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Vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats can be caused by a disease affecting any part of the system (sensors within the ear, the nerve connecting the ear and brain, or the control centre in the brain).Ĭonditions affecting the ear include deep ear infections (otitis), ear tumours or polyps, damage to the skull such as caused by a road traffic accident or a bad fall.ĭiseases affecting the vestibular nerve include nerve tumours, nerve inflammation (neuritis) or an under-active thyroid gland. Similarly, diseases affecting the balance centre in the brain can also affect other parts of the brain causing seizures, weakness, loss of vision, or difficulty eating and drinking.
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This means that diseases affecting the vestibular system may also cause loss of hearing and a drooping of the muscles in the face (facial paralysis – for more information see our Facial Paralysis Fact Sheet). The balance sensors are close to the hearing sensors in the ear and the nerves controlling the movement of the eyelids, lips and ears. The balance centre is very close to the area of the brain that controls vomiting and so animals with disturbances to the vestibular system may also feel nauseous or be sick.
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What are the signs of vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats?Ĭommon signs of vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats include falling, head tilt (rotation of the head with one ear held lower than the other), flickering of the eyeball from side-to-side or up and down (nystagmus), general wobbliness (often with the animal drifting to one side as he moves around) and/or circling.