Vestibular disease

[puddypaws100]

Several weeks back I wrote about my tenant's kitten who has a pronounced head tilt. Someone mentioned vesibular disease and I did some research. It definitely looks like the kitten has this condition. She is 5 months old. Her name is CARR. My tenant has had this kitten to 2 different vets so far. The last vet gave Carr cortisone shots. The first one seemed to help, but she had a reaction to the 2nd shot. The vet said Carr has nerve damage in her neck. Carr tries to play with her sister, Brennan, but she really can't jump up on things, etc. I'm so concerned for Carr and praying that she can make a full recovery, but I know very little about vestibular. There seems to be different types of the disease from different causes. Carr was on the streets for the first 3 months of her life. She had severe ear mites, fleas, etc. all of which have been cleared up now. Does anyone know about this condition and what can be done/expected??

[davet]

i once had a siames kitten, about 4 moths old that was beaten to a pulp..had a head tilt as well as other problems, i kept her for about 12 years then she retired to Florida for a few more years..i guess what i an=m saying is that your head tiult problem is a deficite that they can live with providing there are no ear mites or inner ear infection...Boots, our cat would stalk a bird and pounce and miss the bird by a foot, that is why we let her out cause she controlled the yard....but your cat might just as well live for a good many years with this problem and she will get used to it...they don't dwell on these things like people do...again i amay be whistl;ine dixe and not knowing what i am talking about with your cat...but again cats can live with these things

[Auntie Debbie]

I remember your original post. I think I suggested you look at the links on Vestibular Disease (look under the Neurological page of my website-Debbie's Feline Health listed under Favorites on the menu on the left side of the board). Carr could have had a severe mite infestation and/or inner ear infection that could have caused the Vestibular Disease and leaving her with the characteristic head tilt.
You stated that the second vet says she has nerve damage in her neck. Vestibular Disease would not apply to this. What diagnostics did this vet do to determine nerve damage? And what did the first vet say?
My Sals had a bad ear infection and long story short she did develop Vestibular. It took her 8 weeks to completely get over it. She was left with a head tilt. Hers is slight and only noticeable if you know about it and only while she's walking. She walks with a real determined look about her,, LOL! She's able to scale high counters in a single bound, runs well, and can catch a fly in midair like she's flypaper.
Sounds to me like your tenant might want to consider a different vet again, maybe a specialist or a cats only vet. Even if it is nerve damage, there may be something that can be done for the kitty.
I hope too that Carr will make a full recovery and please keep us posted, ok?