Vestibular Disease
Acquired - Central
Central vestibular disease occurs as a result of a lesion to the vestibular nuclei within the brainstem. The primary differentiating feature between peripheral and central vestibular disease is the presence of general proprioceptive deficits ipsilateral to the lesion associated with central disease. These proprioceptive signs are due to the disruption of the primary afferents ascending the brainstem at this location.
Age of Onset: Any age of animal can be affected
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical course is variable based on the underlying cause
Clinical course is variable based on the underlying cause
Clinical Signs:
Movement
Ataxia
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Tight circling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Rolling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Hemiparesis to hemiplegia (ipsilateral)
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits (ipsilateral to the lesion)
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually fast phase contralateral to the lesion), (may be vertical in quality with central lesions)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to the lesion except in the case of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Positional strabismus
Additional cranial nerve deficits (trigeminal, abducent, facial)
Other
Nausea
Movement
Ataxia
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Tight circling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Rolling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Hemiparesis to hemiplegia (ipsilateral)
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits (ipsilateral to the lesion)
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually fast phase contralateral to the lesion), (may be vertical in quality with central lesions)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to the lesion except in the case of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Positional strabismus
Additional cranial nerve deficits (trigeminal, abducent, facial)
Other
Nausea
Intracranial - Brainstem
Unknown
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Acquired - Peripheral
Differentials for peripheral vestibulopathies include otitis media interna, drug toxicity (metronidazole, aminoglycosides), endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism), congenital disease of the vestibulocochlear nerve and/or vestibular sensory receptors, and benign idiopathic canine peripheral vestibular disease.
Age of Onset: Any age of animal can be affected
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical course is variable based on the underlying cause
Clinical course is variable based on the underlying cause
Clinical Signs:
Posture and Appearance
Inability to maintain lateral or sternal positions
Movement
Ataxia
Loss of balance (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Tendency to roll (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
No paresis
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually the slow side toward the abnormal side (historically described as the fast phase contralateral to affected side)
Positional strabismus (in eye ipsilateral to affected side)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to affected side except in the instances of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Loss of normal oculovestibular reflex
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Difficulty suckling as a neonate
Other
Nausea
**In cases of bilateral vestibular disease, the patient will have symmetrical ataxia without the presence of nystagmus
Posture and Appearance
Inability to maintain lateral or sternal positions
Movement
Ataxia
Loss of balance (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Tendency to roll (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
No paresis
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually the slow side toward the abnormal side (historically described as the fast phase contralateral to affected side)
Positional strabismus (in eye ipsilateral to affected side)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to affected side except in the instances of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Loss of normal oculovestibular reflex
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Difficulty suckling as a neonate
Other
Nausea
**In cases of bilateral vestibular disease, the patient will have symmetrical ataxia without the presence of nystagmus
Peripheral vestibular nerve/organ
Unknown
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Congenital - Central
“Central” vestibular disease occurs as a result of a lesion to the vestibular nuclei within the brainstem. The primary differentiating feature between peripheral and central vestibular disease is the presence of general proprioceptive deficits ipsilateral to the lesion associated with central disease. These proprioceptive signs are due to disruption of the primary afferents ascending the brainstem at this location.
Age of Onset: Any age of animal can be affected
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical course is variable based on underlying cause
Clinical course is variable based on underlying cause
Clinical Signs:
Movement
Ataxia
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Tight circling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Rolling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Hemiparesis to hemiplegia (ipsilateral)
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits (ipsilateral to the lesion)
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually fast phase contralateral to the lesion), (may be vertical in quality with central lesions)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to the lesion except in the case of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Positional strabismus
Additional cranial nerve deficits (trigeminal, abducent, facial)
Other
Nausea
Movement
Ataxia
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Tight circling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Rolling (usually ipsilateral to the lesion)
Hemiparesis to hemiplegia (ipsilateral)
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits (ipsilateral to the lesion)
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually fast phase contralateral to the lesion), (may be vertical in quality with central lesions)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to the lesion except in the case of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Positional strabismus
Additional cranial nerve deficits (trigeminal, abducent, facial)
Other
Nausea
Intracranial - Brainstem
Unknown
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Congenital - Peripheral
Congenital peripheral vestibular disease is a condition involving the vestibulocochlear nerve and/or vestibular sensory receptors.
Age of Onset: First few weeks after birth
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical signs of ataxia and imbalance improve over the course of several weeks, although the animal may be left with a persistent head tilt.
Clinical signs of ataxia and imbalance improve over the course of several weeks, although the animal may be left with a persistent head tilt.
Clinical Signs:
Posture and Appearance
Inability to maintain lateral or sternal positions
Movement
Ataxia
Loss of balance (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Tendency to roll (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
No paresis
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually the slow side toward the abnormal side (historically described as the fast phase contralateral to affected side)
Positional strabismus (in eye ipsilateral to affected side)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to affected side except in the instances of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Loss of normal oculovestibular reflex
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Difficulty suckling as a neonate
Other
**In cases of bilateral vestibular disease, the patient will have symmetrical ataxia without the presence of nystagmus
Posture and Appearance
Inability to maintain lateral or sternal positions
Movement
Ataxia
Loss of balance (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Falling to one side (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
Tendency to roll (usually ipsilateral to affected side)
No paresis
Cranial Nerves
Nystagmus (usually the slow side toward the abnormal side (historically described as the fast phase contralateral to affected side)
Positional strabismus (in eye ipsilateral to affected side)
Head tilt (usually ipsilateral to affected side except in the instances of “paradoxical vestibular syndrome”)
Loss of normal oculovestibular reflex
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Difficulty suckling as a neonate
Other
**In cases of bilateral vestibular disease, the patient will have symmetrical ataxia without the presence of nystagmus
Peripheral vestibular nerve/organ
Unknown
To read more about this disease click below:
To read more about this disease click below:
