Why is it

Hes got an attack of vestibular syndrome again, the worst one so far. Im so afraid it means he has a brain tumour now,
this is three attacks in about 5 weeks. Been up most of the night with him got the head tilt for the first time.
 
Penny Less said:
Hes got an attack of vestibular syndrome again, the worst one so far. Im so afraid it means he has a brain tumour now,
this is three attacks in about 5 weeks. Been up most of the night with him got the head tilt for the first time.
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Have they checked blood pressure? My old girl was like this but once she went on medication she was fine for 10 months with no further episodes. I bought medication online so worked out quite reasonable. It turned out to be tumour on her spleen in the end but you wouldn’t have known anything was wrong until the day she was pts. I understand brain tumours aren’t that common in dogs.
 
I'm sorry to hear that he's getting worse. It is so easy to imagine how I would feel if it had been one of my bitches, and I so wish that I could do more than say that I'm thinking of you, and your dog.
{{{Hugs}}}
 
Those of you whose dogs have had this how did you manage with their toiletting ? I have tried to make sling with towel and horse leg bandage but still cant seem to get him upright enough, he just struggles to get back inside. This is worse than the previous episodes
 
Sorry, haven't had a dog with it, but I knew I had seen an alternative to using a towel as a sling. I googled, and found this example of cutting up, and using a bag:

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/how-to-make-a-supportive-dog-sling/
sling-bag-4-web.jpg


Perhaps not as good support for the dog as a towel, but to me it looks like it would be easier to handle for the owner, than holding the ends of a towel?
 
Penny Less said:
Those of you whose dogs have had this how did you manage with their toiletting ? I have tried to make sling with towel and horse leg bandage but still cant seem to get him upright enough, he just struggles to get back inside. This is worse than the previous episodes
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I’ve had several dogs with vestibular syndrome but I don’t have experience of them having toilet problems. The attacks usually cause severe balance issues but all of mine have been able to keep themselves upright to go to the loo. I’ve not known attacks cause weakness in the limbs but that’s not to say it can’t happen.

Rufus stopped cocking his leg up for a while and weed like a girl and I never let them go out unattended when they were really bad.

A towel is good as a sling but then you need to be very aware and get your timing spot on and lower at the right time.

Is your dog already on vivitonin? They don’t normally have more episodes once on that. Could you up the dosage?
 
Yes hes been on it since the first episode in February! Doesnt seem to be working for him will have to speak to Vets Monday about dosage. Poor little soul he cant even seem to sleep because his eyelids are twitching like mad ! Hes on 100mg twice a day. Hope its not a brain tumour. Finnish Laphund that is brilliant I will see if Ive got one strong enough for a 13 kg dog !
 
Yep, my two are on 100mg twice a day and that’s the max dose for their weight I think. One is 20kg and other is 23kg.

I’m not sure what else to suggest as vivitonin has always worked for my lot. Button had her 1st wobble just after her cruciate operation and that was over two years ago now. She had another event, then went on the tablets and hasn’t had another since.

Rufus had a MASSIVE event a few weeks ago. Straight on the tablets because of the severity of the attack. He’s as right as a bobbin now.

Have another chat with your vet.
 
Hes no better this morning doesnt look as if hes moved all night. The fact that he has had three episodes in about 5 weeks seems to point to a stroke or brain lesion (only based on information through my net trawling !) at least hes not in pain, just confused. Will speak to vet Monday morning. They suggested an MRI scan the last time, but he's 15 and if it did show something on the brain it would be a pts scenario anyway. In between episodes hes been quite lively and bright. Well at least its taken my mind off the coronavirus and other problem

Deb1222 how old are your dogs?
 
My old collie had three episodes of this, the first one was really bad, she couldn’t stand for a couple of weeks and we had to carry her outside and prop her up to wee. She wouldn’t eat anything and I genuinely thought she would starve until after several days she started to eat sliced ham if hand fed. She gradually got better but it left her permanently with a head tilt. A few months later she had 2 more episodes but they were milder and she spent the rest of her life walking a little bit like she was drunk. My vet said apart from feeling sea sick at times she was ok, he said no treatment would help, she did have one injection to help with the feeling dizzy but he said it only lasted 24 hours and couldn’t be repeated. Strokes in dogs are very rare and vestibular syndrome is common. Hope your dog starts improving soon x
 
Thanks Bonny he is eating if i hand feed and Im making sure he takes a drink. I know Im going to lose him sometime soon because of his age, but now isnt the right time, it never is though is it ? I was reading that if the episodes are months apart its more likely to be vestibular than a stroke, but these have been close together turns. Other dog being quiet and tiptoeing round !
 
Penny Less said:
Thanks Bonny he is eating if i hand feed and Im making sure he takes a drink. I know Im going to lose him sometime soon because of his age, but now isnt the right time, it never is though is it ?
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No, it’s really hard, mine was 17 when I had her pts and I still miss her a lot. These are hard times and our animals both help and add to the hardship when they are having problems. If your dog is eating then he will probably gradually improve but it does take time.
 
deb_l222 said:
I’ve had several dogs with vestibular syndrome but I don’t have experience of them having toilet problems. The attacks usually cause severe balance issues but all of mine have been able to keep themselves upright to go to the loo.
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That’s how I knew it was time for my poor Amy ? - she had uncontrollable diarrhoea with her second attack, she was so unhappy.

Having read this thread, I am incredibly glad that I always put my dogs quality of life before my own feelings about things ?
 
Penny Less said:
Hes no better this morning doesnt look as if hes moved all night. The fact that he has had three episodes in about 5 weeks seems to point to a stroke or brain lesion (only based on information through my net trawling !) at least hes not in pain, just confused. Will speak to vet Monday morning. They suggested an MRI scan the last time, but he's 15 and if it did show something on the brain it would be a pts scenario anyway. In between episodes hes been quite lively and bright. Well at least its taken my mind off the coronavirus and other problem

Deb1222 how old are your dogs?
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Button is 15, she’s the one who hasn’t had an event for 18 months or so. Rufus is 13 and he had the severe attack a few weeks ago.

Button still comes for a short walk every day, eats like a gannet but she is frail. I’ve already discussed with my vet that I won’t try and let her recover from another attack, we would let her go. At the moment though, she’s fabulous.

Three episodes in five weeks could still be vestibular syndrome, which is more likely than a brain tumour or stroke. Strokes in dogs are very rare. I wouldn’t bother wasting your money on an MRI scan. You already know you’re going to be faced with a crappy decision fairly soon.

Best of luck
 
Found out yesterday that my friend's little Lakeland has had what the vet described as a stroke, not vestibular, they are rare in dogs but not impossible. Maisie is apparently affected down one side. Such a shame, she is only 12 and was still competing in agility albeit at a lower height. She is now on borrowed time.
Pennyless, I really feel for you and hope which ever way it goes it goes well.
 
Errin Paddywack said:
Found out yesterday that my friend's little Lakeland has had what the vet described as a stroke, not vestibular, they are rare in dogs but not impossible. Maisie is apparently affected down one side. Such a shame, she is only 12 and was still competing in agility albeit at a lower height. She is now on borrowed time.
Pennyless, I really feel for you and hope which ever way it goes it goes well.
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It’s interesting, my little Flick greyhound had a stroke last year before I lost her and to me the symptoms were really quite different to vestibular in a lot of ways. Maybe it was because her stroke was a mild one, I’ll never know, but having seen both events now I don’t think I’d really confuse them. I do of course realise I am very unlucky to have had dogs who experienced both within 12 months ?
 
I am having to roll him in a towel to get him outside, he weighs a ton and he doesnt want to cooperate! Hes eating an d drinking when I hold the dish for him. Will ring the vet tomorrow for a phone consultation.
I have read that there are two types of vestibular, peripheral and central, the central is the more serious, it could still be a brain stem tumour apparently. Im hoping there will be some improvement tomorrow.
 
He seems slightly better today unless it is wishful thinking. Eyes are not twitching quite so much , thats 72 hours now so if there is going to be improvement it should start now. Mrs SPaniel is quite worried as she knows theres something wrong and is getting very clingy !
 
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