When an animal has vestibular disease it will begin to have noticeable difficulty maintaining balance and equilibrium when standing or moving. This is the result of the body’s vestibular system in the inner and middle ear malfunctioning, and starting to miscommunicate with the brain about the body’s position in space, as well as posture and head movement. Vestibular disease for pets is a possibility, and dog or cat owners will usually see these issues with poor balance and inability to coordinate movements if their pet develops it.

Vestibular Disease in Dogs

CIVS stands for canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome, and it is one of the most common neurological disorders seen in veterinary medicine. It is older dogs that get vestibular disease most often, although it can happen for dogs of any age if they have any of the usual causes of vestibular disease in dogs. Among them are ear infections, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), tumors or polyps in the inner ear, or a ruptured ear drum. And although it is very uncommon, there have been instances where a dog gets vestibular disease as a result of using a certain medication.

Vestibular Disease in Cats

Vestibular disease will have the same physiological workings and causes for cats, and another aspect of having this disease for most cats that get it will be that the imbalance and incoordination symptoms onset very suddenly. But they will usually subside within a matter of days, and this is nearly always the case if it is an infection causing vestibular disease in cats. Pet owners of either type can look to identify the same vestibular disease symptoms and then see a veterinarian to confirm diagnosis.

These symptoms include:

   
• Unexplainable loss of balance
   
• Tottering to one side or the other while walking
   
• Head tilt
   
• Stumbling or staggering from loss of coordination
   
• Rapid jerking eye movements
   
• Eye misdirection (nystagmus)
   
• Circling in one direction
   
• Disorientation
 

Vestibular Disease Treatment

A veterinarian’s recommendation for vestibular disease treatment will depend on the cause of the disease and what is making the dog or cat have balance difficulties. Prescribing an antibiotic will be the course of treatment if a bacterial infection is causing pet vestibular disease, and other medications may mediate symptoms while waiting for it to pass. An example of this could be an antiemetic to reduce nausea and vomiting. Fluid therapy for dog ataxia caused by vestibular disease may also be a possibility here.