What is Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome?
A head tilt may be mild and caused by something easy to treat, such as an ear infection or polyp. when a head tilt occurs in conjunction with other more serious signs (such as vomiting and ataxia), we may be dealing with Vestibular Syndrome.
Vestibular syndrome is not a specific disease but a collection of neurological symptoms and behaviors that are caused by a disruption or dysfunction in the vestibular system. This intricate and complicated system of nerves and anatomical elements is responsible for your cat’s sense of balance. The vestibular system also coordinates the movements of your cat's eyes, neck, head and limbs. If vestibular disease is suspected, your veterinarian will need to pinpoint the location of the problem and determine whether the symptoms are originating from the inner ear (peripheral) or the brain stem (central).
If your cat is holding its head at an angle and having trouble keeping its balance, it may be suffering from vestibular syndrome. Vestibular syndrome is a condition that occurs suddenly. It can cause your cat to stumble, fall, list to one side, or tilt its head. You may notice your cats’ eyes moving erratically from one side to another as it struggles to keep its balance. Head tilt is usually one of the first obvious signs of vestibular syndrome.
Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome Average Cost
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Average Cost
$1,300
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Symptoms of Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome in Cats
The most obvious symptom of vestibular syndrome in cats is the odd slant at which your cat holds its head upright. This head tilt occurs in both inner ear and brain stem disorders. Other symptoms of vestibular syndrome may include the following:
- Lack of balance (ataxia)
- Uncoordinated movement
- Stumbling
- Walking in a circle
- Falling down
- Facial drooping
- Facial paralysis
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Nystagmus (eyes moving up and down or back and forth)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Causes of Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome in Cats
In many cases, your cat’s head tilt may be a symptom of a benign transitory anomaly. However, it may also indicate a serious underlying health condition. Your cat needs immediate medical evaluation to ensure the best and quickest way to resolve the issue. Here are the most common reasons for head tilt in cats:
- Bacterial infections
- Inflammatory disease
- Reaction to drugs
- Polyps
- Tumors
- Cysts
- Cancer
- Idiopathic vestibular syndrome (no known reason)
Diagnosis of Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome in Cats
Your cat’s obvious head tilt will be a major symptom your veterinarian will consider when diagnosing the systemic reason for your cat’s health issue. Other diagnostic tests, observations and evaluations may include:
Complete Medical History
Your veterinarian will want a complete history of your cat’s health including any unusual behaviors or symptoms noticed prior to the head tilt.
Physical Examination
A thorough physical examination is necessary for your veterinarian to determine the cause of the head tilt. This examination may include watching your cat walk around the examination room, taking vital signs and performing both an otoscopic (ear) and neurological exam.
Blood Tests
Blood tests will help your veterinarian diagnose infections and inflammation that may be causing the head tilt. Test results that register as abnormal help your veterinarian decide what may be the underlying cause of your cat’s vestibular condition.
Urinalysis
By examining your cat’s urine, the veterinarian can see if there is anything abnormal in the test results that would aid in diagnosing the cause of the head tilt.
Advanced Testing
In some cases, specialized scans that offer advanced imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) may be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, especially when the problem appears to be located deep within your cat’s ear or skull.
Treatment of Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome in Cats
Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome
A wait-and-see approach is often used when idiopathic vestibular syndrome is suspected. Your cat’s head tilt will usually disappear on its own, and it seldom returns.
Infections and Inflammation
Your veterinarian will choose appropriate medications depending upon the underlying cause of your cat’s head tilt. Some medicines, like ear drops, may be prescribed as well as oral medications.
Polyps or Tumors
Depending upon the location and size of the polyp or tumor, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to remove the cause of the head tilt.
Drug Reactions
If your cat is having a toxic reaction to a drug, your veterinarian will change medicines and evaluate your cat to see if it needs additional hydration, especially if vomiting has occurred.
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Recovery of Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome in Cats
Your cat’s recovery period will depend upon your veterinarian’s diagnosis of the underlying cause of the head tilt. Even a simple ear infection will need follow-up appointments to ensure the infection is under control and that no additional damage has occurred within the cat’s ear.
Cats who have had surgical intervention to repair the cause of the head tilt need extra care while recuperating. Your veterinarian will want to see your cat on a routine basis until it is completely healed.
If your cat experienced severe vomiting along with the head tilt, your veterinarian may need to keep your cat on IV medications until the vomiting resolves.
A head tilt could be symptomatic of a serious medical condition. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.
Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome Average Cost
From 449 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$1,300
Top
Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
med hair
Cali
4 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Tilt
My Cali was fine then one day she started falling , not eating not using bathroom. Took her to the ER they did blood work everything was good except ear infection . the next morning her eyes was moving side to side quickly and head was too. took her to vet they said take her specialist we did . ear drops & meds for vertigo and dramamine . She got better . after 6 days of not eating she started eating & returned to pretty much normal. 3 weeks later took her back to vet yesterday for check up they said her ears was not infected but had gunk in them they cleaned the one ear out. they said other ear was squeeky clean. Today head is tilted side ways is this from the removal of gunk in ear ? I'm so worried about her
Sept. 8, 2018
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Russian Blue
Sirius
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Tilt When Tired
Slight Shiver
My cat Sirius has started tilting head head to the right when falling asleep, but yesterday I noticed he did it with his eyes wide open (but he was tired). I also noticed that if i put my hand on his head i can feel him shivering slightly. He does have a respiratory infection that we’ve been working on treating, he had an antibiotic shot in march but it has started to get worse again so im going to get him on antibiotics again. Could this just be something as simple as an ear infection that can get cleared up with antibiotics? Im very worried about him, i just want to make sure hes okay
Sept. 7, 2018
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mixed
Stash
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tilted Head And Breaths Funny
My cat walks around with her head tilted to the right and it scares me. Its has slowly gotten worse what is happing to my baby.
She stumbles and breathes funny. Im not sure what to do.
Sept. 7, 2018
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Cat
Feral cats
8 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
Take care of feral cats. Neighbors hate the cats. All ready killed 8 kittens by burning toxic materials and blowing on to my back porch. Now new symptoms: sudden on set tilted head, loss of balance, pupils very dilated, sleeps alot. Then 3 or 4 days pupils back to normal, still wobbly, suddenly will be walking and falls over dead.
Aug. 31, 2018
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Farrell
Maya
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tilting Head Slightly To The Right
My 12 yr old cat has recently started opening her jaw when she turns her head slighlty to the side as if she is trying to open her mouth wider. She repeats this action when I see her about 4/5 times a day. She does not seem to be in pain and eating normally. She has lost weight in the last few months, but is not too thin or skinny.
She is not handled easily and would be very hard to get to a vet office , all her previous shots were given by the farm vet.
Any idea what could be going on?
Aug. 15, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
At Maya's age, there may be some changes in the bones of her jaw that are causing her discomfort, or there may be a nerve problem. Without seeing her, it is hard for me to comment on what might be causing that behavior, bu tit would be a good idea to have her seen by a veterinarian, unless your farm veterinarian can come and examine her.
Aug. 15, 2018
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mixed
Buddy
7 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Tilt
Slow
Falling Over
Slow Reactions
Ignoring His Name
Buddy is 7months old and this morning his head was tilted completely to one side and he has been lay down nearly all day but when he moves he’s falling over and very slow, any advice please?
Dlh
Teddy
8 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Balance , Head Tilt
We had our cat shaved as usual. This was Wednesday last week. The vet gave him to much sedation meds cuz he was still to fiesty. The next day he still had balance issues. We brought him in and they gave him fluids and sent us home. On Sunday he wasn't any better. His head was tilted still having balance issues, his eyes were darting back and forth. We thought he was dying. We brought him to a specialized emergency vet seens how our vet didn't do anything. They kept him overnight. They did blood work and peeked in his ear as far as they could without putting him thru to much stress. They gave him meds for an ear infection. We don't have money to do a MRI. He's done his meds and he isn't any better. The only change is that his eyes aren't darting. We can't leave him alone. We have blankets all over the bedroom so he is safe. What's wrong with our baby boy. Please someone help us.
dsh
Binky
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Tilt
My cat Binky is 10.5 years old. Active for his age. Yesterday I noticed his head tilted as her lay down. I massaged his neck, felt around it to see it he was in pain. He doesn’t seem to be in pain but a tab awkward. He still moving around. He’s eyes looks good. He doesn’t have balance issues. I want to take him to our vet but I do not have the money for treatment to find how bad his situation is or isn’t.
domestic short hair
Smudge
17 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Tilt, Nystagmus, Unbalanced
Smudge started losing her balance and having weakness in her hind quarters last year. We attributed it to age/arthritis. She has shown other symptoms, such as head swaying and nystagmus, but they have been transient. Today I noticed she is holding her head tilted to the left while walking, but it's straight when she sits or lays down. Her symptoms seem to match vestibular syndrome, except that hers seems to be progressing and has been going on quite some time. I found one place that said this could be caused by a tumor, especially in older cats. This would seem to be consistent with her gradually worsening symptoms. She has had a decrease in appetite and weight loss as well. I am hesitant to take her to the vet because she hates to be picked up and handled, so vet trips are very traumatic for her. Considering her age, do you think it is worth the trauma to her to take her in? Or should we just continue to keep her comfortable? We have put pet steps by all of the furniture, and she actually uses them. We have provided pet heating pads in her favorite nap spots, and given her several of her favorite squishy pillows to sleep on. I also give her handfuls of her favorite treats every day to boost her caloric intake. She does not seem to be in pain. I owned her mother, who lived to 19 yrs old, so I have had Smudge since she was born.
Head Tilt / Vestibular Syndrome Average Cost
From 449 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$1,300
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
