Vestibular Disease: When the World is Upside Down

摘要

Thevestibular system is in charge of the body's balance and coordination. When something is disrupting any part of this system, you can see many different signs, which in humans are similar to 'vertigo.' In dogs and cats, they may have a head tilt, rapid eye movements (nystagmus), and/or an ataxic (wobbly) gait. The vestibular system has two main parts: the vestibular nerve (CN VIII) in the inner ear and the brainstem and cerebellum in the brain. As a veterinary technician, it is important to know about vestibular syndrome, because some patients with vestibular disease are mistaken for having a seizure. They may be paddling and trying to right themselves, moving their head around, slamming it on the ground. One trick we use among the neurology service is to look at the animal's eyes when they're having bad neuro signs: if a dog's vestibular system is affected, they will have nystagmus, but if they are having a true seizure, their eyes will be forward or sometimes rolled back (not clicking back andforth).There are two big categories for vestibular disease. One is peripheral vestibular disease, which is caused by something in the inner/middle ear (outside the brain). The second is central vestibular disease, which is caused by something inside the brain (brainstem and/or cerebellum).