Elderly dog advice - vestibular disease?

[BSAvale]

My border and best mate is now 12 and a bit and is starting to show his age.

He has the cramping syndrome which borders have, which has been under control with epiphen for 11 years now. He also had a gall bladder mucocele and emergency surgery to remove 4 years ago and got through that fine. Over the last year he has acquired cataracts in both eyes and is progressively losing most of his vision. That said, he’s still a happy little dog, sleeping like an old man or behaving like a puppy for short periods of play.

Over the last week or so I have noticed him struggling with his balance a little bit, this morning it was much worse and although he made it downstairs he was very unsteady. He’s eating and drinking fine, he’s played with his ball without issue (other than not being able to see it very well) and he’s been for a walk. When he’s happily trotting along he’s fine, slow speeds and trying to cock his leg he’s a bit wobbly.

I have a dangerous (little) amount of medical knowledge so my first worse case thought was a stroke, but since he trotted about fine with no wobbliness I don’t think it’s that so I am now suspecting vestibular disease. I just hope it’s not as a result of a liver problem from being on epiphen for so many years.

We are keeping a close eye on him and if it gets worse or doesn’t improve in a few days he’ll be off to the vet, just wondered if anyone has experience of an elderly terrier who has gone wobbly?

 

[Buchan]

Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome varies from a mild head tilt, nystagmus (flickering eyes) slightly wobbly gait to very wobbly, even to a dog that looks like it is having a fit (because the vestibular area of the brain does balance). No known cause, no cure, they mostly resolve. Years ago we gave all sorts of stuff, but it doesn't work.
But. The same signs can be from an inner ear infection, or a tumour in that area and it can be hard to decide what is going on. So a vet trip is needed to find out.
I know where you are on this as I've recently put my 13yo lab to sleep who started with classical GVS, but there was something else going on.
Best wishes

 

[BSAvale]

Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome varies from a mild head tilt, nystagmus (flickering eyes) slightly wobbly gait to very wobbly, even to a dog that looks like it is having a fit (because the vestibular area of the brain does balance). No known cause, no cure, they mostly resolve. Years ago we gave all sorts of stuff, but it doesn't work.
But. The same signs can be from an inner ear infection, or a tumour in that area and it can be hard to decide what is going on. So a vet trip is needed to find out.
I know where you are on this as I've recently put my 13yo lab to sleep who started with classical GVS, but there was something else going on.
Best wishes

Thanks - I’ve just cancelled his insurance as they were asking silly money but he will still be looked after to whatever extent is needed. I did read that liver disease can cause central vestibular disease hence linking to epiphen liver toxicity but like you say, vets view needed.

 

[BSAvale]

Well he’s just been to the vets and it’s not from an ear infection, they suspect liver problem. Leaving it a week to see if it changes as appears even with a scan and blood work there isn’t really a treatment route to sort it.

Not what I was hoping for.

 

[Pedro]

Not good news. But from what you say, his quality of live at the moment is still good, so hopefully you'll have him for a bit yet. Is there anything that might alleviate symptoms I wonder?

 

[BSAvale]

Not good news. But from what you say, his quality of live at the moment is still good, so hopefully you'll have him for a bit yet. Is there anything that might alleviate symptoms I wonder?

Hopefully his quality of life will remain for a good time yet I agree, the vet didn’t suggest any treatment path other than surgery (which I am not putting him through after his gall bladder removal) or possible hospitalisation to try to get fluids through his liver.

There’s a chance it’s idiopathic and he’ll be back to normal in a couple of weeks.

Hopefully he will stick around, my 5yr and 2yr old daughters absolutely adore him so they will be devasted.

 

[Buchan]

A true GVS will often settle although many dogs are left with a head tilt (the sort of thing the dog does when it's right and you are not) but good quality of life. I've not heard of a direct liver association, but I'm making enquiries

 

[BSAvale]

A true GVS will often settle although many dogs are left with a head tilt (the sort of thing the dog does when it's right and you are not) but good quality of life. I've not heard of a direct liver association, but I'm making enquiries

Thank you I appreciate that. I am not sure whether the liver route has been discussed because I suggested it or because his last blood work (maybe 6 weeks ago showed elevated liver enzymes and we needed to keep an eye on that, but since the previous bloods were 18 months prior it could have been a slow rate of change). Now I’ve got home from work, I am less concerned than I was after the wife relayed the vet conversation - he’s run around like a loon, played with his ball and showed no hint of wobbliness. Vet did mention that he thinks he has early arthritis in his right hip so I’m now wondering if he was wobbly first thing coming downstairs because he was stiff / in pain and now he has warmed up he’s fine. If he is the same again tomorrow - ie first thing and then eases then I cannot see how it could be vestibular / balance issues unless that can come and go. The onset also aligns with the weather going cold too. He’s curled up at my feet as I type and seems perfectly normal (well normal for a terrier).

 

[Buchan]

Pain will certainly cause a wobble as they shift the weigth around, but they shouldn't lose balance. While GVS can come and go, stiff in the morning and easign off with execise is typical for arthritic pain. Lets hope he stays NFT!!

 

[BSAvale]

I carried Oscar downstairs this morning, he was then quite happy to play with his ball on the rug in the lounge, he was a tiny bit wobbly on kitchen tiles but other than trotted about fine and still tried to pinch my bacon sarnie so hopefully he will continue to improve.

 

[BSAvale]

Oscar is quite happy and welcomed me home like a looney, slight head tilt evident though so I’m back to original theory, hopefully it’ll resolve soon or at least doesn’t worsen, he’s quite happy going for walks and demolishing his food so it doesn’t seem to be bothering him.

 

[Buchan]

Getting some pain relief in might be worth trying.

 

[BSAvale]

Oscar is quite a bit better today, I felt him fall over when repositioning in the night (he’s spoilt and takes up most of a superking bed) but after carrying him downstairs he seems less wobbly today. Slightly widened stance to his rear legs this morning but not anymore and the head tilt seems to have gone too, with just the occasional slight wobble now. So hopefully he will continue to recover and it was idiopathic and doesn’t return.

 

[BSAvale]

As an update - Oscar is now back to 100% as of this morning, no sign of wobbles or head tilt, jumping on and off things as normal without fear and digging / killing his toys generally be a terrorist again.

 

[bluesako]

great news matey my border ghyll is 13 and is a lunatic she also by magic turns into a irish wolfhound at night on the bed say hello to oscar bs

 

[Border]

Bud is 12 and a bit. Going pretty grey and slowed up alot, ie sleeps most of the day. Has a shaky leg at times and now manages to out snore the missus.

 

[Ratel]

I always had Borders for 30+ years, never had any problems other than puncture wounds from Mr & Mrs Fox. Ok at 15 most were a bit wobbly but no real ills. Maybe because they were all bitches. The bitch lying down got to 17 and was 12 when this was painted by my ex.

 

[BSAvale]

I always had Borders for 30+ years, never had any problems other than puncture wounds from Mr & Mrs Fox. Ok at 15 most were a bit wobbly but no real ills. Maybe because they were all bitches. The bitch lying down got to 17 and was 12 when this was painted by my ex.

Sadly I think because Oscar has a full pedigree, the KC have ruined the health of a lot of the breed. I saw both parents and was very careful but my next terrier will probably not be a border, something without a pedigree, a mix with longish legs and wire hair I think.

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[Ratel]

I wouldn't worry about the full pedigree. I had my best bitch with Oxcroft lines, nothing wrong with Jack Price's breeding for work. There are good working lines in The North country all with full pedigrees. I thought I'd try a Teckel now for deer, but not quite so biddable as Borders, very independent and know better than you.