30/01/2026
Vestibular
This dog is experiencing vestibular disease, which affects the balance system. One of the key signs we often see is abnormal eye movement, called nystagmus, where the eyes flick or dart side to side or up and down.
This happens because the brain is receiving confusing signals from the balance system, so the eyes move in an attempt to re-orientate. Alongside this, vestibular dogs may show:
• head tilt
• loss of balance
• leaning or falling
• circling
• nausea or anxiety
Physiotherapy plays an important role in helping the brain relearn balance and coordination, improving confidence and reducing compensation through soft tissues ans joints as recovery progresses.
