We called our vet's office in a panic. It was 10 p.m. and we expected to get an answering machine. Amazingly, a real person answered, said she would call a vet, and 5 minutes later one called. She said to bring her in, to the 24-hour, 7-day-a-week veterinarian clinic in our town. After a battery of blood tests, x-rays and medical exams, plus the knowledge that she was an indoor-only cat with no access to toxins, the emergency and critical care veterinarian diagnosed Feline Vestibular Syndrome or Idiopathic Vestibular Disease.
She described it as the peripheral vestibular system, which is a part of the control center for a cat's balance and located deep within the inner ear, getting out of kilter, all of a sudden and for no apparent reason. It causes a cat to become disoriented, nauseated and trying hard to find the horizon with its eyes that are going back and forth. Dizzy Kitty is a common term for the disease.
Charlene stayed in the clinic for two nights, a drip IV inserted in one of her front legs to administer fluids and Meclizine, a Dramamine-like drug, which countered the seasick feeling she was experiencing. We were told her other symptoms would mostly go away in 2 to 3 days without other treatment.
She remains a bit wobbly, but she's eating and drinking almost like normal. She's still on Meclizine, 1/4 tablet each night for awhile. Her typical escapades of running through the house and playing furiously with her toys will have to wait until she feels better. Complete recovery takes 2 to 3 weeks and the disease typically doesn't return. Anesthesia has been known to trigger another flare-up, but it's not common.
The internal medicine veterinary specialist said he could not say 100% certain that she has the disease instead of something far worse. However, because she has responded to food, walks almost as good as before, focuses her eyes, and holds her head up straight, he has pretty much ruled out a brain tumor, which could display the same symptoms.
I wanted to post about what happened with our little Charlene so other cat people could become aware of this crazy disease. If your cat exhibits similar symptoms, maybe you won't be as scared as we were. Still, only your vet can tell you what is really wrong and immediate treatment is advised.
For more information: http://www.cathealth.com/vestibular.htm
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing your story of little Charlene. I can't begin to tell you how reassuring its been to my wife & I in the last 24 hours. Our Birman boy "Beau" was suddenly hit with the same systems as Charlene yesterday and has been in hospital overnight where he remains very ill. He suddenly became disorientated & couldn't stand. He kept rolling to one side & we thought he'd suffered a stroke. When we were told all the possibilities it was grim. One of the possible causes mentioned by the vet was idiopathic vestibular disease. I can't begin to tell you how reassuring it was to read Charlene's story & hear of her recovery - it's given us hope. Hopefully Beau will get better in the next couple of days and get back to his old cheeky ways. We hope that Charlene is back to herself & ripping around chasing her toys again. Thanks again.
Cassandra here, Beastie. I hope so very much that your little Beau has been diagnosed with the vestibular disease because it's generally seen as something from which our little cats can recover.
Charlene is back to being her active and healthy self, ripping around chasing her toys again. To me, this is proof that the vets diagnosed her properly.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Beastie.
Hi Cassandra, thanks for your kind thoughts on little Beau. The good news is that he's recovering just like little Charlene - the vet was amazed as he hadn't seen vestibular disease much in cats in the clinics here in Australia - last Saturday night he was giving us a very pessimistic prognosis - very scary. But after 48 hours in hospital on IV fluids the vet rang and said Beau had made a miraculous recovery. It was a most frightening time for us as well as little Beau - he's lying beside me as I write, sound asleep looking very happy - just like I am - now! Great to hear Charlene is back feeling healthy again - tell her Beau says hello!
Thanks again - Dave (Beastie)
Wonderful news, Dave. Charlene agrees and sends out a huge Meow to Beau from her home in the U.S. (Oregon).
I think we should get out the word any way we can about this almost unknown disease. Please tell your -- and Beau's -- story to anyone and everyone. You and I should feel so fortunate that our vets properly diagnosed our sweeties, but we must wonder how many others don't. Scary, isn't it?
Have great fun with Beau. He's a lucky cat to have found such good parents.
Cassandra and Charlene
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