IDIOPATHIC VESTIBULAR SYNDROME - MEDICAL RESEARCH

Has your dog been diagnosed with Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome?

In May this year my English Springer Spaniel had his first episode, he was referred by my Vet to a Small Animal Hospital with suspected brain tumor. Thorough investigation and MRI scan failed to detect any tumor although a cyst was found on his pituitary gland. He was released with the diagnosis being IDIOPATHIC VESTIBULAR SYNDROME and HORNERS DISEASE. Since then he has had a further four episodes, recovering from each one within a week or two. His last episode being quite severe, he was off his feet for several days having to be hand fed, and catheterized. Today, aged fourteen and a half, he is still slightly wobbly on his feet, although this may be down to his arthritis, but more or less back to the happy chap he normally is.

For some time now I have been attempting to find others who have experienced similar, through posts on Web forums I have discovered others who have been in a similar situation. Peter and Maureen Caulfield have had first hand experience of dealing with this condition from their own pet Meg, very sadly Meg passed some weeks ago (not from IVS). Having learned of a high number of similar cases, they have been actively involved in researching IVS and have approached many Universities in an attempt to ignite medical research into this condition, from their hard work and tireless efforts they have been in contact with a Professor of Neurology at Cambridge University who is interested in conducting some research into this condition. For this, input is needed from as many sources as possible to aid research. In order to drive forward this research data is required from owners of pets who have suffered from this condition.

The information needed should include:

Pet Breed, Sex and Age
Any known medical conditions of your pet i.e. Heart murmur, Arthritis etc
Any impairments from episodes i.e. Balance, hearing, vocal, sight, head, appetite, head tilt etc
The period between attacks i.e. The period between first and second and so on
The treatment/medication given to your pet

Effectively as much information as possible!

Typically this condition involves your pet being wobbly on their feet, dizzy, the head tilts, the pet can circle when on their feet, sickness, diarrhea, nystagmus (eye flickering horizontally)

If you are able to help please forward details to Peter and Maureen who are co-ordinating all data to forward to Cambridge, they can be contacted via email (petercaulfield@msn.com).

Meantime, I'd be only too happy to discuss my pets recovery and episodes with any others who have experienced similar, one thing I have learnt is that not only is this condition stressful to your pet, but indeed yourself.

Thank you for reading and we hope you can help,

David Scott

Idiopathic vestibular syndrome seems to be very common in elderly dogs - it's almost a case of, if your dog lives long enough, it will get it. It can take up to a week to recover, albeit probably with a permanent head tilt. IVS is not a terminal condition unless your dog's quality of life before the onset was borderline tolerable, because it will never be better than before.

There is a strong possibility that my dog was struck with this just today.  She was leaping off the sofa fell and then collapsed back on the sofa, she had many of the symptoms above, head tilt, couldnt stand, rapid side to side eye motions - obviously the vet was called and Im sure he mentioned this (was in a bit of a panic so didnt take it all in).  He injected her with something to easy any swelling on the brain and she eventually calmed.

The thing is she is now jumping off the sofa, desperate to go for a walk, has no signs that anything was wrong.  She's back at the vets tomorrow so hopefully I can take it all in a bit more - any info from anyone on here would obviously help though.

I'd say that if she wants to go for a walk, take her. A stressed dog doesn't recover from anything as quickly as a content dog.

my golden retriever had ivs a year ago and if it wasnt for the internet we would have had her pts.she was 15 but very lively, it left her with a head tilt but was fine until a few months ago she started to sway a little and after seeing the vet we worked out that as long as she was on a small dose of steriods she was fine. she was pts a week ago but it wasnt ivs she had just had enough.

Hi, my 11 year old Border Collie has also suffered with this.  She had surgery to remove a lump in June and was just 'not right' afterwards.  I took her back to the vet because I was worried about her balance.  They thought she was blind as was not blinking when things were moved towards her eyes.  Her face was paralysed.  She was not treated for IVS as I think they were looking at the whole picture and it was thought she had a brain stem tumour, as both sides were affected.  She had blood tests, cocktails of steroids and antibiotics etc.  They said it may be Cranial Nerve Polyneuropathy.  This first started in June, she had another attack in July and a third at the end of August.  In August she was prescribed Vivitonin and within 24 hours she was jumping on and off the sofa.  Touch wood, she has not had a further episode.  She has been left with a slight head tilt but hardly noticeable.  Her face is still paralysed, but there is some movement in her eyelids now and her face looks normal, also she was very sore around her mouth as she didn't know when her face was between her teeth.  Now however, that is healed so perhaps slowly she is regaining some feeling.  I took a photo in July and she did not look good so I didn't take anymore.  However, I took one a couple of weeks ago and the physical improvement is amazing :).  I will send some information to Peter Caulfield.

Thanks for the positive responses, so sorry to hear about your dog Kaz.  She is a bit wobbly again today but not too bad - I dont think the squidgy sofas help.  Will keep an eye on her and back to the vets if there is any change - well in fact I think I'll take her back for a check anyway in a couple of day.

Thanks again for your help.