Vestibular Desease

[Longbower]

Last evening, for no apparent reason, my old Cocker Spaniel 'Jo', (16yrs) suddenly jumped off the bed, emitting 'stuff' from both ends, and wobbling all over the place.

Thinking he was having a stroke , we rang the vets , (2.30 am), and took him in the car to meet the duty vet.

Thinking that we would not be bringing him home.

She had a good look at him and there and then informed us that it was Vestibular disease, which has all the symptoms of a stroke, but in most cases, is not fatal.

Vestibular disease affects older dogs, and is akin to us being permanently sea sick .

It is uncomfortable, as all orientation goes , and a head tilt and staggering can make them look worse than they are.

 

He is at home now , and has started eating again, and is trying to stand and get about on his own.

 

This is just a 'heads up' in case it happens to one of yours, and you think its the end. Its not , they can recover.

 

If I ever meet which ever god there is. I am going to have very serious words about the life span of dogs.

 

 

[loriusgarrulus]

Our 15 year old terrier did this just as we were packing up to come home from a caravan holiday. Packing abandoned and off to the vets in Bala. I thought he had had a stroke too. His eyes were flicking from side to side and he just fell over. By next day he was fine and we had him till he was nearly 17.

[B725]

My old springer had it around 13years old he did seeem to get over it and he lasted untill just short of his 17th birthday.