Circling

Circling is a sign of lateralized disease in the forebrain or vestibular system. Circling associated with forebrain disease is usually toward the side of the lesion. Animals that circle secondary to cerebral disease often also keep the head and neck turned toward the side of the lesion. Whereas gait may appear normal on a level surface, there are proprioceptive and postural reaction deficits on the side of the body contralateral to the lesion. Head tilt and spontaneous nystagmus are not observed. Physiologic nystagmus is normal. The severity of circling seen with lateralized cerebral disease is variable, from a subtle tendency to marked compulsive circling.