Doen a vestibular em c es 81 casos 2006 2013 1 1

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 34(12):1229-1233, dezembro 2014

Doença vestibular em cães: 81 casos (2006-2013)1
Rafael O. Chaves2, Diego V. Beckmann2, Bruna Copat2, Fernando W. Souza2, Andrei
K. Fabretti3, Lucas A. Gomes3, Rafael A. Fighera4 e Alexandre Mazzanti5*

ABSTRACT.- Chaves R.O., Beckmann D.V., Copat B., Souza F.W., Fabretti A.K., Gomes L.A., Fighera R.A. & Mazzanti A. 2014. [Vestibular disease in dogs: 81 cases (2006-2013).] Doença vestibular em cães: 81 casos (2006-2013). Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(12):12291233. Departamento de Clínica de Pequenos Animais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,
Av. Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil. E-mail: [e-mail]
Eighty-one cases of vestibular disease in dogs were diagnosed by the neurology service in a veterinary teaching hospital in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Approximately 2/3 of these cases were interpreted as central vestibular disease (CVD) with the remaining cases being considered as peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Pure breed dogs, especially
Dachshunds (PVD) and Boxers (CVD) were more affected than mixed breed dogs. The main clinical signs observed in cases of CVD and PVD included head tilt, vestibular ataxia, and ventral or ventrolateral strabismus. Proprioceptive deficits, cranial nerve V-XII dysfunction, and changes in the levels of conscience were observed only in cases of CVD, whereas absence of palpebral reflex occurred only in cases of PVD. Inflammatory or infectious diseases, especially canine distemper and bacterial otitis were the most commonly observed conditions associated with CVD and PVD, respectively. This article establishes the epidemiology
(sex, age, and breed) and prevalence of clinical signs related to canine vestibular disease in the Central Rio Grande do Sul State; discusses the use of the clinical findings in the correct diagnosis and differentiation between CVD and PVD; and defines the main specific diseases responsible for the occurrence of CVD and PVD