Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurologic signs that help tell central vs peripheral vestibular
By Troxel, Mark T et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Signs of neurologic dysfunction in dogs with central versus peripheral vestibular disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 dogs with balance issues were examined to see how different types of vestibular disease (central versus peripheral) affected their symptoms. Dogs with central vestibular disease were more likely to have severe problems and not be able to walk, while those with peripheral vestibular disease often leaned to one side and had noticeable eye movements (nystagmus) at rest. The study found that the rate of these eye movements could help tell the two conditions apart, but other signs like head tilt weren't as helpful. Understanding these differences can help veterinarians provide better care for dogs with vestibular issues.
People also search for: dog balance problems · dog head tilt causes · dog nystagmus treatment · central vs peripheral vestibular disease in dogs · why is my dog leaning to one side
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of specific signs of neurologic dysfunction in dogs with central vestibular disease (CVD) or peripheral vestibular disease (PVD) and whether the degree of head tilt, rate of nystagmus, and number of beats of postrotatory nystagmus can be used to help distinguish CVD from PVD. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 40 client-owned dogs with vestibular system dysfunction. PROCEDURE: A standard neurologic examination was performed, along with an expanded vestibular system examination that assessed the degree of head tilt, rate of nystagmus, and number of beats of postrotatory nystagmus. RESULTS: Dogs with CVD were significantly more likely to be nonambulatory than were dogs with PVD. Dogs with PVD were significantly more likely to veer or lean in 1 direction and to have resting nystagmus than were dogs with CVD. Median rate of resting nystagmus was significantly higher for dogs with PVD, but no significant differences between groups were detected in regard to presence or degree of head tilt, presence of positional ventral strabismus, and number of beats of postrotatory nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that nonambulatory tetraparesis is significantly more common in dogs with CVD and veering and leaning are significantly more common in dogs with PVD. Although neither the degree of head tilt nor the number of beats of postrotatory nystagmus could be used to distinguish CVD from PVD, rate of resting nystagmus may be useful in distinguishing the 2 conditions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16117064/