Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome - What every old dog owner should know

It was recently my pleasure to pet sit for Hannah, a very sweet 12 year old, 90 pound, mixed-breed dog. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a large, 12 year old dog be a little unsteady on her feet. After all, in people years, she was probably well into her 80’s or early 90’s. But Hannah was even more wobbly than one might expect because she had developed peripheral vestibular syndrome.

Peripheral vestibular syndrome appears to be caused by an inflammation in the nerves connecting the inner ear to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and spatial orientation. It more commonly occurs in older dogs, and thus is sometimes referred to as geriatric vestibular syndrome, but it can occur in middle aged dogs as well. While in appearance the disease is very frightening, the good news is that the problem is usually temporary, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Symptoms of peripheral vestibular syndrome include the following:
• Sudden loss of balance (the most common symptom)
• Head tilt to one side
• Circling
• Vomiting
• Eyes drifting from side to side or up and down
• Facial muscles sagging or twitching
• Trouble eating or drinking due to dizziness

The occurrence of this disease is very disconcerting to pets and pet parents alike because it can come on so rapidly and seemingly, just out of the blue. Your dog can appear perfectly happy and feeling well when suddenly, for no apparent reason, will fall over and have difficulty standing up again. This is made even more upsetting if some of the other symptoms begin to emerge.

The nature and sudden appearance of the symptoms lead some owners to fear that their dog has either had a stroke or has been poisoned. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately. The vet will be able to determine if your dog has peripheral vestibular syndrome, or if the symptoms are the result of something else, such as a stroke, poisoning, brain tumor, head trauma or inner ear infection.

Unfortunately, time is the only cure for peripheral vestibular syndrome, and as mentioned previously, most dogs fully recover from the illness within a few weeks. Some vets may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect the dog has an infection. Motion sickness medication might help also be prescribed to ease the dizziness being felt by the dog.

What you can do is to keep in mind that this is a very troubling and confusing experience for your dog. Soothing, calm attention and lots of TLC can go a long way toward making your pet feel better while recovering from the disease. If nausea is keeping your dog from eating and drinking, try giving easy-to-eat food and water by hand.

Through it all, remember that in most cases the disease will clear up by itself. Infrequently, some dogs do not recover fully and may continue to have residual problems, such as a head tilt. As you can always count on with a dog, they are usually able to adjust to these remaining issues and go right back to being their normal, contented selves.

"I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better." - George Bird Evans, "Troubles with Bird Dogs"