You observe your dog walking around in circles.  He seems very disoriented and is staggering.  His head is tilted to the side and he seems to have lost his sense of balance.  It is very upsetting to see him acting this way.  A dog who is experiencing spells of dizziness may have other symptoms such as pain, lethargy, loss of coordination or trauma wounds. There are several reasons that your dog may be feeling dizzy and a veterinarian visit is warranted as soon as possible. The underlying cause will need to be addressed.

Idiopathic vestibular syndrome has a sudden onset of symptoms and has no detectable cause. Idiopathic vestibular syndrome usually occurs in senior dogs. Typically, symptoms go away within several weeks.

The middle and inner ear help to control balance. Therefore, bacterial and yeast infections in the middle or inner ear can cause the loss of balance and hearing. If treated in the early stages, middle or inner ear infections have a good recovery prognosis.

Brain tumors may cause dizziness. A tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue, which may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The level of malignancy can vary in different tumors. Brain tumors are more common in older dogs.  Any dog may get a brain tumor but certain breeds are predisposed such as the Golden Retriever, Boxer, Boston Terrier, and the Collie.

Trauma to your dog’s head can result in brain injury, which can cause dizziness. Trauma may have occurred from a fall or being hit by a moving vehicle.  If you believe your dog has a brain injury, he must be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Additional symptoms may include blood coming from the ears, cuts, laceration and coma.

Strokes occur when a blood vessel ruptures or becomes clogged, which then causes the brain to be deprived of its blood supply. The brain needs to receive oxygen from the circulating blood in the body. Many strokes are the result of an embolism. An embolism is a blood clot that develops and travels to a blood vessel in the brain. Once the embolism reaches the brain it causes a blockage.

The medical term for low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is common in toy breed puppies under 3 months of age.  Low blood sugar may also be caused by Addison’s disease, liver disease and tumors of the pancreas.

There are numerous substances, which can be toxic to dogs such as certain plants, chocolate, grapes, chemicals, insecticides, artificial sweeteners and human medications. A dog that is poisoned may have loss of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and weakness.  If you suspect that your dog has been poisoned, he must be seen by a veterinarian ASAP.  Time is of the essence to ensure that the poisoning is not fatal.

Dizziness in a pet should not be ignored; an evaluation by a veterinary professional should be scheduled without delay. Once at the clinic, relay your pet's recent travel and medical history to the clinical team. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination on your companion and he may also recommend a few diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry panel and urinalysis. He may suggest x-rays, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and an MRI.  

Dogs that have been poisoned or have severe trauma may need to be hospitalized.  Patients with ear infections will be treated with antibiotics. Patients with tumors may be referred to a veterinary oncologist.

Many conditions can’t be prevented but some can be. Ear infections may be prevented by drying your dog’s ears after a bath or a swim. Dogs should not be left outside unsupervised as an unsupervised dog can jump a fence and be hit by a car or subject to exposure to hazardous materials. Substances that are poisonous to dogs should be out of his reach.  

Consult your veterinary clinic about providing several meals and adding a tablespoon of Karo syrup to your puppy’s water in order to help prevent low blood sugar. Dogs should have yearly wellness visits.  Puppies and senior should be seen more often.  Ask your veterinarian what wellness plan he would suggest for your dog.

Therapy for dizziness can vary greatly and the end result may differ. The cost of treating a brain injury may be as high as $3500. If your dog ingested a human medication the expense for detoxification may be $800. An ear infection may cost $300 to treat.