Potential causes include inner/middle ear infections, intoxication, strokes, tumors, infectious or inflammatory diseases (meningitis), idiopathic vestibular disease (also called “old dog” vestibular syndrome), or other less likely causes.
If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it may be the result of a variety of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection.
If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it could be the result of a number of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection.
Inner Ear Problems
The inner ear is where the sense of balance originates, and when it is damaged, that balance can be lost. Infections, inflammation, tumors, and trauma to this sensitive area can cause your dog to be shaky and uncoordinated.
If you see that your dog is walking with a head tilt, swaying, and has a loss of appetite you may want to check in with the vet as to any underlying issues, such as stroke. Idiopathic vestibular disease often leaves just as quickly as it appears, with little to no medical assistance.
Dogs show different stroke symptoms depending on which part of the brain was affected — but they typically occur suddenly and don't continue to get worse after the first 24 hours, Dr. Singler shares. Seizures, circling, falling, difficulty walking and behavioral changes can all indicate that your pup had a stroke.
While alarming to watch, vestibular disease is a common condition in dogs and cats (and rabbits and ferrets, too), and is very similar to vertigo in humans. An inner ear imbalance can cause incoordination, turning, leaning, or even falling and rolling.
Canine Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome is the most common cause of these symptoms. This means that the specific cause is unknown. This would be the case when there is no history of accidents or trauma or deep ear infections.
Dogs can be treated medically or surgically. Medical management usually consists on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (steroidals or non-steroidals) with restricted activity. Because they have a neck problem, neck leashes should not be used, and a chest harness is strongly recommended.
Sudden paralysis in dogs can often be attributed to IVDD. Most dogs are diagnosed with sudden mobility loss from IVDD following a period of exercise. It's quite common for a dog's hind legs to collapse and even become paralyzed after a disc herniation from IVDD.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Many pets begin to improve within seventy-two hours. The head tilt and stumbling often improve over a seven to ten-day period. Most patients are completely recovered within two to three weeks, although some will have residual symptoms such as a head tilt or mild "wobbling" for life.
Any medical or degenerative illness that causes pain, discomfort or decreased mobility—such as arthritis, dental disease, hypothyroidism, cancer, impaired sight or hearing, urinary tract disease or Cushing's disease—can lead to increased sensitivity and irritability, increased anxiety about being touched or approached, ...
As with stroke, the onset of idiopathic vestibular disease is often sudden and severity can vary from mild to severe. The dog's head is often tilted to one side, making it look as if they're listening to the ground. Affected animals may have abnormal eye movements in which the eyes move rapidly from side to side.
Infections. Inner ear problems, such as poor circulation in the ear. Calcium debris in your semicircular canals. Problems rooted in your brain, such as traumatic brain injury.
What are the causes of vestibular disease? Causes of vestibular disease include an ear infection, perforated eardrum, hypothyroidism, trauma, tumors or possibly as a side effect of antibiotics. When no specific cause is found, the condition is called idiopathic vestibular disease.
Symptoms caused by swallowed poisons can include: vomiting, diarrhoea, agitation and heart issues. Inhaled toxins may cause breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness in dogs. If your dog's skin comes in contact with a poisonous substance typical symptoms include irritation and pain.
Probably the most common symptoms of food poisoning in dogs tend to be vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms can include collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. They sometimes poop or pee during the seizure. They are also not aware of their surroundings.
My dog is walking sideways and falling over; what's going on? A few reasons your dog may be walking sideways are injury, hip dysplasia, and vestibular disease. If your dog has started to walk sideways, it's best to have him evaluated by a veterinarian for an underlying condition.
In the case of a stroke, your pet's brain sends incorrect signals to their body. For example, your pet may not be able to respond to your spoken directions. Instead, he may move in a directionless fashion and seem to be walking in circles. He may appear as though he is drunk and be unable to walk in a straight line.
Old dog vestibular disease happens suddenly, and symptoms traditionally do not progress or worsen over time. Your dog will show the worst symptoms of the disease within the first 48 hours and will typically improve over two to three weeks. The most common symptoms of vestibular disease in dogs include: Head tilting.
It is not necessary to immediately euthanise a pet dog having a vestibular disease unless of course your dog has already been declining and lost a lot of its condition and quality of life before this sudden episode.