DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz OUR 13-year-old labrador, Monty, has been in good health but suddenly one morning could not seem to walk and kept falling over. His head was on one side and when we helped him outside he walked around in circles. Do you think he has had a stroke?

It is unlikely that Monty has had a stroke but more likely he has suffered from old dog vestibular disease. The cause of this condition is not known, but if your vet confirms this is the diagnosis the good news is that he should recover fully in one to three weeks. The condition affects balance, with the inner ear and the nerve to centres in the brain temporarily not able to function. Your vet will check for any sign of middle-ear infection and ensure he is not on any drugs that can affect balance. There is no treatment needed other than careful nursing until balance returns.

Oscar, our 10-year-old cat, recently lost a fang tooth. It was on an angle in his mouth for a day then it fell out completely. Six months ago when my vet checked his teeth he said they were in good health and did not need cleaning. I’ve read that old cats commonly lose teeth, so is this normal for Oscar?

It is not normal for older cats to lose teeth but unfortunately cats are prone to dental disease which worsens with age. Generally Oscar’s teeth must be reasonably healthy and his gums not inflamed. The fang or canine teeth can be lost due to trauma or fighting, but in Oscar’s case it may be due to loosening of the tooth due to disease. Take Oscar back to your vet and have him checked under an anaesthetic. Your vet will clean all his teeth and probe about his other canine teeth to see if they are loose. Ideally X-rays should be taken before any extractions.