Facial Paralysis In Dogs What Should I Know?

Did your dog suddenly develop a crooked smile? Facial paralysis in dogs is a condition defined by changes in your pet dog's facial expression and control.

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If your pet appears like a canine Harvey Dent, do not worry. The majority of cases have a beneficial outcome even if some pets require extra care after diagnosis. Keep reading to learn more about the causes and management of this condition.

Reasons For Facial Paralysis in Dogs

Facial paralysis results from damage to a facial nerve called cranial nerve VII.

This nerve is connected to the muscles that manage your dog's eyelids, lips, nose, ears, and cheeks, and when harmed, part of his face might appear frozen or droopy. The impacts of nerve damage can persist for a long or indefinite amount of time.

Cocker spaniels, beagles, corgis and boxers are impacted regularly throughout their fully grown years compared to other types. Depending on the underlying cause, short-term facial paralysis in pets can last for several weeks. Possible reasons for facial paralysis consist of:

• Middle and inner ear infections
• Head trauma
• Endocrine conditions (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Cushing's illness)
• Toxins, including botulism, which are utilized to synthesize Botox and which dogs can obtain from eating raw meat, according to Wag!
• Growths, especially developments that get into or compress cranial nerve VII or the brainstem.

Remarkably, most cases of facial paralysis in canines are idiopathic and can not be traced to a particular cause. A thin margin can likewise be iatrogenic or accidentally caused throughout surgical treatment.

Indications

Depending upon the underlying cause, signs of facial paralysis in pet dogs may manifest on one or both sides of the face. Pet parents who recognize with Bell's palsy, a type of facial paralysis in individuals that Mayo Center says also consists of nerve damage, will notice a comparable change in the appearance of their pet's face. Common signs of damage to cranial nerve VII consist of:

• Drooling (the facial nerve also manages the salivary glands).
• Drooping of the lip and ear.
• Discrepancy of the nose to the unaffected side.
• inability to blink and close the affected eye
• reckless consuming, dropping food from the mouth
• Eye discharge

If you believe your pet has facial nerve palsy, contact your veterinarian. They will carry out a thorough physical exam of your dog's eyes, ears, and motor coordination and look for other cranial nerves and systemic neurological problems.

Keeping an eye out for dry eye

A vital part of your vet's examination will be to assess your pet's ability to blink with the eye on the affected side of the face. Pet Health Network keeps in mind that a significant threat for facial nerve paralysis in pet dogs is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, frequently referred to as dry eye. This condition develops when a pet dog can not produce adequate tears or close the afflicted eye.

Your veterinarian can perform a test called a Schirmer tear test to see if your canine's eyes are producing enough lubrication. They may prescribe artificial tears given that pet dogs with dry eye are at threat of developing corneal ulcers.

Other assessments

In addition to an extensive assessment of your pet's eyes, your veterinarian will also closely examine his ear canals. From their point of origin in the brain, the fibers of cranial nerve VII run near the middle ear on their method to the face. An examination of the ear canal assists rule out an outer ear infection, but to definitively figure out if there is brain, middle or inner ear disease, CT scans or MRI scans are frequently required.

Some cases likewise impact cranial nerve VIII, the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is extremely close to cranial nerve VII. Cranial nerve VIII transmits sound and details about the body's sense of balance from the ear to the brain. Veterinary Partner notes that an interruption of cranial nerve VIII triggers vestibular disease, which manifests as an unstable gait, weak point, head tilt and nystagmus (abnormal eye motion).

Although the underlying cause of many cases of facial paralysis in canines stays unknown, your dog's vet may recommend a blood test to rule out other conditions. Other tests that may be prescribed include a total blood count, chemistry profile, and thyroid function profile, which are useful in examining numerous hormonal conditions connected with facial paralysis.

Treatment

Idiopathic facial paralysis in pets has no proposed treatment, except for encouraging care. A vital part of your young puppy's care is to avoid problems connected to dry eye and the inability to blink. If your vet recommends synthetic tears to keep the afflicted cornea lubed, administering drops several times a day is important to prevent infection and corneal ulcers. Because you can't depend on your pet dog squinting due to a corneal ulcer, pay very close attention to the redness around his eye and seek veterinary attention if you presume he has a problem. Untreated corneal ulcers can be extremely serious.

In the case of an ear infection, your pet will need antibiotic treatment and often surgical intervention. If blood tests reveal an underlying disease or if a tumor is found on imaging tests, you and your veterinarian can go over ways to handle the underlying issue.

Uncomplicated facial paralysis in pets is typically not fatal. Even pet dogs that struggle with facial paralysis and vestibular illness typically make a full healing. Although idiopathic facial paralysis can be visually disturbing to pet moms and dads, felt confident that it is not an unpleasant condition for your pet. If you discover any problems, call your veterinarian. Immediate attention will ensure comfort and optimum take care of your young puppy.

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