Suspected oscillopsia in a dog with idiopathic bilateral vestibular and facial neuropathy

Abstract This case report describes a 7‐year‐old, female, neutered Beagle with a history of sudden partial visual impairment, manifested as bumping into objects while navigating the environment, despite normal ophthalmic examination. Neurological assessment revealed mild vestibular ataxia, with a tendency to sway to either side when turning and intermittent circling in both directions. Bilateral facial paralysis and reduced vestibulo‐ocular reflex (VOR) towards both directions were also present, consistent with bilateral peripheral vestibular and facial nerve deficits. Diagnostic investigations excluded metabolic, inflammatory and structural causes, resulting in a presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic vestibular and facial neuropathy. To the authors’ knowledge, transient visual dysfunction associated with vestibular disease has not been previously reported in dogs. This case report explores the potential interplay between the vestibular input and visual perception, particularly mechanisms related to decreased VOR leading to retinal slip and reduced dynamic visual acuity, a phenomenon known as oscillopsia in human medicine.