<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:black;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.klink
{mso-style-name:klink;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal>This is simply my understanding of vestibular syndrome and
canine stroke – certainly not a vet’s perspective but – here goes:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Vestibular syndrome (some call it peripheral, geriatric or
idiopathic vestibular disease) is caused by inflammation of the nerves
connecting the inner ear to the brain, specifically the cerebellum where balance
and spacial orientation are controlled. If you have ever had an inner ear
infection, it is very similar. The symptoms also are similar: loss
of balance, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of fine motor skills necessary for
eating and drinking, and rhythmic eye movements. I don’t think
there is a specific treatment, other than to hand feed and keep the dog
hydryated while the symptoms are present. Most dogs recover within 3
weeks or so. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Canine stroke is caused by a disruption in the blood flow to
the brain due to a clot or aneurysm. The symptoms include<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>: head
tilt, turning the wrong way when called, eating out of one side of the food
bowl, loss of balance, lethargy, blindness, loss of bladder and bowel control,
sudden behavioral changes. All symptoms may not be present in all dogs.
Strokes can only be definitively diagnosed by CT Scan or MRI which can assess
blood flow to the brain. Treatment may be supportive, as with CVD, or may
include medications depending on the reason for the stroke (clot etc.) <br>
It appears to me that although some of the symptoms are similar, there are some
subtle differences. I know if one of my dogs exhibited these symptoms, I
would be headed to the vet and the nearest MRI. In fact, my vet is
seriously considering adding an MRI to his “arsenal” of diagnostic
equipment – and I think we have probably paid for a good chunk of it over
the past 15 years or so. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Here are a couple of sites that may be helpful.<br>
</span><a href="http://www.dog-health-guide.org/dogstroke.html">http://www.dog-health-guide.org/dogstroke.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/devestib.html">http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/devestib.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Sandi Wittenberg - Red Bay Bassets<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>sandi@redbaybassets.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>