How to help an old dog with vestibular syndrome who can't stand?

Thanks for using PetCoach! It sounds like Bruno could have "old dog idiopathic vestibular syndrome". There is more information below but we don't know why it happens and in general it usually gets better within a few days. Of course, we can never rule out a middle ear infection, brain tumor, or other problem so I always recommend seeing a vet. Even if it is the just the old dog vestibular syndrome, your vet can give Bruno some anti nausea medication for his vertigo. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vestibular-disease-in-dogs Best of luck to you and Bruno!

Hi, it is difficult to tell 100% if the symptoms are related to a peripheral vestibular syndrome or a central vestibular syndrome, as with the peripheral one (affecting the inner ear only) you can have disorientation as well..only advanced imaging will be able to tell if it is just a problem related to the inner ear or if the brain could be affected too. If unable to undergo imaging, then you will have to wait and see what happens, encourage her to eat, mix fresh cooked chicken with hotdog. Have anti sickness medications if necessary, and/or everything else recommended by your vet. Hope this helps !

It can take a bit for these guys to get their appetite back. Sometimes hand feeding can make things easier, and this is often easier to do by making meatballs of canned food and hand feeding them to your pup. You could also ask your vet if a secondary anti-nausea medication could be added to help. There is one called Cerenia that comes as an injectable the vet can give but also as an oral pill you can give at home.

Yes it can be the cause of vestibular syndrome and loss of balance. More likely this episode is due to a geriatric vestibular syndrome (usually self limiting) or otitis (inflammation of the ear canal) media. A check up and neurological and physical examinations are necessary to differentiate between these different clinical syndromes. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

There is something called Old Dog Vestibular Disease, that causes dogs to suddenly appear to be totally unable to balance, be nauseous, spine in circles, or even be unable to stand. This happens for no particular reason, and usually improves over a few weeks with patience and supportive care (anti-nausea medication and fluid/nutritional support as needed). It is important to check for middle ear infections (which requires the otoscope at the vet clinic), general blood work and thyroid levels, and do an exam to make sure she doesn't have signs of other neurologic issues that would suggest a brain tumor. So, I'd advise keeping her safe tonight by blocking stairs, removing water boils, etc and taking her to the vet tomorrow to be checked out.

What you are describing with Shasta may be something called vestibular disease. I am attaching a handout with more information about it below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=564 If Shasta has a history of ear infections, she may have a middle ear infection that is causing her signs. That is discussed in the handout above. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Shasta and determine what might be causing her signs and the appropriate way to treat them. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cuddles. I agree that his condition sounds very serious. Most of the time, sudden onset vestibular disease does not have an underlying cause in an older dog. There are cases that are due to an inner ear infection, thyroid disease or even cancer. If there is not an underlying cause of his vestibular disorder, most dogs will recover within 24-48 hours. Most dogs will benefit from motion sickness/anti-nausea medication to keep them comfortable until the symptoms resolve. That being said, the inability to use his rear limbs is much more concerning. A bulging or ruptured disk in the lower back can cause paralysis. Severe orthopedic disease can cause the same problem. Not being able to walk and interfere with the dog's ability to urinate and defecate. Furthermore, sores can develop on the limbs from the dog dragging itself. This is where quality of life issues present themselves. You obviously know Cuddles best, but it is worth having a more detailed conversation with his veterinarian concerning euthanasia. You can voice your concerns and gain insight into why his veterinarian made this decision. I hope this information helps.