Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 10/13/2008

Question
My Italian Greyhound has been on antibiotics and prednisone for 6 weeks for what my vet believes is vestibular symptoms(peripheral).I am not seeing any improvement in her condition-she has 1-2 attacks daily.Is there any hope that this will go away?She seems so miserable and when she has these attacks she yelps,drools,and pants and can barely stand.I am at my whits end and I am already out $600.00.I cannot afford an MRI for her -what options are there?HELP!!!! Lisa

Answer
I would have 2 additional recommendations.  First, the vet needs to evaluate the eardrum and middle ear using video otoscopy to see if the eardrum is normal and if there is something in the middle ear.  Sometimes we need to open the eardrum (myringotomy) to treat middle ear disease in these cases. Second, there is a drug called MECLIZINE that may help with the symptoms.