โรคระบบการทรงตัวผิดปกติ

Key Facts

• Vestibular apparatus: middle ear structures + nerves to brain + brain itself
• Signs: stumbling/staggering (ataxia), head tilt, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), motion sickness
• Idiopathic vestibular disease is the most common form in both dogs and cats
• "Old dog vestibular disease": begins acutely, usually improves within 72 hours, resolves in 7-14 days
• Peripheral causes (inner ear): middle ear infection, idiopathic disease
• Central causes (brain): tumors, vascular accidents, infections (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
• Vertical nystagmus suggests brain (central) lesion
• True vascular stroke is rare in pets unlike in humans
• CT or MRI may be needed to image the brain for central causes
• A residual head tilt may persist even after resolution
• Species: dogs and cats