vestibular syndrome, peripheral vestibular syndrome, and idiopathic vestibular syndrome. A common pet health related condition in older dogs (hence the name geriatric vestibular syn.), it is not uncommon to find some middle aged dogs affected by this condition as well. Dog health care is important during this time as no known treatment for this syndrome is available. It is also called idiopathic vestibular syndrome (meaning happens without any known cause) though this is not a preferred name. Dogs can suddenly be affected by vestibular syndrome leading to poor pet health.

An inflammation in the nerves that connect the inner ear to the cerebellum (known for controlling balance and spatial orientation), the condition can last from a couple of days to as long as three weeks. Some pet health may show residual signs after this time in the form of a head tilt. Pet health care is vital during the time the disease attacks the pet as there is sudden loss of balance disabling the pet from standing up. Some dogs may feel nauseous or be affected by rhythmic eye motion as an effect of this syndrome. You will need to pay attention to dog health care as your pet may not eat or drink unless you feed him by hand. This is because they dont have control over the motor movements associated with eating or drinking from a dog food bowl.

The good news is that pet health will be restored as you nurse your dog through this disease. You must remember that your dog health care may be at risk from relapses, though this is not a regular condition. There is no known vestibular syndrome disease treatment available at this time.

Its easy to confuse vestibular disease with any other condition that leads to cerebellar damage or even an inner ear disease. Pet health issues such as inner ear infection are one of the most commonly known causes of similar symptoms. If your pet health doesnt recover or if the recovery doesnt progress as satisfactorily as deemed, its wise to take the pooch to the veterinarian and conduct whatever tests are required to rule out problems related to the inner ear through a thorough ear examination as well as inner ear X-rays. These examinations rule out pet health problems resulting due to cancer of the cerebellum, or inner ear etc. In some dog breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Lymphoma is a fairly common cancerous condition that leads to vestibular syndrome. Dog health care becomes extremely important during trauma because certain trauma symptoms can be confused with vestibular syndrome in case of brain damage. Fortunately, minimal brain damage leads to quicker recovery, but severe brain damage means complete loss of pet health.