Why is my senior dog suddenly dizzy and falling? Should I see a vet?

Question

My dog is 13 years old and doing good except for recently he has had a couple brief episodes of what appears to me as he is dizzy and almost falls down. Do I need to take him in? What could be causing this? Pet's info: Dog | Australian Cattle Dog | Male | neutered | 12 years and 10 months old

Mara Howard, DVM · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear Badger is having issues. There could be multiple causes for the dizzy-like spells you are seeing, including an orthopedic issue, an underlying medical issue, or a neurologic issue. Neurologically older dogs can get something called vestibular disease, which affects the inner ear and controls balance. When affected, this leads to vertigo like symptoms. Vestibular disease can be seen in older dogs with no apparent underlying cause, or can be secondary to an inner ear infection or growth in the inner ear. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying causes for the issue he is having, have any necessary testing done (X-ray, bloodwork) and start any treatment that he may need. Good luck!

Why is my senior dog suddenly dizzy and falling? Should I see a vet?

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