Asking for a friend- who is on the phone right now with the Vet to make an appointment- but trying to get an idea of how serious this can be. Have read up on the basics of "bell's palsy" in dogs and how in most cases the cause is "unknown" unless an ear infection or something of the like is found. The dog is a 6 year old Boxer/Pit mix. It was noticed last night that one side of his face was a little droopy. Mostly his mouth. He could still blink his eyes, etc, but was extra drooly. At bedtime and again this morning he seemed dizzy, where he was out of sorts, stumbled to get on the bed, then down the stairs this morning. Does anyone know if the dizziness is common in relation to the facial/nerve paralysis? I haven't read much on dizziness being related. This is really why she is so nervous. I am wondering if it could be an ear infection with vertigo as a side effect. This happened to me last year, so I am thinking it could be the same for a dog? Like I said, she is taking the dog to the vet, hopefully today, so right now I am just looking for advice and opinions from experience. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide! Have a good weekend, everyone!
Update:Last night he was able to blink. This morning he is struggling with blinking. When she took him outside to go potty, he went #1 and #2, then a few minutes later collapsed on the ground, seemingly due to being dizzy. He goes to the doctor in an hour. I think he ate fine last night but has not eaten yet today. We are hoping that if a cause is identified that it's due to an infection that can be treated, and not something worse such as a tumor. I am wondering if since the symptoms came on so quickly that an infection is more likely. But I have no idea. Poor baby, he is so confused. Thank you for your help!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QKN2QE1Icg
This is an extreme example of a dog with vestibular disease. Major head tilt, toward to the side of the head with the problem. There are multiple nerves that come out of the ear canal in the skull. One for hearing, one for balance (vestibular) and then the facial nerve that controls the muscles of the face. You are right, an ear infection on one side can cause inflammation/swelling that pinches off the other nerves. Sometimes there will be facial paralysis, sometimes the head tilt, sometimes falling or circling to that side.
Something else that can cause facial paralysis is a very infected tooth. Again, there is inflammation/swelling and there is collateral damage to the facial nerve.
The vet should do a full neurological exam, which will involve checking for various reflexes - like when you go to the doctor and they tap on your knees to make your leg kick - but since the dog can't talk they'll be tapping on and poking way more things to get an idea of what works and what doesn't.
The vet should also do a good job looking in the mouth/throat, and use an otoscope to look way down in the dog's ear. Dog ear canal's are shaped like an L, and seeing past the right angle in the ear can be hard without using some medical tools.
Old dogs sometimes have this problem, including jaw paralysis, basically for no reason. Often they will heal up on their own after some weeks, and usually go on with no residual symptoms. This may be the problem, but first the vet will rule out other things, like an ear infection, tooth infection, or like you said, some type of cancer/tumor/growth.
Older dogs, especially boxers, are prone to various cancers. Boxers are the poster child for tumors, and because of that are used in medical research for treatments for human cancers. If no other reason can be found, then a CT scan may be recommended to get a good look of the whole skull and make sure everything is how it supposed to be. If even that comes up with nothing, then it is probably just the old dog syndrome that will clear up on its own.
Good luck!
Dog Facial Paralysis
I'm curious to know if the dog recovered. My 6 year old golden retriever is doing the same thing. He is on antibiotics and steriods and is much better, but still has a slight head tilt and facial paralysis. Also still slightly wobbly although the dizziness is much better.
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Bells Palsy would be my guess too....as a Dental Hygienist for 30 years. Of course that is in the absence of other medical symptoms and you should indeed get to a medical professional in person PRONTO!
It could be that the dog had a stroke. My neighbor had a boxer that suffered a stroke (he recovered from it well) and he said boxers are prone to strokes.