Idiopathic vestibular syndrome: methodological approach and descriptive study of nine clinical cases

Abstract

The idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) is characterized by a lesion of the vestibular portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII). There is no known etiology and it usually leads to vestibular clinical signs with an acute onset and severe presentation, which enter in remission in three to four weeks, without any instituted medication. This study intends to analyse and compare the results of the neurological examinations and the respective ancillary diagnostic exams with the disease progression and prognosis of each animal suspected with idiopathic vestibular disorder, followed at Clínica de Referência Veterinária (RRV). In general, the evolution of the described clinical cases was according with the literature. The proposed causes for IVS are early Otitis interna/media, abnormal production, circulation and absorption of the endolymphatic fluid, neuritis of the vestibular portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve, Cuterebra larvae aberrant migration (not present in Portugal) and herpesvirus-1 infection of vestibular labyrinth and ganglion in dogs.