Vertigo question (vestibular disease)

Nikki has been getting progressively better. She has the head tilt but was walking around the house today without much of a problem. She was able to turn and back up (very slowly) and has to stop and gauge where the walls are before heading down the hallway but she gets there and can get into and out of her crate on her own (the step was a huge problem for days).

Does this make sense? The e-vet told me 3-5 days but our regular vet said that that's ridiculous and this would take a month. This is clearly a gradual recovery for her rather than a "snap out of it" situation. Any thoughts on time frame for recovery if she's at this point 3 1/2 days later?

I guess the recovery depends on the exact cause. Sounds like other members' dogs have recovered. The friend I'd mentioned earlier worked on her dog's issue for a couple of years...and it seemed as if her actions were what cured the dog...at least as far as I can remember what she said about her vet conversations. Glad to hear Nikki seems to be getting better.

That's much quicker recovery than my sister's dog. Sis was told a month and it was. But as Sundance says, they are all so individual.

Yes, they are very individual. As I said earlier, Jolie did mostly “snap out of it” but from what I hear, that isn’t typical ... 2-3 weeks is more like it. Sounds like your girl is on the right track.

Buddy had two instances of severe vertigo with his vestibular disease. He never got over the head tilt and each episode was marked by sudden vomiting and then about two days of not being able to eat because he'd just throw it up (dizziness will do that). I ended up making him satin balls because they are really high in calories and not a lot of food. He'd be able to keep that down after a day or two of the vertigo and the extra calories were good as he was losing weight in his old age.

Was a little confused if vestibular disease is the same as labrynthitis and found out they are not but have similar symptoms. Dogs can suffer from both. Wonder if the quicker recovery in some dogs is due to labrynthitis and not vestibular disease. Although, I must say, I've had labrynthitis and it was a good 4 weeks in recovery.

Glad to hear Nikki is feeling better.

Thank you all so much. As usual, everyone on this board has proven to be such a valuable resource.

My vet turned out to be completely useless. There was drama verging on hysteria. She insisted it would take at least a month no matter what while clearly demonstrating that she did not understand the situation telling me to leave the crate door open so that Nikki could come and go as she pleased. Meanwhile, if she broke a leg, we would have been toast. Then she told me effectively that chemo would destroy her adrenal system and her gut (Nikki has one left) without any kind of justification. She has left six e-mails and two voicemails. When I cut her off, she left a five minute message telling me I had final veto power. Over my own dog. I about lost it.

Anyway, the last chemo is tomorrow and Nikki has done very well today. She went out into the yard by herself. She only fell once and she really can come and go as she pleases but we're still on it. Head tilt and she can't catch anything (treats, etc) but she can find stuff on the floor now and can get through doors without a problem.

Thanks again.

Chemo? Was she diagnosed with a tumor? Sorry, but confused a bit. Lot's of causes for vestibular disease besides cancer. Most of the time it is due to a vascular problem. Was there a scan done?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dennis Thomas, DVM

Chemo? Was she diagnosed with a tumor? Sorry, but confused a bit. Lot's of causes for vestibular disease besides cancer. Most of the time it is due to a vascular problem. Was there a scan done?

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She's been in treatment for 14 months. Histiocytic. This started a little over a week ago.

Thanks for the info, now helpful for Opal and us.