For those of you who have been keeping track…
The Gabberhund is doing much better now.
Eating and drinking OK. Still doing a lot of snoozing, but she was pretty lazy to start with.
She is still wobbly, but seems to get better each day with how well she’s walking.
So… good news… if a little slow.
The dog is just sleeping and sleeping and sleeping.
She takes a little water… enough that I’m not hugely worried about dangerous dehydration. But she has refused to go outside since 11 pm Thursday… I hope she’ll go out today.
Managed to get her to eat about an ounce of beef jerky yesterday – has snubbed everything else. So since Sunday night she’s eaten about 2 ounces of baby food and that jerky.
I understand that this goes along with the expected symptoms, but it’s worrisome, nonetheless.
I can’t do anything except pet her head. I’m not even home during the day to do that.
Sucks. Suck. Sucks.
Gabby was released from the Vet on Tuesday afternoon.
She’s doing OK, although mostly just laying in her chair.
She’s taking water and keeping it down. Totally refusing any and all food (no matter how tasty). But I am not going to worry too much about that until she hasn’t eaten for a week.
I know if I was feeling seasick, I wouldn’t want to eat anything either.
The symptoms have abated somewhat. She can walk across the room… but still lists heavily to one side, and has the “head tilt”. Poor little thing, I know it would totally suck to have this if you could UNDERSTAND what’s going on. To suddenly have your world spinning without knowing anything about it must be pretty horrifying.
So, we leave her in her chair, and bring her water and pet her head and try to help her when she does get up and walk around. And that’s about all we can do.
I was hoping she would fall into the 2 to 3 day recovery window, but it looks like it might take longer than that. Still, the eye rolling seems less, and she CAN walk some, so, we shall wait and we shall see.
So, The Gabber is at the vet for the next 24 to 48 hours… Poor, Sad, Gabber.
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Canine Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome is quite common in older dogs and although alarming, has a good prognosis.
Unless your dog has had the bad luck to experience this condition, few people will have heard of Canine Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome, even though the complaint is not uncommon, especially amongst older dogs.
The symptoms are dramatic and sudden and are often confused with stroke or poisoning, even by some vets who may have had little experience with the illness. The fact is, Canine peripheral vestibular disease has nothing to do with malfunctions of the brain or a morbid appetite, but is caused by inflammation of the inner ear.
Usually there is little sign of any build up to the disease and one of its characteristics is its habit of striking out of the blue. The dog appears perfectly well and happy, eating its meals and taking its usual exercise when for no apparent reason it falls over. When it tries to regain its feet, it staggers in drunken circles, bangs into objects and tumbles down steps.
This alarming site is often made more dramatic by the dog vomiting, which once it has emptied its stomach, tends to be a frothy yellow colour. If you take a closer look you will notice that the eyes shoot rapidly from side to side, the head is cocked to one side and these, together with the drunken staggers and vomiting lead many owners to the fearful conclusion that their pet has been poisoned. Alternatively, when no evidence of any toxic substance can be found, they consider the possibility of stroke.
Neither poisoning or stroke is the cause of this condition, but the inner ear. Examination by a vet may reveal some kind of infection, but usually there is nothing to see within the ear itself and the cause of the onset of the disease usually remains unknown.
What is thought to happen is that the nerves of the inner ear connecting to the cerebellum, which controls balance and spatial orientation become inflamed causing the distressing symptoms previously described, but why this should happen is as yet unclear. There seems to be a link to age as the disease is much more common in old dogs, though younger animals that are around the middle age mark can be affected too.
Symptoms vary in their severity, not all dogs experiencing the same degree of vomiting and unbalanced co-ordination and this seems to correspond to the duration of the illness. Symptoms usually last between three days and three weeks, but the good news is, almost all dogs make a good recovery, although some my be left with a slight tilt of the head.
There is no medical treatment for the condition, although some vets may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect the possibility of infection. What the owner needs to do is provide good nursing and plenty of tender loving care, since the dog is usually very confused and sorry for itself.
Alarming as the symptoms are for the owner, they are terrifying for the dog who doesn’t understand why the world has suddenly started spinning in such a crazy fashion. Usually it seeks the sanctity of its bed and refuses all food and drink. Any attempt to stand or walk precipitates vomiting.
Hand feeding with water and easily nibbled food is the order of the day, although don’t be surprised, if your dog is severely effected, it doesn’t eat for a week. It is also appreciated by the invalid if you offer some support when it does begin to venture back on its feet.
The few dogs that do not quite make a full recovery quickly learn to cope with the head tilt and any unsteadiness and are able to enjoy a quality life which should last to its allotted span.
These five tips should help you to spot vestibular disease, but always get your pet checked by a qualified vet at the onset as there can be other more serious reasons for the symptoms.
1. Dog is perfectly well then begins to stagger and fall about.
2. Dog vomits.
3. Eyes shoot from side to side in a rhythmic action.
4. Head is tilted to one side.
5. Refuses food and or water
Description stolen from here: http://www.essortment.com/all/dogearproblems_rmib.htm
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