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Stroke? Ear Infection? Vestibular Disease?
Hello all,
My husband and I have a 5 year old pit/lab mix named Bali, and we need some guidance on how we should move forward with her health care.
Approximately two week ago, I noticed that Bali had developed a slight head tilt. It was so slight that my husband did not even notice, so I had decided to keep an eye on it and see if she was scratching or shaking her ears. After about a week, her head tilt suddenly became more noticeable. This time, however, she seemed very disoriented, could not make it up or down the porch steps to get outside, and had vomited once in the evening.
I took off work and took Bali to the vet the very next morning, and although she seemed to be doing a bit better, it was still apparent that something was not right. The vet checked her temperature, which was normal, and checked her eyes for back and forth movement, which she did not see. The vet checked her ears and did not see any signs of infection, but said that it was very likely that she had an inner ear infection, which could cause dizziness, motion sickness, etc. Bali was prescribed 10 days of antibiotics, and an over-the-counter motions sickness medication.
Within a few days of taking the antibiotics, Bali's head tilt went away, but her balance was still off. Now that Bali is completely off her antibiotics, her head tilt has not returned, but she has days in which her balance in worse than others. We haven't risked letting her near the outdoor in indoor stairs, as we know she wouldn't be able to make it without falling. We haven't been letting her on the sofa, as when she takes the short leap down she falls. In addition, we've had to help her eat her food in the morning and evenings, because if we set the food on the floor she seems to get dizzy and just tip over.
Our vet has been in contact with us throughout the past few weeks, and think that Bali may need to see a neurological vet. Although my husband and I are deeply committed to helping Bali get well, we are obviously worried about the financial strain this could possibly put on our family. With that being said, we would like to make sure that everything has been exhausted with our regular family vet before we move on to a neuro vet.
Has anyone seen this kind of behavior with such a young dog? What could it be? Is there anything else our vet can do before we move on to a neuro vet?
Thank so much for your help!
My husband and I have a 5 year old pit/lab mix named Bali, and we need some guidance on how we should move forward with her health care.
Approximately two week ago, I noticed that Bali had developed a slight head tilt. It was so slight that my husband did not even notice, so I had decided to keep an eye on it and see if she was scratching or shaking her ears. After about a week, her head tilt suddenly became more noticeable. This time, however, she seemed very disoriented, could not make it up or down the porch steps to get outside, and had vomited once in the evening.
I took off work and took Bali to the vet the very next morning, and although she seemed to be doing a bit better, it was still apparent that something was not right. The vet checked her temperature, which was normal, and checked her eyes for back and forth movement, which she did not see. The vet checked her ears and did not see any signs of infection, but said that it was very likely that she had an inner ear infection, which could cause dizziness, motion sickness, etc. Bali was prescribed 10 days of antibiotics, and an over-the-counter motions sickness medication.
Within a few days of taking the antibiotics, Bali's head tilt went away, but her balance was still off. Now that Bali is completely off her antibiotics, her head tilt has not returned, but she has days in which her balance in worse than others. We haven't risked letting her near the outdoor in indoor stairs, as we know she wouldn't be able to make it without falling. We haven't been letting her on the sofa, as when she takes the short leap down she falls. In addition, we've had to help her eat her food in the morning and evenings, because if we set the food on the floor she seems to get dizzy and just tip over.
Our vet has been in contact with us throughout the past few weeks, and think that Bali may need to see a neurological vet. Although my husband and I are deeply committed to helping Bali get well, we are obviously worried about the financial strain this could possibly put on our family. With that being said, we would like to make sure that everything has been exhausted with our regular family vet before we move on to a neuro vet.
Has anyone seen this kind of behavior with such a young dog? What could it be? Is there anything else our vet can do before we move on to a neuro vet?
Thank so much for your help!
We are going through the same thing with my 8 year old chihuahua. Waiting on the results from a blood panel to check the thyroid and other organs. They said next step is a neuro. I'm so worried and frightened...
Welcome to the forum....Is there anything else our vet can do before we move on to a neuro vet? Yes, I believe there is.....It doesn't should like your Vet has done much of anything as of yet!
Has your Vet suggested any treatment besides antibiotics? Was a blood panel taken to rule out any hint of organ diseases?
How about Tick-Borne disease? Was that mentioned? Does it exist in your area? If not, you can rule it out....
How about x-rays of the spine? This will be the first thing a Neurologist will do.....Look for diseases of the spine.....Were any anti-inflammatories offered to rule out pain?
All of the above will be done by the Neuro. at more- than -likely a higher price....Your regular Vet can do all of this and try to rule some things out....You also can take these test results to a neuro. and not have to repeat any of them.....
Poisoning crosses my mind, too.....
Please, let us know & any more details that you can think of would help....Thanks, Karla
Has your Vet suggested any treatment besides antibiotics? Was a blood panel taken to rule out any hint of organ diseases?
How about Tick-Borne disease? Was that mentioned? Does it exist in your area? If not, you can rule it out....
How about x-rays of the spine? This will be the first thing a Neurologist will do.....Look for diseases of the spine.....Were any anti-inflammatories offered to rule out pain?
All of the above will be done by the Neuro. at more- than -likely a higher price....Your regular Vet can do all of this and try to rule some things out....You also can take these test results to a neuro. and not have to repeat any of them.....
Poisoning crosses my mind, too.....
Please, let us know & any more details that you can think of would help....Thanks, Karla
You say the vet checked her ears. What do mean, look inside with a light? How about a swab and then examining the swab (lab test an microscope - whatever, I'm not a vet I don't know exactly what test should be ran but I know my vet would take a sample from the ear). The antibiotic may have been just-in-case, you seem to have gotten some improvement. It sounds like it could be an ear problem, base more on what I know about people than about dogs.
A stroke in a dog only 5 years old I'd doubt a stroke. I don't know what your last speculation is. The one case of a stroke I am familiar with was a spinal stroke and the treatment was mainly physical therapy which we did ourselves.
I understand the concern about major financial impacts. I believe there are many medical procedures we carry out on humans that are not even considered for dogs, because of expense.
A stroke in a dog only 5 years old I'd doubt a stroke. I don't know what your last speculation is. The one case of a stroke I am familiar with was a spinal stroke and the treatment was mainly physical therapy which we did ourselves.
I understand the concern about major financial impacts. I believe there are many medical procedures we carry out on humans that are not even considered for dogs, because of expense.
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