Did My Dog Have A Stroke? It Could Be Vestibular Disease !

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake

This post is personal to me which is why I felt it is was important to write it.

On Monday morning (10/20/14), I woke up at 4:00 am to hear my dog scrambling around like he didn't know where he was at.  He was panicking.  When I got down on the floor with him I saw that his eyeballs were moving rapidly back and forth.  My first thought was.. Oh My God he is having a stroke.  It was terrifying.  I called my boyfriend at 4:30 am and told him that I thought Sebastian was having a stroke and could he help me get him to the Emergency Vet Clinic.

My boyfriend and I put Sebastian into the back of my car and off we went.  The Emergency Vet is about 20 minutes away and throughout that entire drive all I kept thinking was is this it?  Is this the day I have to put my dog down if he is suffering?  Sebastian is a little over 14 years old now and is a Yellow Lab so I knew in my heart that no matter what I was going to do what was best for him... not for me.

We get to the Emergency Vet Clinic and they take him right into the exam room.  A few minutes later the doctor came out and told me it was not a stroke... he has Vestibular Disease.  Sometimes called "old dog disease" or "spinning disease".  She went on to explain that the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brainstem had been compromised which is why he was having all these symptoms.  That nerve is responsible for telling the brain whether you are out of balance or not.


Vestibular Disease is like someone having Vertigo or Motion Sickness 24 hours a day.  Which is why his eyes move back and forth and his "scrambling" around.  They lose all balance and direction.  Awful right?  It was terrifying.

This disease is recoverable and you do not have to euthanize your animals because of this.  It can correct itself with some help and lots of TLC.

So, as usual, I did some research on this particular disease and I wanted to share it all with you.  So just in case your dog or cat has these types of symptoms and you get terrified like I did.

So here it goes:

What is vestibular disease?

The vestibular system is responsible for maintaining normal balance. The vestibular system has central components located in the brain, and peripheral components located in the inner and middle ear.

"Vestibular disease refers to a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance."

Vestibular disease refers to a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance. It is more common in older dogs. It is also referred to as old dog vestibular syndrome and canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome.

What are the clinical signs of vestibular disease?

Most dogs present with the sudden onset of loss of balance, disorientation, head tilt and irregular jerking eye movements called nystagmus. Many dogs will become reluctant to stand or walk. Most dogs will lean or fall in the direction of their head tilt.

What causes vestibular disease?

Causes of vestibular disease include middle or inner ear infections, drugs that are toxic to the ear, trauma or injury, tumors and hypothyroidism. When no specific diagnosis is found, the condition will be called idiopathic vestibular syndrome. These cases are distinguished by the sudden onset of clinical signs and the subsequent rapid improvement with little, if any, medical intervention.

How is vestibular disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based on medical history, clinical signs, and the results of blood and urine tests. In some cases, diagnostic testing will include radiographs of the head to assess the appearance of the middle and inner ears and the tympanic bullae. Occasionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans will be performed to look for tumors or other abnormalities. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing may also be performed in some patients.

The criteria for diagnosing canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome are:

1. Older dog

2. Sudden onset of peripheral vestibular signs

3. No detectable cause - no signs of outer- or middle-ear infection, ototoxicity, trauma, hypothyroidism, rickettsial disease, etc.

4. Signs resolve over several weeks

How is vestibular disease treated?

Treatment is directed at the underlying cause, if one can be identified. In severe cases, supportive therapy such as intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be required until the pet can eat and walk on its own. If the pet is seriously disoriented or ataxic (stumbling, unable to stand or walk), it may be given sedatives to help it relax.   Drugs that help combat nausea or motion sickness such as dimenhydrinate may be beneficial. Antibiotics may be used in cases suspected of having middle or inner ear infections. Although corticosteroids have been used in the past, there is little scientific evidence to support their use in this condition.

What is the prognosis for a dog diagnosed with vestibular disease?

"The clinical signs associated with vestibular disease are often most severe during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours."

The clinical signs associated with vestibular disease are often most severe during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. 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. If the patient fails to improve or worsens, then a more severe underlying disorder should be suspected and advanced diagnostic testing should be pursued.

The good news is Sebastian is getting better.  I give him 25mg of Meclizine (motion sickness) pills once per day.  You can buy this over the counter at any pharmacy.  He still cannot get up by himself which is why I utilize a harness I have to help him walk outside to go pee.  I try not to do that too often throughout the day as you can imagine what it feels like to walk when you have Vertigo or Motion Sickness.  He did not want to eat his regular dry dog food so I purchased some canned food and mixed that with his dry, some rice, and lots of water so he can stay hydrated.  I do bring him his food and water to him as he still cannot get up by himself.

So, if your pet shows these types of signs.. don't just think it is a stroke and you have to put him down, it may just be Vestibular Disease and with lots of help and TLC they will be back to their somewhat normal self within days and usually fully recovered within a few weeks.

Is It Important To Train Your Dog To Walk On A Leash? YES YES YES!

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President/Owner, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

Just the other day I have a new client who has a very very big dog.  However, this dog has not been trained to walk on a leash.  In fact, when he saw a squirrel and went for it, he literally pulled me off my feet and dragged me across the lawn.

Not only is it important for the safety of the dog but for the safety of anyone who is walking your dog is leash training important.  If you would prefer to hire a Certified Dog Trainer that is great.  Just make sure you hire the right one.

Here are some training tips for training your doggie on a leash.  If you are a pet owner, PLEASE take some time with your dog to train him to behave on a leash.

How to Teach Your Dog to Walk Nicely on a Leash
You’ve probably seen dogs at shows or on TV who prance alongside their handlers, staring up with rapt attention. These dogs have received extensive training in precision heeling. It’s impressive but demanding work. Precision heeling demands constant attention from both dog and handler and is not appropriate for long periods of time, like for your daily walks around the block or to the park. Even dogs trained to heel need to learn to walk on leash without pulling when they’re not formally heeling.
You can use various methods to teach dogs to walk without pulling on leash. No single method works for all dogs. Here are some overall guidelines before we look at several methods:

• Until your dog learns to walk without pulling, consider all walks training sessions. Keep training sessions frequent, short and fun for your dog.
• Since loose-leash training sessions will be too short and slow to provide adequate exercise, find other ways to exercise your dog until he’s mastered loose-leash walking. In fact, you’ll succeed more quickly if you find a way to tire your dog out before taking him on a training walk. Dogs pull, in part, because they’re full of excess energy. So unless you can expend that energy, your dog will find it hard to control himself. Before you train, play fetch in a hallway or your backyard, play a vigorous game of tug, or drive your dog to the park so that he can play with his buddies.
• Teaching a dog to walk without pulling requires plenty of rewards. Use highly desirable treats that your dog doesn’t get at other times. Soft treats are best so your dog can eat them quickly and continue training. Most dogs love wieners, cheese, cooked chicken or ham, small jerky treats or freeze-dried liver. Chop all treats into small peanut-sized cubes.
• Walk at a quick pace. If your dog trots or runs, she’ll have fewer opportunities to catch a whiff of something enticing, and she’ll be less inclined to stop and eliminate every few steps. Additionally, you are far more interesting to your dog when you move quickly.
• If you expect your dog to control herself while walking on leash, you must also expect her to control herself before you go for a walk. If she gets wildly excited as you prepare for a walk, you need to focus on that first. Walk to the door and pick up the leash. If your dog races around, barks, whines, spins or jumps up, just stand completely still. Do and say absolutely nothing until your dog calms down a bit. As soon as she has all four paws on the floor, slowly reach toward her to clip on the leash. If she starts to bounce around or jump up on you, quickly bring your hands (and the leash) back toward your body. Wait until your dog has all four paws on the floor again. Then slowly reach toward her again to attach her leash. Repeat this sequence until your dog can stand in front of you, without jumping up or running around, while you clip on her leash. This may seem like a tedious exercise at first, but if you’re consistent, your hard work will pay off. Eventually, your dog will learn to stand still while you attach her leash.

Choosing the Right Walking Equipment
While you’re teaching your dog not to pull, you should use a four-foot or six-foot leash. Use whichever width and material that feel comfortable to you. Extendable leashes, such as the Flexiä, or leashes longer than six feet in length are great for exercising dogs, but they don’t work well if you’re trying to teach your dog not to pull on leash.

Suitable Choices

• Regular buckle or snap collar
• Martingale collar (also called a limited slip collar or greyhound collar)
• Head halter/head collar (such as the Halti®, the Gentle Leader® and the Snoot Loop®) Please note that serious injury could result if they are used with punishment methods using leash jerking.
• No-pull harness (such as the SENSE-ation®, the Easy Walk® or the LUPI®)

Head halters and no-pull harnesses can decrease pulling enough for you without any additional training. They are effective tools, making walks more pleasant for you and your dog, so some people decide not to train at all. Just keep in mind that if you choose to use them without training, they won’t have any effect on pulling when your dog is not wearing the equipment. Dogs learn very specifically. If they learn not to pull while wearing a head halter, they won’t automatically know not to pull when they’re wearing something else, like a flat collar.

Unsuitable Choices

• Regular body harness (Actually encourages pulling)
• Fabric or metal choke/check collar (May be effective for your dog if used under the guidance of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer)
• A pinch/prong collar (May be effective for your dog if used under the guidance of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer)

Please remember your dog and whoever walks your dog could get injured if the dog is not properly trained.  As the pet parent it is your responsibility to make sure your dog behaves correctly.