Vestibular Syndrome attacks are what we used to call Strokes, but advances in imaging have led us to realise that they're not quite the same, even though they appear just as suddenly and with some of the same symptoms.
Dogs can and occasionally do have strokes, but they tend to be less serious than in humans.
Vestibular events are slightly different, but often something of a mystery. The vestibular system - the inner ear - is about balance and so problems lead to classic signs of dizziness. There is staggering (ataxia), flicking of the eyes (nystagmus) from side to side, up and down or even rotationally, and a head tilt to one side.
Vestibular disease can have a number of causes: infections, from the brain itself or from the middle ear, cancer, poisonings, parasitism, immune disorders, occasionally as a sign of Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and commonly as an idiopathic event. Idiopathic basically means that we don't know the cause, but know that it isn't due to any underlying problem.
Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome is something that comes on unexpectedly, for unknown reasons, and then usually goes away on its own, albeit often with some residual signs like minor head tilt.
Even though we don't usually know the cause of Vestibular Syndrome, there are a number of useful drugs which are commonly used.
- Anti-sickness drugs, to combat the motion sickness.
- Steroids
- Antibiotics
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Equally though, nursing and TLC is all-important for these pets:
- Reassurance
- Palatable and digestable food
- Help with movement, but only enough to make up for what's lacking - your pets may only need support to get up.
- Frequent trips outside for balance and urination.
- Gentle and short walks in a straight line.
It's important to note that because, by definition, we don't know what causes Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome, treatments and care are largely based on common sense and logic, but anything that reduces the recovery time, and make it more bearable for your pet, must be a good thing.
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