vestibular syndrome not eating

[meadow20]

My 13 year old poodle came down with peripheral vestibular syndrome about a month ago. She has not eaten normally since. Her bloodwork is fine and I had her x-rayed to look for anything else 3 days ago. Her balance is much better, but she is sometimes still wobbly. Mostly we can walk around normally and she doesn't seem to feel bad. But she is not eating and in the last two days she hasn't had even a cup of food. She sniffs it, maybe licks it and then walks away. It is the same result even with rotisserie chicken or pot roast.
  Is it typical that vestibular syndrome will be ultimately fatal because of this? I'm having a hard time because I feel like I'm watching my dog die of starvation before my eyes even though she right now she doesn't seem to feel bad. Her weight is down to 45 pounds from 53 pounds when she was healthy.
   Do old dogs just stop eating? What can I expect such a death to be like? Is it peaceful or should I consider not putting her through it?
Thank you.

[meadow20]

Thank you so much for adding to the answer. When our dog first came down with the dizziness, it was dramatic and horrifying. She is much better, can trot and navigate seemingly easily. She can sneeze and shake her ears without falling over. I don't think a brain tumor would get all that much better. It is just her appetite that is not returned after a month since this started. Maybe there is some residual dizziness. I tried dramamine too and it had no effect.  What a hard disease!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Nausea can accompany vestibular disease of any cause.  Reglan, Cerenia or other antiemetics can help.  It may not be only nausea and in that case an appetite stimulant may be necessary. Chinese herbal formulas that help to stimulate appetite include: Jade Lady, Happy Earth, and others.  These are available from Jing Tang Herbal Company by prescription from your vet.  Western medications to help stimulate appetite include Periactin and Remeron.  The spice: Ginger Root in capsule and other forms is very helpful for nausea and can be given as an adjunct to any other medication.  If she is not taking steroids, they may also help.

If the vestibular disease is due to something bad, such as a brain tumor, all attempts to stimulate appetite may be frustrating; but, in the case of brain tumor,  steroids would be helpful not just to stimulate appetite but also to help shrink inflammation.  

[Misfits4Me]

Hello Meadow....I'm not the Vet, but I want to add something here to think about....

It's my understanding that Vestibular Disease is like "Vertigo" in humans.....With Vertigo, everything is right side up or up side down or spinning....Nausea, because of the dizziness, is common....That said; I wonder if your dog might react better w/ Anti-Nausea Medications instead of Appetite Stimulants? Just a thought....

I'll be following this and hope the Vet will be by soon to help you out...Take care, Karla