Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. We may also recommend follow-up care or make referrals to experienced specialists. If your pet sees our Tracy vets, we can diagnose the issue and provide compassionate care and treatment. Other local hospitals provide emergency care after hours. If you are experiencing an emergency with your pet during regular hours, contact us for more information. Time may be a critical factor in their survival and prognosis. When to Seek Emergency CareĪny dog or cat that is staggering, stumbling or falling over requires immediate veterinary attention, since they may be suffering from pain and other symptoms, and their life may be in danger. Treatment options vary widely depending on diagnosis, and can range from medications to surgery, combinations of different types of therapies, physical rehabilitation and more.
One of our veterinarians will be able to diagnose the issue and recommend a treatment option depending on the problem. If your cat or dog can't walk or stand, and is staggering or falling over, take them to the vet as soon as possible. Common Remedies for Loss of Balance in Pets Stroke symptoms in both dogs and cats can also include circling, unsteadiness while walking, unequal pupil sizes, abnormal eye movements, loss of vision or balance, falling down, head pressing (potentially as a result of a headache), altered mental state, muscle spasms or head tilt. If your dog is staggering like he is drunk, he may have had a stroke. They seem to occur less frequently in pets than in people and can be the result of high blood pressure, hemorrhage, blood clots, rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, migrating worms, head trauma or other serious distorders. In cats, strokes are most commonly diagnosed in kitties that are around nine years old. While strokes in dogs are fairly uncommon, they can occur. Other symptoms of a brain tumor will vary depending on the tumor's location and include changes in appetite or behavior, signs of pain, seizures, swaying, a wide stance, head tilting or tremors, pacing, flicking of the eye and lack of coordination.
Older pets may be especially vulnerable to brain tumors, which can lead to staggering, stumbling or general loss of balance. Seizures, head tilt to either side, facial paralysis, fever, decreased consciousness and depression are other symptoms of encephalitis. Brain inflammation can be caused by fungal infections, parasites and tick-borne diseases. Brain InflammationĮncephalitis or inflammation of the brain can cause an animal to stagger or fall over. Change in appetite, slowed reflexes, licking or biting a wounded area, heavy panting, anxiety and reluctance to lie down or put pressure on the area can all indicate pain. It can sometimes be challenging to tell if your pet is injured since both cats and dogs tend to mask pain.
Inner ear damage, head trauma and other injuries can cause pets to lose their balance. If your pet has an ear infection, you might also notice symptoms such as walking in circles, eye flicking, head shaking and scratching near the ear, along with redness, swelling, discharge and odor in or around the affected ear. Middle or inner ear infections are a common cause of loss of balance in both dogs and cats. Cats with chronic ataxia will typically adjust over time and are less likely to feel nauseated. You might also notice difficulty hearing, changes in behavior, lack of appetite, lethargy and head tilting.Ĭats with sudden onset of ataxia often fall or roll to one side and experience significant nausea due to feeling so unsteady. Vestibular ataxia is caused by an issue with the inner ear or brain stem.Īlong with the stumbling, staggering and falling over common with other health conditions, common symptoms of ataxia in dogs and cats include abnormal walking (taking large steps), tremors in the head and body, weakness and swaying. A wide range of diseases can cause this condition.ĭamage to the cerebellum causes cerebellar ataxia, while sensory ataxia is triggered by the spinal cord being compressed due to a bulging intervertebral disc or tumor. Cats and dogs can be affected by three types of ataxia: cerebellar, vestibular and sensory. AtaxiaĪ condition related to sensory dysfunction in the nervous system, ataxia leads to a loss of coordination in the head, limbs or back end. This means your pet will need immediate emergency care and you should take them to a veterinary hospital right away. If your cat or dog can't stand up or keeps falling over, they may be experiencing any number of severe health issues, some of which we'll cover in this post.
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