How to recognize vertical nystagmus

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This VETgirl video demonstrates what a vertical nystagmus looks like in dogs and cats. Nystagmus is a subtle eye movement seen in animals with vestibular disease. There is often a quick phase and a slow phase. Typically, there are two general categories of nystagmus: physiologic and pathologic.

Physiologic nystagmus is seen normally when you move a healthy animal’s head laterally from side to side. Normally, a “slow drift of the eye is seen away from the direction of travel,” (Lowrie 2012). A pathologic nystagmus is abnormal, and indicates abnormalities of the vestibular system. Generally, if a vertical nystagmus is seen, a central vestibular lesion is suspected (Lowrie 2012).

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