© otsphoto / stock.adobe.com
If your cat is constantly tilting its head to one side, it could be a sign of vestibular syndrome.
Imagine the lingering dizziness after spinning too quickly on a carousel. Cats, just like us, can experience this sensation due to vestibular syndrome. In this article, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about feline vestibular syndrome: how to spot this balance disorder and how the vet can treat it.
First, the good news: vestibular syndrome itself isn’t life-threatening for your feline friend and often vanishes as rapidly as it appeared. However, it’s crucial to take the symptoms seriously. Vestibular syndrome doesn’t always come alone – sometimes, it’s a sign of more severe diseases.
Dogs, particularly in their golden years, are also affected by vestibular syndrome, known as geriatric vestibular syndrome. Cats, on the other hand, often become ill in middle age. Essentially, any cat, regardless of its breed, can fall prey to this equilibrium-disrupting condition.
Vestibular syndrome primarily manifests through sudden neurological deficits. Many cat owners mistakenly think it’s a stroke due to similar symptoms. Despite the comparable signs, these are separate conditions. The most notable hallmark is the illness’s swift onslaught, usually within seconds or minutes. The syndrome typically starts with pendulum-like eye movements (nystagmus). Depending on the severity, the following symptoms may also be present:
These symptoms are frightening on their own, but most affected pets remain well despite these behaviors. Many continue to eat and drink as usual, provided they can reach their bowls.
If your cat exhibits neurological deficits, vomits repeatedly, or appears weak in general, it’s time to consult a vet.
© Todorean Gabriel / stock.adobe.com
When your vet examines your furry companion, they will likely recognise a neurological disorder at first glance. Identifying the trigger and beginning treatment early necessitates several examinations after a thorough owner interview:
There are many treatment options in veterinary medicine, but some issues can’t be solved with medication. Fortunately, vestibular syndrome often disappears as swiftly as it arrived. Only in severe cases is supportive therapy with infusions or medication for nausea and vitamin B supplementation crucial. Your pet’s symptoms usually improve within two days. A few weeks later, the cats tend to move as before. In rare cases, a slight head tilt may remain, but it should not be a cause for concern. For you, this means: stay calm and be patient with your cat.
Karsivan, containing the active substance propentofyllin, is often used as a supplementary treatment for vestibular syndrome in cats and dogs. While it can improve the health situation by stabilising circulation, it doesn’t cure vestibular syndrome generically.
Deep within the cat’s ear lies the balance organ, also known as the vestibular apparatus. This vestibular structure plays a critical role in maintaining balance. The exact cause of the syndrome isn’t always discernible. However, when external or internal factors damage the organ itself or related structures in the brain, it’s highly probable that your cat will develop vestibular syndrome. There are two types of vestibular syndrome, depending on what’s affected:
Veterinarians refer to the disease as peripheral vestibular syndrome when the balance organ itself is damaged. Often, the source of this form lies in the cat’s middle or inner ear. Causes may be an ear inflammation, inflammatory polyps, or injuries around the ears from a car accident or territorial fight.
Central vestibular syndrome occurs when the so-called vestibular nuclei in the brain are damaged, not the balance organ itself. There are four of these nuclei acting as the central station for your cat’s balance. Potential damage origins include:
Infections from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) or toxoplasmosis are also plausible causes.
Cancer (tumors), such as meningiomas or lymphoma, are reasons for damage.
Poisoning with plant toxins or drugs like aminoglycosides or chlorhexidine can explain neurological deficits.
Fortunately, the prognosis for cats with vestibular syndrome is mostly positive. If symptoms don’t improve after a few days or weeks, another illness might be lurking. In that case, you should revisit your vet to detect the problem early on.
Due to the myriad potential causes, it’s difficult to prevent vestibular syndrome in cats. To keep your pet healthy and sprightly, always ensure a balanced diet.
If your cat isn’t a roamer, ensure it has enough exercise, engagement, and stress relief. Special cat toys or a scratching post can be very helpful in this regard.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Here are some purchase proposals curated by the zooplus editorial team
The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
Are you concerned about your ageing cat's lack of response to its name? Or are you startled by your cat's inability to locate its food bowl? Allow us to explain how you can identify early signs of senility in your cat and enable it to lead a lengthy and robust life.
It’s not just the right type of litter tray that will make your cat happy, but also the right type of cat litter. The best litters are ones that are very absorbent and ideally neutralise odours too, but finding the perfect cat litter can be no easy task with so many varieties on offer from natural clumping litter made of clay, non-clumping litter, litter made of wood or silica.
Coconut oil is very popular among cat owners as it provides natural protection from ticks and other parasites. In addition, this on-trend product is said to have numerous benefits. We will give you tips and information on how and when coconut oil can be a practical alternative to conventional remedies.
