funny
Our previous dog, a Border Collie developed K-9 Vestibular Disease in her 14th year and it was sad to see that happen to her, but she continued on for two more years, a little wobbly, but she adapted to the symptoms until her legs gave out at 16.
Oct 27, 2011
“Old Dog” Vestibular Disease
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by Dr. Jennifer Coates
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I don’t get to give a lot of good news to my clients. As some of you already know, my veterinary practice deals primarily with end-of-life issues — hospice and in-home euthanasia mostly — not an environment where good news abounds. So, when I see a consultation appointment scheduled for an older dog whose owner is describing a head tilt, difficulty walking and eyes that are “moving funny,” I get really excited.
Why? Because these are symptoms of a condition that looks really, really bad (owners often think their dogs have had strokes), but usually gets better on its own with little or no treatment. Veterinarians don’t know exactly what causes idiopathic vestibular disease (”idiopathic” means arising from an unknown cause, or the pathologist is an idiot, as one of my professors said in veterinary school), but it is very common.
The vestibular system is composed of portions of the brain and ear and is responsible for maintaining our sense of balance. When something goes wrong with the vestibular system, it feels like the world is spinning.
Dogs with idiopathic vestibular disease have some combination of the following symptoms:
A head tilt
They are unsteady on their feet and may fall over
They circle in one direction or even roll across the floor
Their eyes flick back and forth, up and down, or rotate in a circle (this is called nystagmus)
An unwillingness to eat due to nausea
Vomiting
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2011/oct/old_dog_vestibular_disease-11847