Have you started noticing some weird symptoms in your dog?
Like they always tilt their head or their eyes are rapidly moving back and forth?
You may think it’s a stroke, but it may also be canine vestibular syndrome.
Does your do have canine vestibular syndrome? How can you tell? Read on to learn about the top signs of canine vestibular syndrome.
Canine Vestibular Syndrome: What Is It?
Before we look at the signs, it’s important to know what canine vestibule syndrome is.
The vestibular system is the part of the body that controls spatial awareness and balance. So when something affects it, these symptoms can occur.
There are some things that cause it, like ear infections, too frequent ear cleanings which breaks apart their eardrum, a stroke, tumors, polymps, hypothyroidism, and head injuries. Certain drugs can also cause this syndrome.
Sometimes this syndrome is confused with a stroke, so it’s important to take your dog to the vet to make sure. This syndrome doesn’t cause your dog any pain though.
This syndrome also shows up most in older dogs and was nicknamed old dog syndrome.
Signs to Look For
If you suspect that your dog has canine vestibular syndrome, these are some of the signs and symptoms that you should keep an eye out for.
1. A Head Tilt
If your dog’s head is tilted to one side when they look at you, that may mean that their balance is off.
If the cause of this is an ear infection, then your dog will probably tilt their head in the direction of the infected ear.
2. Trouble Balancing
When they have trouble balancing and standing on their legs, this can also be an issue when it comes to walking. This symptoms can also cause others, like drooling and vomiting.
3. Rapid Eye Movement from Side-to-Side
Like the head tilt, if only one eye is moving back and forth, your dog may have an ear infection on that side.
4. Vomiting
If your dog seems nauseous and they are vomiting a lot, this could be another symptom combined with the others to hint that your dog has canine vestibular syndrome.
Your dog throwing up could be a symptom of this syndrome because it causes motion sickness. And if you’ve ever been motion sick before, you can understand and empathize with your dog.
5. Stumbling and Falling
They may start working in circles, or they may even have trouble getting up.
This symptom doesn’t have to be a complete inability to walk. Your dog could subtly stumble every now and then. However, it can also be that they can’t stand up at all.
You may notice that they are spreading their legs farther than normal to try and balance themselves, or they may be leaning against a wall for support.
Get Your Dog Checked Out Today
These symptoms and signs are all important to be aware of. If you’re not sure if your dog has canine vestibular syndrome, then you can make an appointment with your vet to get a professional opinion.
If you notice that your dog displays some of these signs and symptoms, you may want to consider taking it to a vet.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us or make an appointment.