My dog has facial paralysis. Is an MRI needed if steroids are working?

I don't see a reason why not continuing the steroid treatment as long as there is a significant improvement, strokes in dogs often take a few days to a few weeks to show a significant improvement but they usually recover pretty well.

I'm so sorry that Marcela is not doing well. myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord. A steroid such as methylprednisolone is an appropriate treatment to try to reduce the inflammation. However, if there is compression of the cord that is causing the inflammation (such as compression for an intervertebral disc or from a tumor, etc) then the steroid alone may not be sufficient. An MRI would definitely diagnose whether or not there is compression of the cord; its very hard to see this on CT and impossible on plain film X-rays. If there is compression of the cord, surgery may be needed. If surgery is not an option (due to finances or other issues), additional therapies such as therapeutic laser and or acupuncture may be of benefit. As for the prognosis for recovery of function, I would say its "gaurded," meaning it could improve but its probably going to take weeks, and is uncertain at that. I hope that is helpful for you. Best of luck with him. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If this is due to muscle inflammation this may take a month or more of treatment to get better and she may need to stay on a low dose of the steroid life long to prevent this from happening again. Usually they fully recover but can relapse without medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cynder.

Hello. If you can manage the cost of an MRI, I would strongly encourage this. Depending on if anything is found, specific recommendations can be made. It really all depends on what might be there, the skill of the veterinarian caring for Peanut, & of course, your financial situation. But not knowing generally means that nothing is done to help her, or the wrong treatment is tried, wasting valuable time. If you can do this for Peanut, I recommend having the MRI done. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am not sure of your location, but also make sure to check Dexter thoroughly for the presence of ticks. Tick paralysis can present in a similar fashion and is typically non-painful. Removal of the tick and supportive care results in a full recovery majority of the time. Another potential is coondog paralysis if Dexter has had any contact with a raccoon recently. As everyone else has stated, there is always the potential for an infectious or inflammatory CNS disease, trauma, or a congenital abnormality. He may need more advanced diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI) and CSF tap to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Most of these diagnostics are performed by board-certified veterinary neurologists.

Hello sorry to hear about Fletcher. The panting, eating and drinking are likely secondary to the steroid administration. Although unable to rule out cuahings unless you perform some bloodwork, it’s likely that the reason to pursue an MRI is to obtain more information about the nose bleed. If his signs resolve as he is weaned off steroids then he likely does not have cushings. However, you may still have the nose bleed and he may require either the MRI or treatment with medications for a longer time. I would follow your veterinarians recommendations on the the medications and contact him if his bleeding worsens. Hope this helps and best of luck

An MRI is useful to determine if Smodge is having seizures caused by a primary issue with the brain. This would be caused by a number of considtions for example a mass, or fluid changes within the brain. These conditions would be visible on the MRI scan. MRI scans are rarely if ever stopped, as the animals underlying the MRI are sedated so they do not move and interrupt he process. As well as to protect them from stress. If you do not wish to have the MRI performed you can ask your vet to try medical treatment for the seizures. If you take this route you won't know the precise cause of the seizures, but Smudge will still be receiving care. Some seizures are cause by idiopathic epilepsy and this would not be visible on an MRI, but it is a diagnosis reached when no other cause of the seizures can be found. If the MRI comes back clear, idiopathic epilepsy would be the most likely diagnosis. Medical treatment would then be started. I hope that is helpful information. Happy to help more in a consult or if you want to post any further questions in the forum.