Vestibular disease in dogs is a common condition that causes a sudden disturbance of balance. Symptoms include a loss of balance, falling, a pronounced head tilt, a general lack of coordination, and nystagmus, or rapid abnormal eye movement.
It can be distressing to witness, but it’s treatable. In fact, with no treatment at all, vestibular disease often resolves itself with time.
Some dog breeds, such as springer spaniels and French bulldogs, are more prone to developing vestibular disease. This condition is commonly seen in older dogs, but it can occur in younger dogs as well.
The good news is that, though some dogs may have residual symptoms, such as a head tilt, after recovery from vestibular disease, they will otherwise lead normal lives.
What causes vestibular disease in dogs?
The vestibular system is located just past the eardrum, in an area called the middle ear. When it functions normally, it controls balance, posture, and head position. Within the middle ear is the inner ear, and when the middle or inner ear function is impaired, resulting in an abrupt loss of coordination, balance, and other symptoms, this dysfunction indicates vestibular disease. Root causes may include a ruptured eardrum, an ear infection, side effects from antibiotics, or hypothyroidism (an endocrine disease in which there is a decrease in the production of thyroid hormones). In some cases, the cause may be tumors or polyps growing around the middle ear.
How quickly it resolves depends on whether the underlying cause is central vestibular disease (like a brain tumor, infection, or inflammatory disease), peripheral vestibular disease (as in otitis media/interna, or middle or inner ear infection), head trauma, drugs that are toxic to the ear, foreign material in the ear, tumors, or “old dog vestibular disease” which is idiopathic, meaning the cause is technically unknown. The latter resolves with supportive care.
When the specific cause is unclear, this condition is known as canine idiopathic vestibular disease—“idiopathic” referring to a condition or disease that arises spontaneously, with unknown origins.
What are the signs and symptoms of vestibular disease in dogs?
- Nystagmus, or rapid abnormal eye movement
- Walking in circles
- Head tilting
- Stumbling or staggering
- Lack of coordination
- Dizziness
- Falling over
- Wide stance, or legs spread wide
- Nausea and vomiting
How is vestibular disease diagnosed and treated?
Even though the signs of vestibular disease may seem alarming, chances are your dog will be fine. However, if your dog displays any sudden stumbling, difficulties with balance, and falling over, you should make an appointment to see your vet for an examination as soon as possible. These symptoms could be caused by vestibular disease or a more serious condition, so it’s best to have peace of mind and ensure your dog is okay.
The vet may want to do a neurological exam, as well as a physical exam, to determine the best next steps. Other tests could include an ear cytology, in which a debris sample is collected from the ear canal to see whether bacteria, yeast, or mites are causing an ear infection. (When the cause of vestibular disease is an ear infection, treatment and resolution of the infection typically resolves the vestibular disease as well.)
There also might be blood work, to rule out blood-related abnormalities that might cause stumbling and loss of balance; and urinalysis to determine whether an underlying condition is causing vestibular disease. Your vet also might recommend advanced imaging, such as X-rays or CT scans, to rule out the presence of tumors or polyps.
To care for your dog, the vet may provide anti-nausea medication to ease motion sickness and vomiting; oral antibiotics to treat bacterial infections; or sedatives to reduce anxiety and promote rest.
In general, the prognosis for vestibular disease is a positive one. Your vet will advise you to monitor your dog carefully to see whether the condition worsens. Otherwise, the most common treatment is waiting patiently for your dog to recover. Keep your dog comfortable and well rested, and block off any stairs for their safety—also be sure to prevent access to other hazardous areas, such as pools. Vestibular disease isn’t painful, but your dog may feel out of sorts, so being reassuring and calm (and maybe offering some extra treats) is a good way to help. Most dogs will start to improve within a week, and return to full normalcy within a few weeks.
