Geriatric Vesticular Syndrom

My Annie was diagnosed today and am looking for more info. on this and any case studies, thanks.

My old dog had geriatric vestibular disease. The first occurrence, the vet told us to give her bonine (motion sickness pills), and make sure she stayed hydrated. It passed after about a week and she was completely back to normal. Unfortunately it reoccurred a couple of years later, much more severe, we believed the second occurrence (and perhaps the 1st) was triggered by a brain tumor. The second time she just kept getting worse and we eventually could not walk at all or eat or drink, and we had to put her to sleep. But again, I believe it was the brain tumor that made it worse, if the dog doesn't have an underlying condition like that, the prognosis would be better.

Annie is only 9 and a pom, which isn't old for that breed so am wondering if this is a genetic thing? We are presently treating her for ear bacteria (hoping that its related) and she hasn't stumbled for 3 days now but still seems to be staring off into space alot.

I don't know if it could be genetic, but that's a good question. My dog was a mutt, spaniel/border collie/retriever. She was 11 or 12 at the first occurrence, and about 14 at the 2nd occurrence.

I hope that it was only caused by the ear infection and gets better soon. :fingerscr

My sister's border collie cross just got over that, at age 15. He had the rapid eye movement, tilted head, staggering leading to inablity to walk at all and quite distressed about it all. Her Vet said the onset is typically acute, which it was, and it resolves almost as quickly, which it did. It lasted for about five weeks and the dog went from only being able to take a few steps outside in the grass (not in the house but slippy floors were a complicating factor there) to walking in a couple of days. In the meantime he had to be carried outside to do his business (one website said to hold their paws when you do this as being suspended is very disturbing to the dog and excess movement could delay recovery) and Sis hurt her back lifting 45 pounds of dog up from his bed several times a day. I don't believe he was on any medication but he is almost completely back to normal now, with only a small residual head tilt.