Woke up one night to find my dog, Sunny, in a heap, unable to stand and panting anxiously. Vet diagnosed it as Geriatric Vestibular Disease. Somewhat common in older dogs (Sunny is 14) symptoms include: eyes darting about irregularly; loss of balance; and upset GI tract. No cause is known. No treatment other than time. Most dogs seem to recover within a few days or weeks. Residual head tilting is common. The vet assured us this was NOT a stroke. However, the symptoms sure looked like it at the time. Took this video on day three, when Sunny came home. She is still unsteady, but managed to make the one step up to get into the house. The panting may be partly due to anxiety – and it was warm on this day. Curiously – Sunny stops when she reaches her bed; and cannot seem to figure out how to lie down. I finally tell her, “Sit”, and she slowly drops down to rest.
Thank you! This gives me some hope. My Max (g. shepherd) was just dx’d with this and it scared the heck out of me! It’s only been 4 days but already I see a little improvement. Max is also 14 years old.
My dog is a 15 and she’s been unable to stand on her own for 12 hours. Her eyes were darting about, to me she looked like she had extreme vertigo. When forced up she doesn’t tilt her head, but her whole body falls to the same side every time. Her legs seem unable to support her. Taken her to the vet and he didn’t even mention this condition, but suggested stroke or weakness and disorientation caused by low blood pressure (she has heart problems). I hope it’s this condition and she recovers.
I’m on day 2 of my foster dog’s vestibular syndrome. He is at the vet’s right now because he can’t drink on his own, and has no desire to eat (too nauseated). Very scary – nothing but vomiting and falling down on Day 1! I hope to have him back on Monday – wish us luck!
Update on Sunny: She is doing very well four months later. She is back doing a romp around the yard. Once in a while she gets her feet tangled a bit. Head tilt has resolved itself, and she just celebrated her 15th birthday.
IF YOUR DOG HAS THIS CONDITION, GIVE IT TIME. IT MAY RESOLVE ITSELF!
Good luck.