Vestibular disease is a condition where the inner ears fail to function as it should. This condition can occur in any age group, usually in older cats.
When it does occur, it results in either hearing loss or severe balance problems. While both can be debilitating, there are ways to help your cat through this health issue.
In order for a cat with vestibular disease to get his kitty claws, then nail growth, thenulation is necessary nutrition, there must be a steady supply of bones and minerals in their body. Without this, they will fail to get sufficient nourishment.
There are several ways to give the nutrients needed for kitties to run a healthy life: Feed them high-quality food , take enough time for them to get enough exercise , and help them keep up with their grooming .
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Submit your cat to veterinary care
If you are looking to adopt a cat with vestibular disease, the best way to meet the rest of their family is through a local cat shelter.
At a shelter, you can see how your cats interact with other cats, how well they get along with humans, and how much freedom they have to roam as they wish. You can also take them for vet visits and checkups as well!
Since these cats live in foster care until they are healthy enough to be adopted, you may have to wait a little while before you can add them to your home! At least once a week, take them to the vet just to make sure they are still going well on their own and that any symptoms are gone.
ometimes it is better to send your cat away for treatmentthan keep them at home where they may not fully heal.
Reduce environmental triggers
If your cat has a vestibular disease, you can reduce the effects of the disease by reducing the environment in which they live. For example, walking your cat in a specific direction every time it moves is a good habit to develop.
If your cat spends a lot of time sitting or sleeping on its left side, rotate its cage so it gets to move its body more on every shift.
If you have any changes in your daily routine, make those things permanent as soon as possible to prevent stress and infection. A permanent address can be saved and transferred when you move.
Making sure your cat is comfortable and safe can prevent future problems with Vestibular Disease. If you notice any issues with vision or hearing, bring them into the vet immediately.
Provide a soft surface for landing
When your cat has a problem navigating on or landing on a hard surface, you can help prevent strain and stress. Many times, cats with problem navigation on or landing ability need a soft surface to land on or move around on.
This is true even when there is no physical issue with your cat. Sometimes, cats just prefer to walk than sit and eat! Having a easy-to-landing-on surface like a bedding cloth or eiderdown helps prevent drag and increase comfort for your cat.
While it may be difficult for your cat to avoid standing on one leg to get onto the eiderdown, providing a soft surface with litter box access is important. If your kitty needs help in managing this habit, help them out!
Never suggest putting anything under your cats feet as this would necessitate them having two surfaces to land and sit on.
Try natural remedies
There is a lot of contradictory information about cats today, both online and off, so it can be challenging to find reliable information. This is not just for cat owners, but for all cats.
Many people are now aware of the effects of poison ivy and how shocking it can be on a cat’s skin. However, although poison ivy may look scary, it is actually very safe to give to your cat.
Similarly, trying some non-poisonous plants may not be such a good idea. Many are harmful to cats, such as California Poppies, which are sold as a safe purrrfection remedy. Even though these plants may seem harmless, they can cause problems such as valve damage or fluid buildup in the heart and lungs.
Try these tips out first with your cats at home or with a community-run organization like the American Society fortesnion forattery Medicine (ASFtM).
Avoid using ear drops without consulting your vet first
They can cause blockage or reduction in the flow of air into your cat’s ears. This can result in difficulty hearing normal and/or intermittent hearing (when the ear drum is ruptured).
Similarly, injections into the brain can result in excess or improper blood flow to the entire body. This can cause complications such as severe depression, excessive drinking, and even death.
When choosing a sedative for your cat, pay attention to their weight. Large cats may require more sedation than small ones. Some vet schools offer courses on how to choose a sedative for cats, so look up a positive experience before you go out of town!
Never give anything your cat doesn’t want! Sedating your pet is hard work and requires effort-proofing it against side effects is the next step.
Watch your cat to see if the symptoms improve
If your cat shows any of the following signs, take him or her to a cat vet as soon as possible:
Frequent changes in mood or behavior
collapsing and/or shaking moments after eating food or other material object
unprecedented affection or attempts at affection less than a week after having surgery or other health problems
home remediations for vestibular disease in cats is usually removing the cause. Most cats with this condition do fine without daily exercise, so only removing the cause needs to be considered.
Sometimes this causes them to become overweight, which can be a problem when trying to walk and get around in the world. Other times it may be just plain old surgery, like fixing a perforation that opened up again. Either way, surgery is the answer for most cases.
Recognize the signs of vestibular disease in cats
Vestibular disease is a condition where the inner ears fail to function as it should. This can be when the outer ears fail to work or when the hearing fails.
When this happens, the cat must use its hearing to navigate. Since it cannot hear sound, it must use its eyes to determine what is noise and what is not.
This can be problematic as it can make it difficult for it to navigate stairs or testify against a product because it doesn’t work for years before someone notices. It may also develope spatial learning and developmental problems due to this.
So how can this disorder be diagnosed in a cat? Well, if your cat has trouble walking or moving around on their own, you may need to see a vet. They will take some x-rays and test your cat for vestibular disease.
Know the causes of vestibular disease in cats
Vestibular disease is a condition where the inner ear, or labyrinth, becomes damaged. The outer ear works as a map for the inside of the head, helping it navigate in environments. When this map is damaged, it can affect both ears together or one side only.
Because of its important function of guiding movement, damage to the vestibular system can have serious consequences. Without it functioning properly, a cat might be unable to balance on their own or move around effectively.
Some causes are rare and require special attention, so it is important to check out your cat for signs of vestibular disease.