The present case is the first report of a peripheral vestibular syndrome due to P aeruginosa otitis interna in a bustard species.
Causes of otitis interna include viruses (paramyxovirus, poxvirus), (10) bacteria (Salmonella enterica subsp arizonae in turkeys, (9) Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in partridges [Alectoris rufa]), (5) ototoxicity by some antibiotics, (10,12) and trauma.
Bacterial otitis interna can lead to meningitis with bacteria spreading through the vestibulocochlear nerve.
10,11) There are no imaging changes consistent with otitis interna in dogs, so the diagnosis is made based on clinical signs of vestibular disease and a concurrent diagnosis of otitis media seen on imaging.