Symptoms

• When a dog suddenly cannot get up, or stumbles and falls over, vestibular is often the culprit. The dog seems dizzy, holds its head sideways, is nauseous and does not want to eat or drink.
  
  

Geriatric Vestibular

• Many older dogs have vestibular episodes. Called idiopathic or old dog vestibular, this ailment is baffling, but the dog frequently improves in 24 to 48 hours and recovers completely in 2 to 3 weeks.
  
  

Peripheral Vestibular

• Peripheral vestibular symptoms appear in dogs with inner ear infections, ear polyps, antibiotic reactions and some types of cancer; these diseases all affect the inner ear and disrupt balance.
  
  

Central Vestibular

• Abnormalities in the brain cause central vestibular. The dog does not improve in a day or two and may uncontrollably roll over and over. Veterinarian tests confirm lesions or other problems.
  
  

Recovery

• An older dog may need no treatment except reassurance and hand feeding for a day or two until the nausea subsides. A younger dog with inner ear infections or other ailments quickly recovers when the ailment is treated. Some head tilt may remain, but the dog adjusts well.