Vestibular testing: On balance...

摘要

As with all things veterinary, animal patients cannot tell us their sensory perceptions so we must be deductive sleuths. One is not usually consciously aware of vestibular function yet its disruption makes life a challenge, and cases are common in clinical practice. The vestibular system is responsible for equilibrium and balance, as well as participating in reflexes responsible for eye, head, and body position – both static and kinetic. Vestibular disorders are usually displayed as vertigo or dizziness, nystagmus, ataxia, and/or nausea (Brandt and Strupp, 2005). The review article by Dr. Marc Kent and his colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, published in this issue of The Veterinary Journal, nicely covers both the normal and abnormal in dogs and cats (Kent et al., 2010). In most veterinary applications, diagnosis of vestibular disorders relies heavily on the neurological examination, advanced imaging and the occasional brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER). Additional resources should become available in the near future. However, cost and availability often limit the extent of the investigation in domestic species to the neurological exam.