Why does my dog lose balance when walking?
This incoordination may be due to canine vestibular syndrome.
BALANCE IN DOGS
Approximate reading time: 7 minutes
Dogs are generally very agile and active animals. When healthy, they are able to walk, run and jump happily without any problems. However, just like people, dogs can become dizzy at times, causing them to lose their balance for a few seconds. If you ever notice your furry friend becoming disoriented or a little wobbly after a mad dash, after a car journey or when they've just woken up from a good nap, there's no need to be alarmed, as this episode of vertigo will usually resolve itself within a few minutes. However, if you notice that your dog becomes dizzy and loses balance while walking, their movements seem uncoordinated and their head tilts to the ground or to one side, it is very important that you take them to the vet, as this could be due to vestibular syndrome, hypoglycaemia or a stroke.
Table of contents
1. What is canine vestibular syndrome?
• Peripheral vestibular syndrome
3. What to do if my dog gets dizzy when walking?
What is canine vestibular syndrome?
Almost every time a dog loses their balance when walking, becoming unsteady or even falling to the ground, the problem lies in the inner ear, more specifically, in the vestibular labyrinth. This system, connected to the cerebellum, is responsible for your dog maintaining the balance of their whole body, straightening their trunk and head. When there is any imbalance, trauma or lack of irrigation in this area, these episodes of vertigo appear and can cause your dog to lose its balance. There is a lack of coordination between the information that the animal perceives through sight and that registered by their vestibular labyrinth. This situation causes the dog to become dizzy and disoriented, as they will have the sensation that the world around them is moving at full speed.
When it is a one-off episode, it is not serious, but if it becomes chronic, we speak of vestibular syndrome, which means that there is damage to the inner ear. Although this is not a common problem in dogs, it is important to learn to detect and treat it as soon as possible, as the underlying causes can be serious. Vestibular syndrome in dogs consists of the peripheral component, with receptor nerves located in the inner ear, and the central component, with vestibular nuclei located in the brainstem. In this sense, we distinguish between canine peripheral vestibular syndrome and canine central vestibular syndrome.
• Peripheral vestibular syndrome
In this condition of the vestibular labyrinth, the dog is unbalanced to one side, which is why it is common to observe symptoms such as a tilted head, turning in circles, rapid eye movements or strabismus (abnormal positioning of the eyeballs). The causes of this problem are, in most cases, unknown, although it may also be due to infectious processes in the ear (otitis), trauma or diseases such as hypothyroidism or malnutrition. It is more common in older dogs, although there is also a genetic factor that makes some dogs more vulnerable to it. This syndrome usually resolves on its own within 2-3 days with rest and no treatment, although if infection is present, antibiotics will be necessary.
• Central vestibular syndrome
Central vestibular syndrome in dogs, because it affects the nuclei in the brain, can be more severe. Symptoms are often similar to those of peripheral vestibular syndrome, although vomiting is often added. The most common causes are tumours, vascular accidents, head trauma or viruses such as distemper. In this case, specific treatment is required depending on the disease that has caused the vestibular syndrome in the animal.
What is ataxia in dogs?
Canine ataxia is not, in itself, a disease, but is a symptom that can appear in different pathologies. It is of nervous origin, and involves a lack of coordination between the dog's brain and its limbs. When a dog has ataxia, it walks in an uncoordinated manner, with their head tilted forward (if they tilt their head to one side, we speak of vestibular syndrome), and may experience tremors, vomiting and loss of appetite.
The causes of ataxia in dogs can be manifold. From herniated discs in the spinal column, trauma to the vestibular system, otitis or even xylitol poisoning, a sweetener found in many human foods.
What to do if my dog gets dizzy when walking?
Prevention is key when it comes to looking after your furry friend's health. So if you notice that your dog is unbalanced when walking, disoriented or uncoordinated, don't hesitate to take them to the vet for an assessment. There, the professional will examine them at all levels, perform analytical tests and may carry out diagnostic tests such as X-rays and even magnetic resonance imaging. After finding out the cause of the animal's balance problem, the vet will often recommend rest for your dog, as well as antibiotics, painkillers or corticosteroids if necessary. In some cases, surgery may be necessary. In any case, it is essential that your pet be evaluated by a veterinarian to avoid further damage to their health.
If your dog loses balance when walking, this may be a one-off dizziness, but if this symptom becomes chronic, it could be due to vestibular syndrome, a condition that is not very common but requires veterinary attention as it can worsen if left untreated. All dogs can suffer from this syndrome in their lifetime, although some breeds, such as bulldogs, spaniels, pinschers and German shepherds, are more genetically vulnerable. As always, the important thing is to monitor your dog's condition regularly and seek veterinary help whenever you notice anything different in your dog's health.