Blue-Tailed Lizard Vestibular Disease

Although vestibular disease in cats is not caused by ingestion of blue-tailed lizards or skinks, a cat that eats a skink may be affected by vestibular disease-like symptoms.

Lizard Description

• According to Kaweahoaks.com, blue-tailed skinks are native to the southeastern United States and have striped bodies with vivid blue tails. When threatened by a predator, they can jettison their tails and escape.

Idiopathic Vestibular Disease

• Idiopathic vestibular disease is a disruption of balance caused by changes in the cat's inner ear. Current theory attributes the condition to abnormal flow of the fluid in the semicircular canals.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of the disease include oscillating eyes, an extreme tilting of the head to one side, rolling around, crying out, a lack of coordination, and leaning against furniture and walls. Signs that a cat has ingested a blue-tailed lizard are balance problems, vomiting, irritability, trembling and salivation.

Seasons

• According to CatHealth.com, some studies note that cases of vestibular disease are slightly more numerous in late summer and early fall, although they are not restricted to these seasons.

Treatment

• There is no specific treatment for idiopathic vestibular disease or ingestion of a blue-tailed lizard. Cats with severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized to receive supportive care such as sedation and anti-nausea treatment.

Recovery

• According to Vetconnect, most cats recover from vestibular disease symptoms--regardless of their cause--within two to three weeks.