I believe this syndrome (vestibular disease) is so poorly diagnosed that I really feel the need to educate. I am amazed at how many vets don’t know and misdiagnose this.
My first experience with this was with my very old dog. It emulates a stroke and so many people put their pets down because of that.
It, particularly, targets cats and dogs over 12 years of age. It is not a stroke but a vestibular condition that causes ataxia, nausea and sometimes vomiting, and fear (for animal and caretaker).
Even without any treatment (vets give antibiotics just for the heck of it). It will resolve in about 2 weeks. But, a head tilt will persist for life. It may even recur.
I have 2 cats right now that suffered from this. They are fine, but the head tilt is evident.
I met a man about a year ago going into Banfield Animal Animal Clinic for a follow-up visit for his dog. It was evident to me that the dog had vestibular ataxia, and the human said he had never heard of it and that the vet was treating him for a possible inner ear infection. I was dumbfounded.
I want to beg cat humans not to be quick to put their cats down because they think they have had a steak. This is not spinal related or “wobbly kitten syndrome”. My dog lived 5 years beyond this and my 2 cats are thriving after 3 and 4 years.
Note: I don’t know the author of this post.
Additional stuff from Michael. This is a page on vestibular disorder:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/feline-vestibular-disorder.html
And this is a page on ataxia (a lack of coordination):
https://pictures-of-cats.org/what-is-ataxia-in-cats.html
I, myself, have suffered from vestibular disorder. I’m sure that many people have had this condition. In my case it was caused by a bacterial infection in my sinuses (which had been caused by a cold) and the infection spread to my inner ear where there is the vestibular system, which is used for balance.
It was very disconcerting for me because it made me feel very sick and that feeling made me feel ill and worried. It is useful to me to have suffered this condition for a short time (it only lasted about 4 hours) because it made me understand how uncomfortable it is. It does, as Dee states, cause a sense of fear and anxiety in the sufferer. People should be aware of it because, as we know, it is difficult for us to understand how a cat is feeling when ill.
I presume the continuing head tilt is because the cat’s orientation is messed up. I wonder whether the cat continues to feel some discomfort or anxiety because of it. Can cat vestibular disorder cause inappropriate elimination sometimes?
Additional external reference:
Vestibular disease in cats (opens new tab or window)
A Winn Foundation info. sheet on vestibular disease:
Not really a bad combo, Jo, if for a short time only. I have to admit that Baytril scares me because it can cause blindness; but, in the short term, it may be OK.
Sandra,
The other meds he is getting is Idoxuridine drops 4x a day for his eye (anti-viral) an anti-viral pill- forget the name right now- and prednisilone once a day- with a slow reduction over two weeks in dosage- also getting an ear medication mixed with baytril once a day for his left ear. We know that prednisilone shouldn’t be given to a cat that may harbor herpes- but with the anti-viral drugs on board my vet thinks that for the short time he will be on it it shouldn’t present a problem. It’s the bigger picture that she is interested in to get him well.
Sandra it is Meclizine. It is an over the counter medication and the recommended dose is 1/2 a pill once a day. We crush it and add a couple of MLS of warm water to it and flush it into the tube. It really makes him a lot more steady on his feet.
Jo, what medicine was given?
Thanks Dee,
I am glad your storm is over. We are giving Puppy 1/2 tab of Meclizine- basically similar to Dramamine. It has helped him to feel more balanced and he is sitting up in his cage straight but the head tilt is there but much less than a few days ago. I don’t care that much about the tilt- I just want him to be able to walk around without falling down. He is a bit more settled on his feet- I think the ear antibiotics are doing a great job for him in healing that infection. Once that is resolved he should be more steady and have no more pain.
Good to know, Jo. None were prescribed, except an offer of narcotic-based drugs that I refused, for my poor old dog and my 2 cats. I, also, refused Benadryl, Antivert types, and hospitalization that would cause them even more fear.
They recovered, nonetheless.
We just kept the lights on, comforted one another, and went through the storm together.