sally87
Well-Known Member
my bess dog has had another attack of vestibular syndrome over the weekend. she is a black labrador and is almost 15 but very fit and healthy for her age- just the other week we did an 8 mile walk in the lake district!
her first episode was last november where she was really bad, distressed and running into things and completely off all food/ drink. we took her to vet expecting to pts but he explained about vestibular syndrome and within a week she was better (although mild residual head tilt).
then saturday night (almost 9 months later) it happened again. our vet moved to devon last week (helpful!) so we took her to the vet i normally use for basil horse. they agreed was typical vestibular syndrome, gave her a steroid injection and some vivitonin tablets. this time she has a good appetite but a very wonky head.
then yesterday afternoon my parents rang me to say she could not stand up. they thought she had had a stroke and no longer had power in her legs. they said to give it overnight but would take her to the vet to consider pts this morning. cue me crying, telling people she was on her death bed, and rushing home to spend the last evening with her.
she saw me and immediately started to wag her tail. she ate her dinner. i tried to get her to follow me, and she did! she got up, wobbled a few steps and even managed a squat for a wee! stubborn dog had just decided the world was too wonky so she was staying on the floor.
then this morning she managed to walk into the garden (bit of a flying leap down the steps) and is starting to look a bit better. so fingers crossed she is starting to recover!
its still early days and i am not going to make her suffer if she does not continue to get better, but as she is not distressed this time i feel we have more time to wait and see.
a question about vivitonin. our first vet never mentioned it but the one we saw yesterday recommended it. has anyone used it? has it worked? has anyone seen side effects/ problems with it? also where do you get it from, it seems much cheaper on net although would have to get prescription from the vets.
here's hoping she continues to get better. her sister poppy (same age but the more slow, aged less well one) has never had an attack, and is completely oblivious to bess being ill, wondering why she is getting all the fuss and attention!!
her first episode was last november where she was really bad, distressed and running into things and completely off all food/ drink. we took her to vet expecting to pts but he explained about vestibular syndrome and within a week she was better (although mild residual head tilt).
then saturday night (almost 9 months later) it happened again. our vet moved to devon last week (helpful!) so we took her to the vet i normally use for basil horse. they agreed was typical vestibular syndrome, gave her a steroid injection and some vivitonin tablets. this time she has a good appetite but a very wonky head.
then yesterday afternoon my parents rang me to say she could not stand up. they thought she had had a stroke and no longer had power in her legs. they said to give it overnight but would take her to the vet to consider pts this morning. cue me crying, telling people she was on her death bed, and rushing home to spend the last evening with her.
she saw me and immediately started to wag her tail. she ate her dinner. i tried to get her to follow me, and she did! she got up, wobbled a few steps and even managed a squat for a wee! stubborn dog had just decided the world was too wonky so she was staying on the floor.
then this morning she managed to walk into the garden (bit of a flying leap down the steps) and is starting to look a bit better. so fingers crossed she is starting to recover!
its still early days and i am not going to make her suffer if she does not continue to get better, but as she is not distressed this time i feel we have more time to wait and see.
a question about vivitonin. our first vet never mentioned it but the one we saw yesterday recommended it. has anyone used it? has it worked? has anyone seen side effects/ problems with it? also where do you get it from, it seems much cheaper on net although would have to get prescription from the vets.
here's hoping she continues to get better. her sister poppy (same age but the more slow, aged less well one) has never had an attack, and is completely oblivious to bess being ill, wondering why she is getting all the fuss and attention!!