What is vestibular disease?

Vestibular disease is a illness which affects an organ that is called the vestibular apparatus. The vestibular apparatus the part of the brain that is responsible for the animal's ability to remain balanced.   The apparatus has two receptors in the middle ear that detect rotation and position.  Vestibular diseases can result if there are damages to the receptors in the middle ear or the vestibular apparatus in the brain.

Vestibular disease is often caused by an unknown reason, this is called idiopathic disease.  It  may also be caused by middle ear infection, infectious disease, brain lesion, head trauma.

Some of the types of diseases that may cause vestibular disease include viruses such as Canine Distemper and Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and parasites such as Cryptosporosis and Toxoplasma. Brain tumors may cause vestibular disease as they grow larger, they can  press on part of the brain stem.

Signs of Vestibular Disease

When there is issue with the vestibular system, there is loss of the animal’s ability to balance.  When this happens the animal will develop  a head tilt, incoordination, and rapid horizontal eye movements. 

The following are signs of vestibular disease:

• Incoordination

• Rapid eye movement from side to side

• Circling

• Head tilt

• Falling to one side

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of vestibular disease involves a physical examination and a neurological examination.  The neurological examination will help determine the exact location of the lesion.  Other tests that can help determine the cause of the illness include an ear examination with an otoscope and xrays of the head.  The ear examination may reveal an infection.  The xrays may show tumors and also signs of inflammation in the middle ear.  Some specialty clinics may also have CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which can give even better images of the brain and inner ear.

Treatment

 With treatment, the goal is to treat the cause of the underlying problem.  For example, if the patient is suffering from an ear infection, the ear infection should be treated.   Sometimes, a course of antibiotics is given.   Cases of idiopathic disease often result in a recovery within 14 days of onset of signs, with or without treatment.  Occasionally, a slight head tilt remains, but otherwise, the patient is normal. 

Treatment opitons are very limited if the vestibular disease results from tumors, brain disease, or severe viral infection.