Wondering how to feed a dog with vestibular disease? When your dog’s world is spinning, eating tends to be difficult for him or her. But these tips from integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby, might be just the thing you need to get your dog’s recovery started off on the right paw.
The symptoms of vestibular disease are so dramatic that they can strike fear in the heart of even the most experienced dog parent. Imagine you suddenly find your beloved dog leaning to one side, circling, and vomiting. And your dog’s eyes are flicking back and forth. It may be easy to fear your pup is having a dog stroke or dog seizures. But thankfully, after an emergency vet visit, you discover your dog is actually suffering from old dog vestibular disease.
Luckily, with vestibular disease, the severity of the symptoms doesn’t necessarily equate with a poor prognosis. Often, supportive care, including a healthy diet, may be all your dog needs to get on the road to recovery. This is good news.
However, it may leave you wondering how in the world your dog is supposed to eat when he or she is still so dizzy? To understand how to help your dog eat and why food may not appeal to your dog, it’s helpful to first share a quick overview of vestibular disease.
What is vestibular disease?
This condition affects a dog’s inner ear and brain and alters his or her sense of balance. When a dog is suffering from vestibular syndrome, he or she lacks the ability to know where the body is in space. This may give him or her the sensation of falling, leaning, or rolling even if he or she is standing still. It is thought that the sensation is much like vertigo or getting off an extreme roller coaster.
Many different conditions can cause the symptoms associated with vestibular disease. This means it is important that you take your dog to the veterinarian for an official diagnosis and treatment plan. Don’t try to diagnose your dog yourself. If you see any combination of the signs listed below, seek out your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of vestibular disease?
- Leaning to one side
- Head tilt
- A dog who is wobbly and off balance (i.e. ataxia)
- Circling
- Eyes flicking back and forth or up and down (i.e. nystagmus)
- Wide-legged stance
- Vomiting
What causes vestibular disease in dogs?
Vestibular disease is most commonly classified as “idiopathic,” meaning that the true cause of the condition is unknown. Idiopathic vestibular disease is more common in senior dogs (hence its other name of “old dog vestibular disease”). However, vestibular disease can occur in dogs of all ages. Sometimes vestibular disease may be associated with:
- Ear infections in dogs
- Some types of cancer in dogs
- Vascular events (such as strokes)
- Drug toxicities
- Inflammatory diseases of the nervous tissues
- Hypothyroidism in dogs
To reach a vestibular disease diagnosis, your vet will examine your dog, consider his or her age and history, and perform any indicated diagnostic tests. As discussed, sometimes he or she will be able to pinpoint a cause. However, other times your vet may classify the vestibular disease as idiopathic.
Why won’t dogs with vestibular disease eat?
Now that you have an understanding of vestibular disease, let’s talk about how to keep your dog as comfortable and healthy as possible while he or she recovers.
In some cases of vestibular disease, the symptoms last around 72 hours. However, they may persist for a week or longer. Thus, helping your dog eat and drink during this time is very important.
If you have ever experienced extreme nausea, you understand why your dog may be turning up his or her nose at the food bowl during this time! Your dog’s resistance to eating or drinking may be two-fold in this scenario.
First, he or she may not have much of an appetite. And second, even if he or she wants to eat, it may be a struggle to have the balance to walk to the food bowl and stay steady enough to eat.
Luckily, although your dog may refuse to eat initially, there are some simple environmental modifications and common medications that can help your dog want to and be able to eat and drink.
4 tips for feeding a dog with vestibular disease
To help you help your dog eat and drink during an episode of vestibular disease, I have compiled these four tips. Most of them are easy to do and use things that you already have around the house.
As a word of caution, if your dog is actively vomiting or unable to hold his or her head upright, you should not offer him or her food. A dog can go multiple days without eating. It is better to wait for his or her condition to improve than to risk your dog vomiting and accidentally choking on the vomit or getting aspiration pneumonia.
1. Keep your dog well supported when lying down.
A dog suffering from vestibular disease often feels more comfortable with firm support behind the back when lying down. Sometimes a dog is not able to stand up yet, but can raise his or her head and attempt to eat a little bit.
In this case, position your dog against a wall or other solid surface that supports the back and pelvis. The brain may still be making your dog feel like he or she is spinning or leaning. But the support of the wall should help your dog be less likely to roll or fall when trying to eat.
Even when not trying to eat or drink, some support can be very helpful for your canine companion. Chances are, if your dog was hospitalized at the vet clinic, he or she would probably be positioned in a corner with his or her back well-padded with rolled bedding.
This technique can be used to keep your dog comfortably supported in either a lying or sitting position. You can use a bolstered dog bed, pillows, rolled towels or other similar items to position your pup.
2. Offer support when standing.
As recovery progresses, your dog may want to stand and eat in an upright position. Consider creating a place where he or she can lean against a wall or stable furniture. This may help him or her feel more comfortable when eating.
Place your dog’s food and water bowls at a slightly elevated height (just below the chest is ideal) using a box, step stool, or stand. Then position it in a corner where your dog can lean against the wall on one side and have you support his or her shoulder and chest on the other side.
3.Give your dog good traction.
The more stability you can offer your dog, the better. Ensure he or she is on a slip-free surface when walking, standing, eating, and drinking. Avoid towels or blankets on the floor that can slide under his or her feet or present a tripping hazard. Instead, put down yoga mats or rubber-backed rugs to help with traction and provide padding.
Also, consider applying Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips. These rubber rings are easy to place on your dog’s nails and will help him or her gain traction wherever he or she goes. This added traction can help your dog feel more secure and confident when walking and standing.
Additionally, ToeGrips seem to improve proprioception—a dog’s sense of where his or her limbs and body are in space. This is especially useful for dogs with vestibular disease as they have trouble with orientation and balance.
4. Make the food more appetizing
If possible, try to avoid adding “human food” or a new dog food to your dog’s meals as this may cause GI upset. Instead, you can make his or her normal food more palatable and easier to chew by moistening it with some warm water or low-sodium chicken broth.
Alternatively, you can form easy-to-grab “meatballs” out of canned food. These meatballs can make it easy to hand-feed your dog if the bowl is too difficult in the early stages of recovery.
Initially, your dog may drop a lot of food on the floor. This is often part of the process so don’t be alarmed. Instead, plan to feed him or her somewhere that is easy to clean up. Patiently put the food back in the dish or hand it to your pup again when it gets dropped.
Medications for vestibular disease
After your vet diagnoses your dog with vestibular disease, he or she will discuss the use of one or more anti-nausea medications. These can be helpful to combat the vomiting and spinning sensation. That way your dog will hopefully feel better and be more likely to want to eat. Some of the more common medications include:
Meclizine
This is an antihistamine that can suppress the stimulation of the vestibular system inside your dog’s inner ear and brain (which is what is causing the symptoms). Vets may also prescribe it for dogs with severe car sickness. However, meclizine is not appropriate for all dogs. It also cannot be used with other antihistamines. Be sure to get permission from your vet prior to giving it.
Maropitant (Cerenia®)
This strong anti-nausea medication inhibits vomiting by blocking the stimulation of the vomiting center in the brain. Most vets also think it has anti-inflammatory effects, which is an added benefit when treating dogs with vestibular disease.
Maropitant is a prescription medication. Your vet can give an injection of maropitant in the clinic or send you home with a few oral doses. The injectable form is particularly convenient in a patient who is not eating normally.
Ondansetron (Zofran®)
Ondansetron is a serotonin antagonist that works similarly to Maropitant but without anti-inflammatory effects. It is a prescription medication available in both injectable and oral tablet form.
Additional helpful medications
Your veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, steroids (such as prednisone for dogs), or appetite stimulants for dogs. He or she will base that decision on your dog’s condition and the underlying cause of the vestibular disease. While not a medication, it’s definitely worth mentioning that there are several exercises for dogs with vestibular disease that can aid your dog’s recovery.
Will my dog be like this forever?
Although the presentation of a dog with vestibular disease can be quite scary, the good news is that most dogs recover with almost no long-lasting symptoms other than sometimes a slight head tilt. However, recovery time can vary from dog to dog.
Most likely, you will need to help your dog eat, drink, and go outside for around three to seven days before you will see improvement.
If at any point you notice a worsening of the symptoms, or you are unable to get your dog to eat or drink, please notify your veterinarian. He or she can give fluids to your dog either in the vein (i.e. intravenous fluids) or under the skin (i.e. subcutaneous fluids). He or she may also decide to place a temporary feeding tube for dogs if it has been too long since your dog has eaten.
Recovery begins with the dog food dish
I understand how scary it can be to watch your dog stumble around and feel like you are helpless to change the situation. But you aren’t. In fact, I would say that you are vital to your dog’s recovery. This is a condition where medications, supportive care, and tincture of time can often do wonders. You are the perfect person to patiently and lovingly work with your dog as he or she figures out how to stand, walk, eat, and drink.
As a proactive dog parent, ensuring your dog can eat nutritious meals is actually one of the most important things you can do. So take a deep breath, re-read these tips, and get to work. You can successfully feed your dog with vestibular disease and support him or her through this difficult time.
What tips or tricks did you use to help your dog with vestibular disease eat and drink?
Please comment below.
Hiya, it’s comforting to know that a lot of dogs are going through similar reactions to VD. But any advice would be massively helpful, I’m struggling with my 13 year old sprocker,(cocker spaniel/ springer spaniel) he woke up in a state on 14 September 24, and it was one of the worst days I’m in my life to see him that way, we took him to the vets and he was diagnosed that day, they gave him an anti sickness injection, and he came home resting but also eating and drinking and he was improving with balance/ walking ext but in the last 3/4 days he won’t eat, he’s drinking but just won’t accept food, we’ve tried so many things softer foods, different flavours, meats etc, tried some of his favourite treats and he won’t take it: we took him to the vets today and they gave us more anti sickness tablets and had his anti sickness injection along with a gastro tablet and we’re struggling to get him to take the tablet. But since bringing him back from the vets it’s now been 9 hours and he’s pooped himself. Can anyone please suggest anything to help encourage him to eat and take the tablets to get him back to himself, it’s so upsetting and breaking my heart😔 thank you xx
Hi Abbie,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with the effects of vestibular disease. I understand your concern with his lack of appetite and think it is good you are searching for advice. I am not sure what the anti-sickness medicine is your vet has given you, but if your boy is not currently taking anything to help with dizziness, I would recommend you discuss this with your vet. I sometimes have to prescribe an appetite stimulant for dogs with this condition and also like to use probiotics to promote gut health. How are things today? Is your pup feeling any better? Hoping all is well and praying your boy has made a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update and let us know how he is doing. Bless you.
Cooked chicken works wonders in getting them to eat.
Hi , my 9 year old Yorkie poodle mix was diagnosed with vestibular disease yesterday at 3:00 pm , I picked him up from vets office and he fell asleep on the way home , he has drank a lil water that I put up to his mouth , I gave him trazodone 50 mg at 3:00 yesterday and 12:30 am this morning , he has slept for the last 26 hours , is this ok ? He wakes a lil bit if I move him but right back to sleep he goes , should I be worried about sleeping this much ? Thank you
Hi Joey,
I understand your concern for your little pup with this extreme lethargy he is displaying. This may be a side effect of the trazodone but without examining him myself I can’t say for sure. I strongly recommend you contact your vet and let them know how things are going. They may want to change the dosage of the medication or schedule a follow up visit. Hoping you have seen great improvement in your boy’s condition over the past few weeks. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing your pup all the best at making a full recovery.
My elderly doxie got out of the hospital 2 days ago. I have seen an huge improvement in mobility. However, he will still not eat, but drink, I have been giving him low sodium chicken broth. He will drink small amounts but I feel like it is something, at least.
Hi Melissa,
I am sorry your Dachshund is still struggling with the effects of vestibular disease. Did your vet send home any medications to help with the dizziness or nausea? If not, I would reach out and let them know your boy’s appetite is decreased and see if they want to prescribe some medicine. Also, if you need ideas about foods that can be given via oral syringe, you can try baby food! Meats and vegetables would be a great place to start. Just make sure you avoid any ingredients or foods considered toxic to dogs (garlic, onion, grapes, xylitol/birch sugar, etc.) Hoping your boy will continue to improve and praying for a full recovery.
Chicken and or turkey gerber baby food!! Works wonders!
Thank you for this wonderful advice.
It must be awful for our 10 and a half year old Boxer girl to deal with these symptoms but I think it’s us, as parents, doing the most worrying. She only started with it yesterday and had an injection, and we have some meds to give her today. I came looking for advice on what to do as she isn’t eating (very noticeable as she’s recently been diagnosed with cushings disease so has been eating plenty) and I’m very grateful for the tips you’ve provided here. It’s also reassuring to hear again what the vet told us yesterday, that it hopefully won’t last forever and she’ll soon be back to her old self (quite old for a Boxer really).
Thanks again for the great advice.
Hi Craig,
Thank you for the kind words and positive feedback about the article! I hope your senior girl was able to make a full recovery and is back living her best life. Wishing you many happy years ahead and give your sweet girl a hug for me!
Hi all,
stumbled across this site as trying to find out what I can tempt our 14yr collie to eat who suddenly collapsed with this horrible condition on Sunday morning,
She was in an awful state and we rushed her to the vets (thinking the worse) but a mild sedative and a anti sickness jab she came home and slept .
We’ve carried her to the garden and managed to get water in her via a kids calpol syringe but she’s not interested in eating , we are now on day 3 , there is lots of improvement managing to walk to garden but with a towel as a sling .
Eyes are looking better but definitely has a head tilt , did one poop on Monday morning but nothing since , I’ve tried chicken rice fish egg sweet potato ( not all together obviously) but nothing is doing the trick ! any ideas please . liz
Hi Liz,
I am so sorry you experienced this troubling issue with your senior girl. Sometimes there is ongoing nausea associated with the dizziness caused by vestibular disease which can make a dog hesitant to eat. I know you mentioned your vet administered an injection to help with nausea on the day you took your girl in for the appointment. It might be helpful to talk to your vet about additional doses that can be given at home. Also, they may consider prescribing an appetite stimulant. I hope you were able to find a way to restore your sweet girl’s quality of life. Praying for healing and wishing her all the best at a full recovery.
My girl came down with this horrible disease about 5 days ago, we were scared to death thinking she was dying as she fell over on her side and spun in circles, lost control of her bladder, it’s terrifying to watch, she’s doing better now after 2 nausea medication’s and steroids. I had to resort to feeding her boiled liver to get her to eat something, I never knew such a disease existed. I pray she continues to mend she’s an old lady of 15 years so very precious to my husband and I. I think I will never want another dog after watching this, it scared me badly. Faith
Dear Faith,
I am so sorry you had to face this scary situation with your pup. I hope she has improved and is on her way to a full recovery. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you and your sweet girl.
Our 16 year old rescue mixed breed Charlie had his first run in with VD about 3 years ago. He had a near full recovery in less than a week. However since then he has had some mild to moderate unsteadiness & head tile with occasional flare ups of the VD. About a week ago he began showing signs of his VD intensifying to the point where the past few days he is unable to stand on his own. His appetite has remained good. He wants to drink water but it is hard with the balance. We are trying to accommodate that. The worst part now is he hasn’t had a bowel movement in a couple of days & with his very poor balance not sure how he is going to even be able to. Any advice on assisting him with a bowel movement? Thanks.
Hi Paul,
My heart aches for your sweet boy and all he has endured. I highly recommend finding a harness or other pelvic/hip support device that is comfortable for daily use. I really like the Help ‘Em Up harness and have heard good things from clients that have used them with their senior dogs. The harness will allow you to offer support when needed but not prevent Charlie from moving around on his own. This way he can walk to where he wants to “go” and then you can help him lower himself gently into the proper position and prevent him from falling or collapsing while defecating. Hoping he will continue to improve a little each day. Praying for a full recovery and wishing you both the best!
I use warm blankets just out of the dryer to wrap around my sweet dogs body, not shoulders and head. Then I let him lay down the way he wants in a slanted position. He likes hanging his head over the side of his doggy bed (from Costco) on the floor, so even if he rolls off, he will not get hurt on the carpet. If he peas or poops, I clean the blanket off, then wash and dry it again. I have two identical very soft cozy blankets (from Costco) that I alternate for him. So far, it’s working but I can’t wait for my old baby to get better.❤️🩹❤️
Hi Z,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with the effects of vestibular disease. I think this blanket technique you are using sounds very comforting, and I can imagine it has probably helped reduced your boy’s stress levels as well. Hoping all is well and that he was able to make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Thank you. My boy still isn’t better, but he is so motivated, and so am I. I’m fortunate to be able to spend all my time with him. I can’t figure put why he is still so dizzy. He us extremely healthy and strong otherwise. Just so dizzy he can’t stand and walk by himself. Every time we start his excersize when he’s ready, he wants to go so fast he falls. He keeps trying to go the other way, meaning not to the left circle…but then he falls and gets discouraged. This is so heartbreaking because he whimpers and tries SO hard. Love him so much.
Dear Z,
I am sorry your boy is still dealing with the effects of this terrible condition. He is lucky to have you taking such good care of him and doing everything in your power to offer relief. Praying for continued healing and wishing you both the best. Keep up the good work!
My 13 year old pug was diagnosed with idiopathic vestibule disease six weeks ago. At vet hospital in ICU 2 days Every test possible including MRI. Only findings were very small brain bleeds, age unknown. NGT placed, IV fluids. recovered well in 3 days with residual symptoms about a week . Now seeing reoccurring nystagmus and vertigo. . read your info about supporting position, feeding and hydration. I had Reglan and gave him a dose. should I talk to vet about Meclizine or Cerenia? Any other suggestions on care/
Hi Christy,
I am sorry your senior pup is dealing with the effects of vestibular disease. I do think it would be a good idea to ask your vet about meclizine and cerenia. They shouldn’t cause any unwanted symptoms but could really help your pup feel better. It sounds like you have everything else covered, but just in case I have overlooked something I will attach links to other articles on this topic. You may find another bit of useful information that can help guide you through this process. Praying your sweet boy will make a full recovery and wishing you both the best.
1. Vestibular Disease in Dogs: Doggy Vertigo
2. 10 Tips and Exercises for Dogs with Vestibular Disease
Good afternoon,
Thank you so much for all these posts. It’s helping me to understand more about vestibular disease.
My 13 year old border collie was diagnosed 2 days ago and is still unable to stand up.
Please can you advise if it can take longer for him to be able to stand.
I heard it was 72 hours but he’s not showing any signs at all.
I lay on the floor beside him all night as I was so worried.
Thank you very much .
Dear Laura,
I am sorry your senior guy is dealing with the effects of vestibular disease. While 72 hours is the average length of time to see improvement, it can definitely take much longer than this for some dogs. I would not give up hope yet. I understand how hard it is to watch your pup struggle and want so desperately to help them heal. Try to be patient and give this some more time. But also make sure you are staying in contact with your vet and giving them regular updates. Hoping your sweet boy can make a full recovery.
My 15 yo beagle was diagnosed with vestibular disease yesterday after showing signs the night before. Vet gave iv cerenia and prescribed antibiotic in case it is an inner ear infection. She’s also getting dramine. Her eye movements have stopped and she’s now getting around pretty well, but she refuses to eat or drink anything. I’ve tried chicken and rice with chicken broth, chicken broth alone to try to get her to drink and any kind of favorite normally “forbidden” foods. Should I try giving he water or chicken broth by syringe? Any suggestions?
Hi Suzanne,
I am sorry for the delay in responding to your questions. I hope things have improved and your senior girl is feeling much better. For future reference, using a syringe to offer water is fine. I usually try to avoid offering chicken broth as a water substitute as it is usually very high in salt and too much salt can cause some serious issues. It is fine to use a low sodium broth to moisten food to make it more appealing. How is your girl doing today? Praying all is well and wishing you both many happy days ahead.
My 14 year old golden retriever had a vestibular episode two days ago. We took her to the vet and she was prescribed with anti nausea medication, but my dog is uninterested in eating anything at the moment. I want to give her the medication but she refuses to eat anything. She has been drinking water though.
She cannot stand on her own and her eye movements are still irregular so I do want to give her the medication but she won’t take it, even when I tried hiding it in soft food. Any advice on what to do?
Hi Chelsea,
I am so sorry you are facing this difficult situation with your senior girl. Please make sure your vet is aware of this issue. They may be able to give the first dose as an injection. Also, it might be good to discuss the use of an appetite stimulant. If nothing else, there are ways to pill a dog without food. Here is a link to an article that discusses this in more detail: Your Dog Won’t Take Pills? 5 Easy Solutions for Uncooperative Pooches
Hoping your pup is feeling better and makes a full recovery. Best wishes and good luck!
This is great information. I took my dog to the vet 3 days ago when out of nowhere my 17 year old pomeranian started falling down, with zero interest to me, or food. The vet took her back and ran test. Nothing was abnormal except low blood sugar, and I could see where the vet was taking the conversation. She said that she highly recommended euthanasia of she hadn’t eaten by morning. Well, she didn’t eat. But I just know my dog, and started looking. I came across congestive heart failure, which wouldn’t be insane. She’s 17. But then I saw this. I was getting ready to take her in and I read this. I just got back from Walmart with unflavored pedialyte, karo syrup, and baby food. I’ve used syringes for all of them, so I agree with you. I’m going with hope and intuition and seeing what we can do by Monday.
Hi Lauren,
I’m sorry to hear that your dog started falling down and not eating well. It sounds like you are doing a great job of seeking veterinary advice, holding onto hope, and trusting your intuition. I hope that things turned around for her, but if they didn’t, I think that your plan of reaching out to the vet makes sense.
my 10 year has VD for past 2 weeks she walks like she is drunk. the vet gave her fluid and medication she is eating and drinking ok bery hard to watch her.the vet said it could take up to 6 weeks. to recover. should I take her in for more meds.. thanks for all info on this problem make me so sad
Hi Terri,
I understand your concern for your senior girl with these worrisome vestibular symptoms. Without knowing what medications are being used and since I have not personally examined your pup, it is hard to make specific recommendations. I encourage you to reach out to your vet and discuss any issues that are ongoing with your girl. Your vet can let you know if additional medications should be started or if things are going as hoped. Wishing you all the best and praying for a full recovery for your sweet girl.
We’ve recently had issues with what our vet stated may be vestibular disease in our Miniature Schnauzer, Pepper. Desperate to help her with her inability to walk, eat, or drink normally, we read about trying Cayenne Pepper, which has proven to be successful, restoring her balance when used. It’s usually only needed once a day. When her symptoms kick in, I wet the first digit of my index finger, dip it in Cayenne Pepper, shake off the excess, then put it in her mouth & rub it on her gums & tongue. I’m careful not to get it on her nose or in her eyes, because it’s irritating. It has made such a difference for the past few days and is allowing her to recover. My understanding is that the Cayenne Pepper is a vasodilator that helps with blood flow, providing some relief from the symptoms. Her appetite kicks in when she starts feeling better & we are careful to feed her only a bit. Naturally, the hydration is more important for now. If this helps anyone out there get through this, it’s worth sharing. ❤
Hi oleza,
This is incredible! I have never heard of using Cayenne Pepper to help with vestibular disease. Initially I worry that it would be too spicy for dog’s and cause irritation in their mouths but find it interesting your dog does so well with it. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Hoping Pepper will continue to do well and make a full recovery.
This happened to our Miniature Schnauzer, Pony on July 3. He was doing circles, throwing up, and his eyes were ticking from side to side. We rushed him to the emergency vet and they said it was either a stroke, a seizure, or vestibular disease.. They also said he had a heart murmur so they couldn’t give him any fluids. So we brought him home and babied him until he felt better. He’s doing okay now, but his head is still tilting a little to one side. And he is a little off balance. The eyes stopped ticking fairly quick which was scaring me the most. I’m glad. I’m happy you were able to share this info. Good luck with everything!
thank you. this made me feel like we are not alone! my 11 uear old shephard is experiencing this again for the second time this year. its been 24 hours at the moment and she cannot stand. she only has 3 legs so it’s even harder. but she wants to eat and drink.
my question is how will she poop? I’ve given her 3 small meals and she hasn’t been yet, as she’s constantly stuck laying down. I habe a harness but even if I got her outside, she cannot bend to urinate or poop… so far I’ve put puppy training pads underneath her which she’d not happy with but I’d rather her not struggle and fall over trying to get up… thank you
Hi EmmA,
I am sorry your girl had so much trouble with her second round of vestibular disease. Hoping all is well today and she has made a full recovery. In the future should another situation arise where she is unstable on her feet, I highly recommend the Help ‘Em Up Harness. It will allow you to give her the support she needs and still give her the freedom to do what she can on her own. Wishing you both all the best for many happy days ahead. Bless you.
My 15 1/2-old Shiz Tsu was diagnosed last Thursday with Vestibular disease and today is Tuesday. His eyes have stopped moving from side to side which is a blessing. He has not had a bowel movement (because he is eating very little, a few pieces of chicken) since Wednesday so it’s been 6 days. I have tried stage 3 baby food, and bananas, and he wants nothing to do with it. he is on Cerenia, Zofran and dramamine. The difficult thing is giving him his medicine! He is stubborn and clenches his jaw down so the Dramamine pill I have had to crush and put a little chicken broth with it and squirt it in the side of his cheek this is 3 times a day. Then the Zofran is twice a day and Cerenia 1 time a day. He is also on an appetite stimulant once a day. He is drinking water only through a syringe and this is a battle as well. Some days I can get 8 syringes and most recently only 2. he continues to turn his head from side to side to avoid it. He did get some subcutaneous fluids today (and Friday) along with a shot of B 12. Does anyone have ideas on getting the pills in a shiz tsu since they don’t have a snout and he is one stubborn little guy! He is losing weight. He only drank from his water bowl the day after it happened, he tips his head sideways while I am holding him up.
So eating, drinking, pooping, and giving medicine I could really use some helpful hints. Remember he doesn’t have a snout so I can’t just open his mouth.
Hi Teshia,
I am sorry you are dealing with this difficult situation in your Shih Tzu. I am glad to hear some of his symptoms have resolved (nystagmus in eyes) but agree his lack of appetite and drinking is worrisome. Please make sure your vet is aware of these issues. They may want to change up his medications or even need to hospitalize him for a few days to get things headed in the right direction. They can also show you a way to open his mouth if needed. While it is a bit more challenging in pups with flat faces, it can still be done if you know where to place your fingers. Here is a link to another article that may have some tips worth trying: Your Dog Won’t Take Pills? 5 Easy Solutions for Uncooperative Pooches
How are things today? Hoping all is well and your sweet boy is on the road to recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
aww bless his heart. My pup is a 15 yr old shih tzu mix (his mom was full blooded shih tzu and she was my baby!). I’ve always given my dogs pills with peanut butter. you just put a little in the pill and make a tiny ball out of it and they eat it no problem.
my dog, Ollie, (15yr) was diagnosed with vestibular disease this week and he’s on 4 Rx and I’m feeding him baby food chicken and gravy. he’s also eating “soups” cat food. you can give him water with a dropper or a rabbit water feeder if he’ll lick it. In the past, I’ve also given my pups puppy formula (ready made) when they’ve been sick and they liked it a lot.
I hope some of this helps you both. hugs for your pup! ❤️
My friends schnauzer had a seizure 2 1/2 weeks ago and his remain would head tails walks only to the left and is not eating well drinking some and I told her she should probably take the dog to the vet because it might have the vestibular problem she won’t go because she said they’re probably gonna tell her to put him to sleep. He’s 16 years old.
Hi Helen,
I am sorry your friend is in such a difficult situation. I agree with the advice you gave and think a visit to the vet is needed. Hoping you can offer your friend a listening ear to voice her concerns and comfort as she makes some hard decisions. Bless you both.
Hi dr. Buzby,
thank you for this article. My dog Taco was recently diagnosed with idiopathic vestibule disease. He is a 12 year old Sheppard mix. He had a couple of mild episodes which he improved quickly. His last episode was a bad one and he is still recovering after a few weeks. Are there any signs to look for if he is going to have a episode? also do episodes happen frequently because he has had a few within 3 weeks of each other.? Also is there any articles on the epsly maneuver being performed on a dog?
thank you so much for your time and appreciate all of the incite in your article.
Hi JP,
I am sorry Taco is struggling with the symptoms of recurring vestibular disease. There are cases of where a modified Epley maneuver was performed on dogs with success, but this is only if the cause of the vestibular disease is not centrally located within the brain. Due to the frequency of your dog’s episodes, it may be a good idea to talk with a specialist and rule out the possibility of other issues (such as a brain tumor). I am not sure that there are any warning signs to watch for. But it could be worth keeping a journal and writing down all the details just in case. Praying your boy can continue to heal and hoping for a full recovery. Best wishes to you and Taco!
I welcome reviewing all the posts on this site. It gives some comfort that we are doing the right thing with our 12 year old yellow lab who was running with his pack of dog friends on Tuesday morning and diagnosed on Thursday morning. Today is Sunday and while this 75 lb lab is drinking a but her and there, he does not want to take any food twice. He stopped his food the second night. Chicken the third night, not accepting chicken again. a little steak the fourth night – not accepting that again. Today was peanut butter, chicken and rice. took very little.
How long can he go, or what signs will I see, that says he needs to be fed by the vet? He is on low drowsy Dramamine and boy, all he is doing is sleeping.
Thank You
Michael
Hi Michael,
I am sorry your senior guy experienced his first vestibular issue. It can definitely be tricky to get them to eat when they are so dizzy and nauseous. How are things today? Did everything resolve completely? If this should occur again in the future, you may want to talk to your vet about prescribing an anti-nausea medication or even an appetite stimulant to help encourage your pup to eat. As long as your boy is drinking enough water and getting a little food into his system, he should be ok. Your vet can run some lab work to make sure electrolytes and such are within the normal range. The key to getting through a vestibular episode is to stay in close contact with your vet and give it time. Hoping all is well and your sweet boy is back living his best life.
Hello, thanks for the article and responses, i think i lost years of my life seeing my 14 years old Bella vomiting and walking like sailor in Ohio, was brought immediately to the clinic and i got her home but she refuses eating 5 days so she went yesterday to the clinic again to get fluids but i worry so much that she won’t make it. It’s a nightmare chasing her with food, she walks, she climbs stairs but without food how far can she go? I still haven’t come to a safe conclusion of what’s best, to let her walk or stay relax in a deteriorated place.. Uff… Its one of the most difficult periods of our life together, i pray she will make it…
Dear Zoe,
I am so sorry you are in this difficult situation with Bella. I can only imagine how worried you must be with her lack of appetite. Please make sure your vet is aware of this issue. They may be able to prescribe an appetite stimulant or other medication to help with the nausea. How are things today? Praying all is well and your sweet girl was able to make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My Shibba is 14 yrs. 5 days ago she was diagnosed with the disease. She is going pee and stumbles and wobbles. Slept a lot. Drinks a little from my fingers. Eats very little. She has not had a bowl movement yet. What kinds of signs should I look for.
She also bleeches when she has the food. I was told if it’s worsening to reach out to a veterinarian but wait a few days. She was much stronger when diagnosed and wreaking now.
Hi John,
I am sorry your Shiba is struggling with the symptoms of vestibular disease. I am concerned that she may not be drinking an adequate amount of water and is at risk of dehydration. With all you have described, I think it would be best to go ahead and contact your vet.
Hi there,
My Mini Aussie got diagnosed with this on Monday, she’s been doing amazing in the 72 hour mark however now she has decided eating isn’t really favored. I am getting my sweet 14 year old senior girl to eat dog cookies but nothing else is catching her attention. I’ve tried canned dog food, chicken and rice, wetting her regular dog food in addition to mixing it with pumpkin and nothing is helping. Any tips or tricks to help motivate my sweet girl to eat before I consider bringing her into the vet again? I also learned more from this article than the emergency vet thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
I am sorry your Aussie girl is struggling with eating. It is a bit strange to me that she was willing to eat during the first 72 hours after her vestibular episode but then became inappetent. It sounds like you have already tried all the common things I would normally suggest. I think it is time to call your vet. They may be able to prescribe an appetite stimulant to help increase her willingness to eat. Also, it might be good to have her rechecked just to make sure nothing new has popped up that could be contributing to her reluctance to eat. I hope you can find the answers you need to help get your pup back on track. Wishing you both the best of luck!
Hi Julie,
I apologize for adding to this thread however I was unsure how to start a new one.
I have a 1 yr old male/intact Belgian Malinois. Troy had his first episode just over a month ago. All symptoms lead to Vestibular. The episode only lasted a few hours and then he was up running around like nothing happened however I still made an emergency visit with our vet. We did a urine test and the results are found below.
Slight increase in SDMA at 16 (normal 0-14). This is a marker of early kidney disease, HOWEVER, this is a range for adult animals and in younger animals this range is more accurately described as 0-16). At this time I think that we should should just monitor at this time and if anything recheck values when Troy is 2 years old.
Slight decrease in globulins. This is a form of protein in the blood related to inflammation when it is increased. Without other values changed in the blood it is insignificant to Troy.
The vet put him on an anti nausea medication and that seemed to help a little.
Troy had another episode yesterday and it was much more severe. I’m perplexed as this disease is found in older dogs and not one at his age.
Our vet has sent a referral to a neurologist and hopefully we will get some answers. In the interim, I’ve been reading up on diets. It’s stated that if humans who suffer from this disease that Vitamin D should be taken, lean meats and to stick to chicken. Would you say that a similar diet for a dog would be recommended?
I’m at a loss, my poor children are traumatized and seeing our sweet boy in this state is heartbreaking.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Nicole,
I am sorry your young Malinois is having these strange neurologic episodes. I am glad you are pursuing a referral to a specialist. This is exactly what I would recommend to one of my own patients. I am not sure it would be advisable to change your pup’s diet at this point. Without having a diagnosis, I wouldn’t want to risk making the symptoms worse or causing other issues unknowingly. Has the appointment with the neurologist happened yet? I would be curious to know what they recommended. Feel free to leave an update as you navigate this new path. Wishing you both the best and praying for a positive outcome.
My 14 year old was diagnosed yesterday and had stopped eating today. All I could get him to eat was rotisserie chicken and I made some white rice. He ate all of the chicken and just a little rice. This was the most I could get him to eat all day. He wasn’t even interested in ‘new’ dog food or his snacks.
Hi Dog Mom,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with the symptoms of vestibular disease. Please make sure your vet is aware of his lack of appetite. They might want to try an appetite stimulant to see if it helps get him interested in food. I hope your pup is feeling better today and on the road to recovery. Best wishes and good luck!
My 12 year old bassett hound had a vestibular episode on July 4th (ear infection likely cause, but vet didn’t rule out tumor due to her history with canine lymphoma). Fortunately, she managed to maintain her appetite but was INCREDIBLY picky with her meals for a couple of weeks. Don’t give up! :Her regular diet consists of Nom Nom fresh meals; she would only eat them if I mixed with canned or wet dog food. The Rachel Ray Nutrish wet dog food was her favorite but I tried so many others. She’d like them for a couple of days, then grow bored with the flavor and send me back to the store for something new. Lol Anyhow, I came across a “magical dinner dust” (dog food sprinkles) on amazon and was shocked at how well they work! I no longer had to mix her NomNom with another brand or flavor.
Unfortunately, she had a second vestibular episode a couple of nights ago. She’s now back to being picky and the sprinkles aren’t working. Back to the store I go. ..
Thanks for sharing this great tip! I hope you were able to find something that worked for your pup this time too! ❤️
My 13 year old boxer has a brain tumor and recently had a stroke. He is drinking and walking perfectly fine. When we walk him he is lifting his leg to use the bathroom and has no problem. He is unable to eat even when it’s in our hands. He will eat a little then run to a corner and shake. We think the head tilting is causing him to be dizzy. Do you have any suggestions to get some food into him? This has been going on for 24 hours now.
Hi Kaitie,
I am sorry your Boxer is struggling with the effects of a stroke. Neurological issues can be so difficult to manage. I highly recommend you talk to your vet about the difficulty with feeding your boy. The dizziness can definitely be playing a role in his lack of appetite. It can also cause nausea. You can discuss treatment options with your vet to see what they think would be best for your dog’s specific situation. They may want to try a medication like Dramamine to help with the dizziness. Some vets will also prescribe anti-nausea meds or an appetite stimulant. I applaud you for taking an active role in advocating for your dog’s health and wellbeing. I am hopeful with more time your sweet boy will start to improve. Wishing you both the best.
Thank you for these tips! My dog was diagnosed and we have been very distressed as its hard for her to eat and drink. I will definitely try these tips.
Hi Dr Buzby, Thank you so much for this information in vestibular disease. Our 10 year old German Shepherd was diagnosed on Thursday. With the help of meds the nystagmus has gone away, but so has her appetite. She refuses everything we try to give her by bowl or by hand: chicken & rice, low-sodium chicken broth, homemade pumpkin dog treats, etc. She was out on one appetite stimulant on Saturday l, which didn’t help, and switched to a different appetite stimulant yesterday which also hasn’t helped. I will be calling the vet tomorrow but wanted to get your input on this as well. Any additional information you can proofs would be appreciated.
Hi Rebecca,
I am sorry your Shepherd girl is struggling with the symptoms of vestibular disease. I am glad she was prescribed an appetite stimulant and think they are a great idea, especially when combined with other treatments. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t give specific recommendations. I don’t know what medications your pup is already taking, but it might be a good idea to talk to your vet about medications to help with dizziness (like Dramamine) or anti-nausea meds (like Cerenia) if those are not already part of her treatment plan. Sometimes despite our best efforts, dogs just need a little more time. I am hopeful that your sweet girl will be able to make a full recovery and get back to living her best life very soon. Bless you!
I really appreciate your article and the comments. My 14 1/2 yo border collie was afflicted suddenly on 10/14. The vet administered IV Cerenia and he was much improved later in the day. Eating and drinking, which continued thru yesterday. Today 10/16, the nystagmus is worse again and he doesn’t want to eat. I gave him the oral Cerenia – I think it’s making him sleepy. I’m worried but you made me see recovery can be slow. I will try the eating tips later today.
Hi Carolyn,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with the effects of vestibular disease. I feel like he probably just needs more time and will continue to make slow progress as the days pass. Try not to worry too much, you are doing a great job searching for ways to help the recovery process. Make sure you keep your vet updated with how things are progressing. Here is a link to another article with additional information: 10 Tips and Exercises for Dogs with Vestibular Disease
I hope you don’t mind that I edited your original comment to reflect the changes you noted in your follow up post. Autocorrect can be such a headache! Praying for a positive outcome for you and your sweet boy. Bless you both.
This is information is so helpful! Got home today from emergency vet visit with my 12.5 year old chocolate lab after his first episode and this article is very informative and comforting. Thank you!
Hi Becky,
I am glad you found the article to be helpful and informative. Here is another one that might offer useful information to help with your Lab’s recovery: 10 Tips and Exercises for Dogs with Vestibular Disease
I hope your senior boy will make a full recovery and get back to living his best life soon. Best wishes!
Hi. I am an audiologist and I know that when people get vertigo, it is usually recommended that they maintain a low sodium diet to help with overproduction of endolymph on the semi circular canals. Does the same hold true for dogs as well?
Hi Heather,
That is such a good question! The answer is we really don’t know. Vestibular disease in dogs can have many causes such as: ear infections, ototoxicity, trauma, masses/tumors, and possibly hypothyroidism. Then there is the category of idiopathic vestibular disease. When the cause is unknown, it is speculated by some researchers that the amount of endolymph could play a role, but they are also suspicious of an autoimmune issue. The cause in dog’s is not fully understood. So yes, if the endolymph is the culprit as in humans, then maybe decreasing sodium would help. We just don’t have enough information to say for sure.
My 12 1/2 yr old Labrador was recently diagnosed with idiopathic vestibular syndrome and spent 2 weeks being cared for at the veterinary hospital. She was quite slow to recover, not wanting to eat for 5 days, but when she did the difference in her was remarkable. She is continuing to eat really well , she is a Labrador after all, but refuses to walk up any stairs as her back legs are obviously still weak. She does seem disoriented at times and I’m wondering if this will continue. It is now 3 weeks since she was diagnosed and has been home now for 5 days.
Hi Denice,
I am glad your senior girl is making improvements and is able to be at home. Most dogs with vestibular disease do eventually make a full recovery but occasionally some have mild lasting effects. I still think there is hope for your dog to make a full recovery, she just may need more time. I have seen it take months for symptoms to fully resolve. Here is a link to another article with more information and great comments from other readers: 10 Tips and Exercises for Dogs with Vestibular Disease
Keep up the good work and I am praying for a speedy and complete recovery. Best wishes to you both!
My senior Brussels Griffon was diagnosed with old age vestibular disease, however, she was on metronidazole at the time symptoms started. Is there any way to determine if it’s metronidazole toxicity or if it’s vestibular disease?
Hi Barbara,
I understand your concern for your senior girl and these worrisome symptoms. I am not sure there is a way to differentiate the cause of the neurological signs your girl is experiencing. From my research on metronidazole toxicity, it seems like symptoms can persist for up to an average of 14 days after discontinuing the medication. With vestibular disease, the symptoms can also resolve within this time period. You may want to talk to a veterinary neurologist and see if they have testing or treatment they recommend. I hope your pup if feeling better soon and can make a full recovery.
Thank you for this helpful article! I have found that our old beagle girl likes peanut butter which can be licked off a spoon to give her some protein for energy. I also used a squirt gun filled with water and little electrolyte pack to help give her more support. I found that squirting a little bit into her mouth between teeth spaces makes her open up a little and then I can continue to squirt a little at a time down her throat. It’s very hard to know how to help them. She is also is an enclosed area filled with pillows and cushion.
Hi Clarissa,
These are such great ideas! Thank you for sharing your experience with us as this may help someone else in a similar situation. I hope your beagle girl recovers quickly and gets back to living her best life. Praying for your strength as you continue to navigate this difficult path. Best wishes. ♥
Very good article on VE dease. Thank you, extremely helpful. R
My 12 year old golden has VD. However CT scan revealed no body or brain tumors but a very severe ear infection which the vet thinks has come from diseased teeth which were removed late last year. He is on strong antibiotics and anti nausea meds. He can get up, go outside although a little wobbly at times, wee and has started to poo as suffered severe diarrhoea from antibiotics. However although he ate at the end of the first week and into the second, for the last 10 days refuses to eat even if hand feeding. Vet has xrayed his throat and no issues. We have tried changing meds for nausea but so far no change. I am feeding soft dog food with very small pieces of chicken added in mashed and smeared on his tongue which he eats. Will this eventually resolve itself?
Hi Freda,
I am sorry your Golden is having so much trouble. The lack of appetite is very concerning, especially since the nausea has been addressed. Since I haven’t examined your boy myself, I can’t really make conclusions or specific recommendations. Maybe the dental disease is still an issue and is causing oral pain? It is definitely a good idea to talk to your vet and discuss this issue with him not wanting to eat. They may be able to prescribe an appetite stimulant or try a pain medication to see if that helps. Also, you could always schedule a consult with a veterinary internal medicine specialist to get additional information and options. I hope you can find the answers you need and help your sweet boy live his best life. I wish you the best.
Hi Dr. Buzby, thank you for your great info. My 88-year-old Father’s dog (12-year old Chihuahua/Terrier mix), experienced her first onset of Vestibular Dog Disease almost two months ago. She had all the symptoms and has recovered with the exception of eating normally. Unfortunately, my Dad has given her a great deal of human food and the choices are not great, chili, clam chowder, hot dogs, etc. She won’t eat her dog food much of the time. But when I take care of her, I place her dog food out and walk away. This seems to be the best option. But I can’t control what my Dad does.
Do you have any suggestions for a good dog food? Currently she is given 4Health wet dog food. She will not eat the ground up option at all, only the regular chunked version and it takes leaving it in her bowl for a long time, if she eventually eats it. Sometime she’ll go without. Welcome any suggestions for this challenging situation. Dad’s expression of love is sharing his meals with her and it’s gotten so much worse since her vdd episode!
Thank you!
Hi Karen,
I understand how difficult it can be to try and change the bad habits of a family member even if they are acting out of love. It sounds like you are on the right track with not giving in to his dog’s fussy ways. I like dog food brands that have a veterinary nutritionist on staff and that make every component of the food themselves instead of outsourcing. This allows for tighter quality controls and better oversight. One company that fits this description is Purina and their ProPlan foods. Although, if his senior girl is very picky and used to eating human food, any dog food you can get her to eat is better than chili and hotdogs. 🙂 You have an uphill battle before you and I wish you all the luck!
I have a 10 week old puppy that started showing symptoms 2 weeks ago. He was falling over and circling. He was nauseous, didnt want to eat, I had to tube feed him. He has a rough time standing to eat, when he walks he’s very wobbly and his eyes go back and fourth all the time. Vet could not give me a diagnosis for the puppy. Is it possible for a 10 week old puppy to have this disease? He’s now eating on his own when he leans up against something, he walks pretty straight most of the time not doing much circling but he falls over sometimes, and he’s still wobbly.
Hi Samantha,
I can only imagine how heartbreaking it is to watch your tiny puppy struggle. It is possible for idiopathic vestibular disease to occur at any age, but very unlikely in young puppies. Since I have not personally examined your guy, I can’t make any specific recommendations. I do feel like something concerning is happening with your puppy and this may be a good time to talk to your vet about a referral to a specialist. My thoughts are with you as you work toward a diagnosis and possible treatment. Keep us updated on your puppy’s situation!
our 13+ yo löwchen just came down with this this evening, after having one of his most active days on awhile – 2 40 minute walks. he’s diabetic, had cataracts surgery 5 weeks ago, had a pacreatitis flare up 3 weeks ago. last winter he had a lobe of lung removed with cancer, & he’s tested clean. do any of these events make his recovery from vestibular more complicated? for example, as a diabetic, not eating for a few days isn’t an option. he’s at an excellent hospital overnight tonight. thanks for any further insight
Hi Michael,
I understand your concerns about these vestibular symptoms and your pup’s concurrent health issues. As far as I am aware, none of his other diagnoses should impact the potential for recovery from vestibular disease. You are correct that keeping your dog fed is probably the most pressing issue. I am glad you have opted to have him spend the night at a veterinary hospital for expert care. I hope his symptoms will resolve quickly and he makes a full recovery. Best wishes and good luck!
Our sweet guy Eddie (15) recently was diagnosed with vestibular disease. He has not eaten in 4 days but is standing better and walking in grass some to urinate. Stopped vomiting but wont take meds or eat. He’s received intravenous meds for nausea 2 times in three days. Our vet started talking cancer possibility after just three days-Isn’t it a little early for that? How long should we give him before discussing neurologist? Your site is a breath of fresh air-we will try the suggested ways to help him eat. He drinks just fine. Thank you !
Hi Heather,
Sorry Eddie is struggling but I am glad to hear that he is able to stand and walk some. Unfortunately, cancer or the possibility of a tumor causing the vestibular disease in your senior guy is a real concern. I always think it is best to rule out cancer early in the process as waiting may allow the cancer to spread and cause more issues. It is never too early to discuss a referral to a specialist. I recommend you have an honest conversation with your vet and discuss your concerns and your interest in taking Eddie to a neurologist. A referral can sometimes take a few days to weeks so it’s best to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. I hope you can figure out the best treatment plan for your sweet senior guy. Best wishes to you and yours. Keep us updated on Eddie’s progress!
My almost 13 yr old Golden is still undiagnosed. All labs normal, nothing showing up on exam. Took her in on Sept 29 for uti and hearing loss that happened fast. Received antibiotic and Carprofen for arthritis. She was acting fine otherwise. Early morning 10/1 she couldn’t make up the 2 stairs, had to carry her. She acts like she is blind, wanders in the yard in circles when she is able to walk.
Hi Ann,
Sorry to hear that your sweet Golden is having so many strange and concerning symptoms. It can be so worrisome to have these things happen with no explanation. Perhaps it might be time to talk to your vet about a referral to a veterinary specialist such as a neurologist. It sounds like your vet has done a great job of trying to figure out what is going on with your pup. Sometimes these odd cases do require the specialized testing and expertise that can only be found at a specialist. I hope that you are able to get to the bottom of your pups problems soon!
My dog (Stabyhoun, 12 yo) with VD (2-3 days) has lost appetite. I have tried to give her lots of different things, which she declines. Cheese goes down well though (I only feed her a couple of slices, since cheese isn´t supposed to be good for dogs, but I´m thinking that it is better than nothing). Also she ate some chrunchy fluffy oat cereals and a little broth. Meant as an inspirations for others who are desperate to get their dogs to eat something…
Hello,
Sorry to hear that your dog is experiencing an episode of vestibular disease. I am glad that you were able to get her to eat something, and appreciate you commenting to help other readers in a similar position! If she continues to struggle with her appetite, you could consider asking your vet for an appetite simulant or anti-nausea medication if she isn’t already taking one. I always feel for these dogs with vestibular disease because I’m sure it is rough to be so dizzy. I hope she recovers quickly!
Hi Dr. Buzby. Thanks very much for your insightful blog! Recently, my 14-year-old female miniature schnauzer was diagnosed by our vet with idiopathic vestibular disease. It has been a week and a half, but she has yet to recover, with head tilted, very wobbly, and walking in circles, but with no more or little nystagmus. However, the strange thing is that from the moment she was afflicted with this disease until now, her appetite has been healthy, in fact wanting to eat more than ever! Is there some other disease with the similar symptoms as vestibular disease but doesn’t affect appetite?
Hi Victor,
Sorry to hear that your sweet pup was recently diagnosed with idiopathic vestibular disease and is taking a bit longer to recover. While it does seem like a fair amount of dogs with vestibular disease do have a reduced appetite, there are still some who continue to eat heartily the whole time. Thus I wouldn’t consider a reduced appetite a classic sign of vestibular disease like a head tilt or nystagmus. It sure sounds like vestibular disease from what you are describing so it is quite possible that your pup just happens to be one of the ones who doesn’t have any trouble eating. However, for some peace of mind, it may be worth scheduling a recheck examination with your vet or seeking a second opinion from a different vet since the signs are persisting a bit longer than “typical” (realizing though that dogs don’t read the book all the time). Best of luck to you and your pup and thanks for your kind words about the blog!
Hello,
I read your article and it was very helpful. I have a 13 1/2 yr old miniature schnauzer who developed idiopathic vestibular issues 4 weeks ago. she had an initial episode that lasted an hour, 2 more episodes a few days later that resolved in 15 min and then at one week, she had an episode that never ended. I have been doing the epley maneuver often, have had bloodwork an MRI and spinal tap that were normal. She was started on Prednizone with some improvement and now Meclizine with some improvement.
She remains off balance but can walk, started eating herself 2 days ago, goes outside and is going to the bathroom pretty well (pooping is more difficult going in circles) and never had any vomiting..
My question is how long will these symtoms continue???? Is there anything else to try?
Regards,
Jody
Hi Jody,
You are understandably concerned about these lingering neurological issues in your senior girl. I am sorry she is still struggling despite medications and lots of testing. Since I haven’t personally examined your dog, I can’t make specific conclusions about her prognosis. Here is a link to an article with additional information that may be of some benefit: 10 Tips and Exercises for Dogs with Vestibular Disease
If you are already working with a neurology specialist, I am not sure there are any further recommendations I can offer. Maybe your girl just needs more time. I hope she can continue to improve and make a full recovery. Wishing you both the best.
Hi there
I am having the same issue with my miniature schauzer. Vestibular issue is not resolving, but she continues to eat/drink, go outside and no vomitting. She continues to be very wobbly and stumbles with varying degrees of head tilt on any given day. We are at 4 weeks now since initial episode with little improvement. We did prednizone and now meclizine. Have you found anything else that works??? Good luck to you and your pup.
Jody
Hi Jody,
I understand your concern with these ongoing vestibular disease issues. Your pup may just need some more time. But if you aren’t seeing the improvement your vet was expecting, it might be time to schedule a consult with a veterinary neurologist. Please make sure your vet is aware of how things are progressing or the lack of progress. I hope you can find the answers you need to help restore your girl’s quality of life. Best wishes.
Hi thnx for this page, Im looking for some advice. Im from NL and in between vets. Our dog is 13 years old, he had in 1,5 week 3 episodes. Our vet doesn’t believe it can be a VS since the episodes were so close to eachother, another vet we contacted mentioned VS. So I’m kind of holding on to that, that he can be better.
His episodes (as far as we have seen) started each with one time vomiting, followed by him jumping up, walking like he has been drinken, eyes going quick from left to right. His eyes stopped in an hour or 12 hours. Since his 3rd episode 1 week ago, his head is more down on one side. He still has some trouble walking and finding his balance during walks. Since 2 vets have a different few I don’t know what to do, one vet said it’s over don’t let him suffer, the other No it can be VS wait and see.
Most important I came on this page for his food issue, since the last attack one week ago he is barely eating, maybe 1/5 per day as he normally did. He is polite by taking 3 bites every time I bring him the dish. He is doing this for a week now, I already made his food nicer, softer etc. How long can we go on? I’m sorry , long difficult story but so many unknown and so many question marks on what is right. How long do we wait, I don’t want to quite on him too soon. But I don’t want to make him suffer either way
Hi Myrthe,
I am sorry you are in this difficult situation with your senior guy. I understand why you are confused about how to proceed since you have received different recommendations from two vets. Unfortunately, without examining your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. I agree that with so many episodes of these neurological symptoms in such a short period of time, I would be looking for causes other than vestibular disease. I am not sure how long your boy will be able to survive with the limited amount of food he is eating. Saying goodbye may be the most loving option. It is ok to let go before all joy is lost and the only thing that remains is suffering and pain. I would rather say goodbye one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for your sweet boy. Here are links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers:
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
3. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
4. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace