My dog is dizzy, has eye movements, and facial paralysis. Why?

Sami could have been exposed to a toxic substance that is causing her to be unable to stand normally. There could also be an infection in the middle ear, or a nerve problem that is affecting her balance. She needs to be examined by a vet right away to determine the cause of the problem and get appropriate treatment, which will depend on what is causing the symptoms.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Princess. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian today. It could be something as simple as an ear infection that is causing her to shake her head. However, I worry about the eye movements you have described. This can indicate a neurologic condition. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine how best to treat her. I hope this information helps!

I'm so sorry to hear that Tank has developed these problems. It sounds like he may have developed something that affected a number of cranial nerves. The most likely reason for this would be a middle ear infection that has affected the vestibular apparatus as well as the nerves to the face. I am attaching more information about this below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951444 If he has also developed Horner's syndrome ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951369 ) that can cause the eye to appear sunken in or the facial nerve paralysis can look worse as the muscle gets smaller. Unfortunately, facial nerve paralysis can be permanent, so if Tank does not regain the use of the left side of his face, he may have to continue using eye drops life-long. Hopefully the facial nerve paralysis will improve along with his head tilt and coordination. The only other suggestion I would have is that I have had some luck with facial nerve paralysis with acupuncture, so that may be an option for Tank. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Snow needs to see the veterinarian today. Dizziness is never normal and can indicate many things including toxin ingestion, drug exposure, an infection in the brain, brain cancer, low blood sugar, an inner ear infection and other serious reasons. A physical exam and bloodwork are needed to begin figuring out the cause and the best treatment. Other diagnostics may also be indicated. The lip smacking may indicate nausea which has many many causes and may be related to whatever is making her feel dizzy. A bump on her head could be many things. It could be an inflamed cyst but something like a cancerous Mast Cell Tumor can also behave the same way. Make sure to discuss all three of these things with your vet. I hope they figure things out quickly and that she gets back to normal quickly.

Poor girl. This breed is prone to several disorders that can cause this including: hepatic encephalopathy, hydrocephalus, a brain tumor, or even just vestibular disease. I would highly recommend taking her in to your vet for further testing (ie Bloodwork +/- xrays) as soon as possible. I hope that your fur baby I able to become stable soon! It’s best to just keep her calm and no extrenuous activity until she can be seen and evaluated. Best wishes and take care!

Poor Missy! A head tilt can mean a few things - serious ear infection, vestibular disease (this affects balance and coordination), or brain/nerve problems. It would be best for Missy to be seen by a veterinarian to determine what is going on and if there is treatment available. It is a good idea to have young children leave Missy alone while she isn't feeling well, since dogs that don't feel well may be more likely to bite.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear Athena is not feeling well- sounds like there is a lot going on. It is hard to say what exactly the cause is of Athena's symptoms but it sounds like she may have an ear infection which can contribute to loss of balance, however if she has loss of balance, nystagmus (eyes darting back and forth), loss of bladder control and no appetite, there may be something more here at play then just an ear infection. There may be a brain tumor or cancerous process elsewhere in the body that may have metastasized to the brain which may be contributing to Athena's symptoms. I am happy to hear Athena will be checked out soon by her veterinarian. Best of luck to you both!