Vestibular Syndrome

[dancerdog]

Does anyone have any experience of vestibular syndrome?

Our lovely dog, aged 11, started this last week, with all the symptoms. She went to the vet twice that day, and we got the probable diagnosis on the second visit. Within 3 days she was almost fully fit, just like we read would probably happen.

She then went downhill, extremely incapacitated and distressed. We ended up at the small pets hospital. We got more anti-nausea tablets for her, the whole weekend was bad, with some good periods. She went back to the vet yesterday. The vet thought the outlook was not good but they took her in for observation and some fluids and another anti-nausea jag.

She was looking good today, head still right round to the left, but brighter, more of her old self. We were starting to get our hopes up, but she has gone back a bit more tonight.

We really thought that by this time she would be on her way to recovery. It is so distressing for her and for us. Has anyone had this happen, and their dog recovered after more than a week?

A paw hold would be good.

[icedcoffees]

I hate to say it, but the only experience I have is of a dog recovering, then rapidly declining and being PTS three weeks after the first episode

However he was also older (fourteen) and had kidney disease on top of the vestibular condition.

I hope it's a better outcome for you

[dancerdog]

Thanks, sorry for your boy.

We are trying to be positive, and have discussed this possibility. My sons are at the 'hell no she's not getting PTS until we have given it a good go' stage. I do agree, but have a sinking feeling.

[wavecat]

My 18yo DD had 8 months of vestibular difficulties. We tried everything and everyone. Finally sorted with a high dose of Vit B2 riboflavin. Wishing you all the best

[somethinginthewater]

My old girl has had 3 episodes, over the last year. First time she recovered brilliantly, the second and third times less so and was left with a head tilt. Nevertheless she's good for nearly 15. She's now longterm on vitofyllin which seems to work - when she stopped taking it she was very unsettled at night and more unsteady.

[Redhound]

My neighbour's lab took maybe a week or so to recover reasonably well and is doing fine now. Good luck

[MostDefinitelyNot]

My old boy had a vestibular attack and recovered. It was linked to a thyroid issue so once that was under control he had no more attacks.
He was in an animal hospital for a week and after that he walked rather drunk for quite a while. He essentially had to learn to navigate the world again in a topsy turvy world.

[Stilltalkstotrees]

Our lab had old dog vestibular syndrome (as the vet called it) when she was 12. It was very scary and we thought she'd had a stroke. She was given anti-nausea medication and we were given lots of reassurance. She was running around after a couple of weeks, albeit not always in a straight line! She lived a very happy and healthy life for another 18 months. She died of stomach cancer, so unrelated.

She did have a second attack of the vestibular syndrome but we knew what it was the second time and it wasn't as severe.

I hope your dog does as well.

[PermanentlyDizzy]

I am so sorry for your poor girl and for you. It is a really distressing thing to witness and you feel so helpless.

Not sure if will be much help, but my old boy has vestibular syndrome. He’s almost 16 and had his first episode during the first lockdown in 2020. He has had 5 episodes since then, some were just a few days apart, so could have been part of a longer episode, but none at all since last October.

His episodes haven’t been as dramatic as your poor girl by the sound of it. He tends to be bad for a few hours, but if we keep him really quiet, prop him up so his head is supported with pillows (lying on his side makes it worse) and sit with him (we take turns sitting next to him so he can lie leaning against us with his head propped) he seems to recover from the worst after a few hours and is then just a bit wobbly for a couple of days and his head tilt is barely noticeable. I think his longest episode was four days in total, but he has never needed inpatient care with it. The vet no longer wants us to drag him down there when it happens, unless his symptoms dramatically change, as he recovers better if kept calm and quiet. We just call them and they log the episodes on his notes.

He sees the vet roughly monthly anyway, as he has some other things going on as well, which has made things hard to untangle.

I’m not sure what breed your girl is, but it’s important to know that picking them up can trigger an episode, especially during the recovery process. (We discovered this when putting our old boy in the car.). So if she’s a small breed, that may be worth bearing in mind.

Have the vets suggested looking at potential causes? They need to exclude conditions affecting the inner ear, before confirming vestibular disorder. We decided against scans for our boy, as he’s happy and settled so, at his age, we don’t want to put him through any extra stress.

[dancerdog]

Thank you all for your responses, it is helpful to hear how there can be recoveries, and recurring episodes too. Explanations on internet vet/animal care sites list the symptoms but not the surround, if you see what I mean. I can see from your dog stories that some of you have experienced situations similar to ours.

It's not clear what has boosted her, and what hasn't. She has had vitofyllan for 8 days, anti nausea jags or tablets for 8 days. Also, I asked for diazepam to give her a break from the distress. My own vet was happy to supply, although the vet hospital was a bit taken aback at my request - they did give us a few tablets though.

[dancerdog]

The spinning has been quite terrifying, and we are learning to keep out of the way of her paws and claws when this happens.

[dancerdog]

wavecat Did the vet supply the Vit B2 riboflavin?

PermanentlyDizzy She's a border collie. The vet seems to think dog neurology at the vet hospital is full to the brim, so unlikely to be able to get a scan - I wasn't clear what treatment there would be if something else was diagnosed. Yes, we are learning how to prop up her head as you have suggested. My sons are taking turns to sleep in the living room with her, and we are trying to have big cheery encouraging chats with her.

I will be taking her to the vet tomorrow to make sure we have enough tabs to cover the weekend ( vet hospital £150 for consultation last weekend!)

She is still eating like a horse, so taking that as a comforting sign.

Thanks again everyone.

[wavecat]

VitB2 suggested for my 18yo human daughter by NHS consultant and vestibular specialist. Thought it might be worth mentioning, it took months and months to find her solution, eight months of feeling dreadful, unable to drive, walk, move without feeling sick and dizzy. Thought it might be worth considering further research for the four legged. B2 is on our Amazon Prime subscription and her life is now back to normal Really hope you find a solution for doggo xx

[StrongTea]

3 of my old dogs have had this. All made a good recovery, although one was left with slight head tilt and walked in a circle for weeks. Vet said at the time that after 3 weeks they wouldn’t improve any more. Things that helped were a harness, we scattered dry food in front of the dog so they had to think about how to get it, just out of reach, obviously when more mobile. Just wondering if one of those blow up collars would help your dog with holding head up. We also were given vivitonin although there may be a more up to date med now. Good luck

[PermanentlyDizzy]

@dancerdog, there are other dog neurology specialists at vet hospitals all over the country. If you did want to have her scanned. I’m not sure where you are or if you are able to travel, but can highly recommend Willows from personal experience. They are not cheap, but they are state of the art and very highly respected. I believe Fitzpatrick’s has a well respected Neuro department as well.

Treatment would depend on if the scans find anything and what that is. There are a lot of different potential causes and it’s probably not helpful for me to list them and worry you, as it most likely is old dog vestibular syndrome.

I feel for you. It is terrifying when they are unable to control their bodies like that. My old boy has developed a spinal issue (nothing to do with his vestibular disorder) and has been on off his back legs intermittently (although thankfully not in any pain and it doesn’t seem to worry him) for about a week and a half. Today is a bad day and it’s absolutely horrible, but then, last Friday was also a bad day and he’s been ok in between. So, we take each day as it comes and have to put our faith in how well we know him and our own judgement.

[Evergreenonly]

@wavecat I’m currently suffering terribly with the same thing - I’ve had to quit my job. I’d be so grateful if you could tell me the name & location of the specialist & anything about how your daughter got better, I’m so desperate. Thank you! X

[dancerdog]

wavecat Oops, I was caught out by the DD abbreviation there...! I'm glad your daughter recovered.

Again thanks for other responses, I really appreciate hearing from you. it's good to know that there have been good outcomes.

She had a 'good' day today, but in relating this to the vet, they seemed to think she had got worse, so that has made me wonder if I have moved from catastrophising to denial!
I deliberately stopped the dog insurance a few years ago, as monthly payments tripled on renewal. It's a gamble, no point in blaming myself for that now.

I got steroids so she has started on them, plus anti-nausea, diazepam and vitofyllin.
permanentlydizzy I think you are right, I think we need to take every day as it comes.
strongtea I will check out the inflatable collar, I might also try my own neck rest, it might suit her.

[wavecat]

Dancerdog, sending you all my best wishes. Such a difficult time for you

Evergreenonly I've sent you a message x

[dancerdog]

Just a short update, my lovely dog seems to be over the worst of the effects, in that she is no longer having 'episodes' where her eyes are flickering, lying with head upside down, going stiff and spiralling across the floor and being really scary to see generally.

She can walk in a straight line, staggering, in the garden, can sit and lie down and get up again without help, still loving her food, and now starting to follow us to get treats off our plates...so a lot more like herself. She does her business outside - most of the time, but has a least one pee accident at night. Hoping this improves..

However, to see her, with her head permanently tilted, and staggering around must look terrible to outsiders. I think we have normalised it because we don't want to think we could lose her. For those of you whose dogs were left with a permanent tilt, were they ever able to go out for walks again and did people think you were being cruel to them?

[PermanentlyDizzy]

So pleased to hear she is doing better.

My boy wasn’t left with a tilt, but is a bit staggery and can be a little crab like (walking sort of sideways/diagonally) when he’s over excited and not focussing on what he’s doing. We find that, as he is obviously so happy to be out for his walks, most people are charmed at how an oldie like him is still enjoying life, rather than judging. Not had anyone openly judge, but if they did I would ignore, as their opinion would be pointless and irrelevant against comprehensive vet monitoring and our 16 years experience of knowing our own dog.

He wouldn’t give a damn what they think, he just wants to carry on enjoying everything he can in life for as long as he is able, so we will always facilitate that, regardless of what others might think.

[dancerdog]

Thanks permanentlydizzy. Yes, I feel that because she is engaging with us, she is happy, and is coming to terms (yes, I know she's a dog but, you know...getting used to ) the way the world is just now. She was even allowed to take her pick on the treat box this morning and managed to pick out a treat without much ado.

The vet is happier, but still worried - whereas we are delighted with her progress.

My worry is that this is maybe as good as she is going to get.