Vestibular syndrome temporarily affects a pet’s balance, causing a variety of abnormalities that may concern a pet owner who is unaware of the condition. Signs may mimic a stroke or brain tumor, causing pet owners to fear the worst. Fortunately, vestibular syndrome typically resolves without lasting issues. Awareness of this common syndrome can be helpful should your senior pet suddenly develop signs.

What is vestibular syndrome in senior pets?

Your pet’s vestibular system, located in the middle ear and brain, controls their balance and coordination. Pets with vestibular syndrome experience an acute balance disruption. Although an inner ear infection, trauma, or injury can cause vestibular problems, most cases are idiopathic, meaning a cause is not apparent. Often referred to as “old dog vestibular disease,” this condition mainly affects older dogs but occasionally develops in cats. 

What are vestibular syndrome signs in senior pets?

Affected pets experience signs similar to a person with vertigo. The condition develops suddenly; early signs often include decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. The syndrome may quickly progress and become more severe, with signs such as:

* Head tilt

* Leaning to one side

* Nystagmus, or eyes that dart back and forth

* Dizziness

* Incoordination

* Inability to stand or walk without support

Severely affected pets may turn in circles or roll around on the ground, with their head tilt, leaning, and circling typically to one side only. Although these symptoms are temporary, seeing your beloved pet affected by severe vestibular signs can be disconcerting. 

How is vestibular syndrome diagnosed in senior pets?

A specific test to confirm vestibular syndrome in pets is not available, and cases are often diagnosed after excluding other, more concerning possibilities, such as a brain tumor. Diagnostic testing, which evaluates your pet’s overall health and screens for other possible causes, may include:

* Blood work to assess your pet’s internal organ function

* Urinalysis

* Skull X-rays that include the middle ear structures

* Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

* Computed tomography (CT) 

If diagnostic testing does not reveal another cause for a pet’s vestibular signs, vestibular syndrome is the presumptive diagnosis, confirmed when signs resolve without specific treatment.

How is vestibular syndrome treated in senior pets?

Fortunately, vestibular syndrome is a temporary condition that improves quickly and should completely resolve in a few weeks. However, pets can be uncomfortable, so treatment focuses on treating clinical signs and supporting pets while they recover. Anti-nausea medications may be prescribed to control nausea and vomiting, and motion sickness medications may be used to treat dizziness. 

Pets who experience severe nausea or dizziness may not be able to eat or drink and may become dehydrated. Likewise, pets who cannot walk may require assistance to go outside for potty breaks. Severe cases may require hospitalization with intravenous fluids, injectable medications, nutritional support, and mobility assistance.

What is the prognosis for senior pets with vestibular syndrome?

Vestibular signs are most severe during the first 24 to 48 hours and typically begin to improve. Incoordination and a head tilt may take several weeks to resolve fully, and some pets may have residual signs, including mild balance issues and a head tilt, that never fully resolve. Some pets who recover may experience a recurrence months later. 

Although vestibular syndrome is a temporary condition, typically with mild to moderate effects, a chronic medical condition your pet has already may be compounded and your pet’s long-term quality of life compromised. Our telehospice service can help you evaluate your pet’s quality of life and make essential choices about their final days.