Is your cat peeing in the house? Then she thoroughly examines the dog to see if the problem is related to the ear, balance organ or the brain. If the dog has balance issues or is vomiting, then seek an urgent appointment. Do you think he could have an ear infection or something else? This would be unusual in a dog of his age though. Hello Dr.Marie (I am SO grateful for you! hey doctor, Why are cat foods not allowed to contain propylene glycol? Stay calm and watch your dog. Some dogs recover but are left with a permanent head tilt. gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; The red bumps can either be from the mites or even flea bites. Old dog vestibular disease occurs acutely for several reasons: from ear infections and sticking a Q-tip too far down in your dog’s ear to cleaning your dog’s ear with liquid ear medications, old trauma or underlying metabolic problems (like thyroid conditions), or for the simple reason that your dog … Head to the vet for getting the solutions. If this is the case, there will be discoloration which looks like brown (rust) stained fur on their … I've looked inside his ear and can't see anything. If he is bright and alert and eating well it's probably ok to keep an eye on him for now. This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Karie Johnson, veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit , a mobile vet service in the south suburbs of Chicago. If one side is more swollen than the other, this isn’t normal; a veterinary check is in order. If he has difficulty getting up, then make him comfortable in a soft bed and place a bowl of water within easy reach (he may feel too unsteady to walk to his water). Read about the controversial new black box label... A chart of the normal blood values for dogs. If you notice that your dog is tilting his head to one side (either side), you should watch for other symptoms such as: It's very likely that this is a painful condition, as evidenced by the fact that he doesn't want to hold his head up.It could be due to a sprained muscle, a pinched nerve, or something more serious involving the vertebrae in the neck. Learn about treatment... Infographic: What happens to a dog's body in a hot car. My name is Anna and I have a 7 month old, predominantly Rhodesian Ridgeback,... (120875 views), Lump on dog's side. As soon as the stimuli responsible for triggering the tilt is over, the dog tilting head behavior ends. The need to pinpoint the location of a curious sound. It is a peaceful offer to play rough and tumble. When your dog suddenly develops a head tilt, all sorts of horrible things run through your mind: Has he had a stroke? My cat is 13 years old he was always a big cat and then became a big fat cat.... (16744 views), Blood in urine. Although the signs are dramatic, especially if your dog comes staggering drunkenly to greet you, the outlook isn’t always as bad as it first looks. An offensive smell or yucky discharge could indicate an infection. The tiny hole were we... (13206 views), Pimples around a dog's anus. Here are a few issues with specific body parts that may cause a tilt: Located within the inner chamber of the ear, the balance organ feeds vital information to the brain about which way is up and how to stay on your paws. Allergies are a common cause of ear problems in dogs, and subsequently of dog ear infections. Strawberries? We have a brand new 7 week old bullmastiff female, named June...I have... (26281 views), Black sore near anus. The floppy ear can describe the health problem inside the dog’s body specifically into the ears. But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. Your dog has every symptom of an ear infection - holding the head to one side, shaking the head, smelly discharge. Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. However, they can otherwise lead a normal life. Don’t panic. Hi Dr. Marie, Vestibular events are slightly different again, but often something of a mystery. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; The most common clinical signs of vestibular disease include circling or falling to one side, a pronounced head tilt, and rapid and involuntary oscillating movement of the eyeballs. Vestibular syndrome is a condition that cause your cat to stumble, fall, list to one side, or tilt its head. Recently, my one cat Habibi has started urinating outside of the... (5969 views), Diarrhea resolves with Cephalexin. I... (7942 views), Treat for fleas same day as spay? Can you breed a dog with one testicle? The ear is an organ of hearing and an organ of equalization. Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? Search for similar questions: Once appropriate antibiotics are selected, the dog returns to normal.In older dogs, the commonest cause of a sudden onset head tilt is that “old dog vestibular syndrome.” This comes on out of the blue and causes signs similar to severe vertigo in people. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition. Dog Tilting Head to One Side and Shaking Head When the head tilt is out of intrigue or some attention seeking behavior, it will vary from one side to the other. Greetings from Singapore! Can Metacam can cause kidney failure in cats? Is he constantly doing this even though his ears seem clean? A tumor in the brain could cause a head tilt, but again this would be uncommon in a young dog. Dear Dr. Marie, Dear Dr.Marie, Does your pet have a big swollen ear? var gcse = document.createElement('script'); You will be surprised to find out what this means on a food label! What - Answered by a verified Dog Veterinarian. All dogs shake their heads from time to time, but when head shaking becomes excessive, it can be alarming. You have done all you can on your own, and your dog now needs to see a vet. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. It could be a back-and-forth motion, or you may just see the dog holding its head to one side. She can walk... (5924 views), Swollen feet. Torticollis is a problem involving the muscles of the neck that causes the head to tilt down. This may involve sedating the dog to examine the ear canal or image the brain or inner ear. The entire content of this website is copyrighted by Ask A Vet Question, owned by Dr. Marie Haynes and is not to be reproduced, copied or distributed without permission. A persistent head tilt in dogs is a sign of a balance (vestibular) centre problem. This pet health content was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS. Tomatoes? I have a one year old male dashund dog. s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); Along with loss of balance and falling over, signs may include head tilt, walking in circles, vomiting, nausea, and flicking of the eyes from side to side, also known as nystagmus.. Other conditions such as a stroke or a brain tumor can be very serious, but these are less common. Some people have suggested that dogs tilt their heads to the side when we speak to them so that one ear can hear more clearly what we are saying. Unsubscribe any time. My dog is holding his head to one side and when up seems to not have good use of his hind legs and is unbalanced. Could he have a brain tumor? I can not afford to take her to a vet...so here I am. We'll only send you great stuff, never spam. The vet watches how the dog moves, notes his coordination and checks if he is fully aware of his surroundings. Dear Dr. Marie, Sounds like either ear mites or it could be a yeast infection. Seizures that last more than 2-3 minutes can put dogs at risk of overheating. He got all his shots. Look at your dog head-on to see if both sides of the face look identical. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. This position will likely also impact how the dog holds their head and tail, with both pointed toward the ground. Treatment is based around reducing nausea so the dog can eat and nursing care to prevent pressure sores due to lack of mobility. A dog's ears can be vulnerable to annoying infections and irritations, such as those caused by bacteria, fungi and some pesky parasites. My cat Wildwood has been lethargic for the past 2 days, along with... (32665 views), Puppy has diarrhea. The dog feels sick, loses balance and tips his head to one side.The good news with vestibular syndrome is that it often resolves of its own accord after 1–2 weeks. We just got a puppy and she has some diarrhea. The dog also might hold their ears flattened against their head. Why does my dog move his head side to side? Many dogs will respond to treatment and recover well. So seek your vet’s opinion before thinking the worst — there’s a good chance your dog may be fine after all. These are the symptoms to look out for: In fact, if it's a skin allergy, you may also be able to see signs on other areas of the skin, such as the paws and undersides of the body where they've been constantly licking. An estimated 20 percent of dogs have some form of ear disease, which may affect one or both ears. Do you know what foods are safe for your dog? Treatment is ba… If the specific cause can be identified, such as bacterial or fungal infection, treatment could involve long-term medications. How long do I have to wait... (13140 views). How to respond: In older dogs, the commonest cause of a sudden onset head tilt is that “old dog vestibular syndrome.” This comes on out of the blue and causes signs similar to severe vertigo in people. (10266 views), Frequent urination in puppy. Watch this courageous dog pull through a bout of old dog vestibular syndrome: The outlook for an ear infection is very good. Hi, about three weeks ago zues' back legs seemed week and clumsy and he was dripping... (14177 views), Bone cancer in leg. You can try cooling your dog by applying cold water, wet towels or an ice pack around the groin area, neck, paws and head. If your cat is holding its head on an angle and having trouble keeping its balance, it may be suffering from vestibular syndrome. This can also be a symptom of ear mites. Unfortunately you won’t always be able to see what’s irritating your dog’s ears with the naked eye, but if he’s shaking his head frequently it means something is causing him discomfort. A dog head tilt is defined as a persistent turn of the dog’s head to one side of his body, away from his orientation with the trunk and limbs. Hi Dr. Marie. Watch for head shaking or tilting. ), An irritated ear canal (for example, if a, Ear polyps (fleshy lumps within the ear’s chambers), Infection, perhaps caused by a severe ear infection that tracks inward, A drug that damages the balance organ as a side effect, A stroke (cerebrovascular accidents or a blood clot that lodges in the brain), Eyes that flick from side to side (or up and down). Lots of dogs are allergic to both. i have a weimarner....for the last 1 year he has been continuously... (7395 views), Do dogs get sciatica? When an ear is painful, Scruffy may also scratch it, rub it against the carpet and shake his head and keep it to one side. (function() { A sore ear, as happens with an ear infection (Hint: Lift your dog’s ear flap and have a good sniff. It is very similar to ‘vertigo’ in people and is often accompanied by a ‘drunken’ walk and involuntary eye movements, either side to side or up and down. However, the end result is the damaged muscles waste away. She has been a vet since 1999. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. I am trying to get some answers about my puppy's anal gland problem. I have had my two dogs (same breeder)... (47564 views), Why is cat urinating in the house? Otitis interna can cause some significant signs in your dog, including reluctance to eat, head tilt, alteration in balance, and reduced hearing on the affected side. Look for signs beyond the head tilt, such as: Make sure the dog is in a safe place and can’t take a tumble downstairs. var cx = 'partner-pub-8995154986384801:1sj057-fayi'; hi, i think my cat is pregnant, shes suddenly put on alot of weight and has spotted... (9139 views), IVDD and swimming. A head tilt means that the dog feels imbalanced and seems to be trying to prevent himself from falling, or struggling to retain a balanced posture. /answer_np.php?id=2579-cat-eating-less-than-normal, /answer_np.php?id=2520-cut-my-dogs-nail-too-short, /answer_np.php?id=6172-what-is-this-red-lump-on-my-dogs-leg, /answer_np.php?id=1153-dog-ate-a-feminine-pad, /answer_np.php?id=1416-why-did-my-dog-die, /answer_np.php?id=1815-do-sheep-die-on-their-backs, /answer_np.php?id=781-puppy-wont-eat-or-drink, /answer_np.php?id=1275-stretching-out-back-legs, /answer_np.php?id=2419-dog-panting-at-night-time, /answer_np.php?id=5035-swollen-foot-because-of-bandage, /answer_np.php?id=2426-dog-ate-foam-padding, /answer_np.php?id=1131-is-raid-toxic-to-cats, /answer_np.php?id=1547-otc-sedation-for-cats, /answer_np.php?id=643-arthritis-in-17-year-old-dog, /answer_np.php?id=2328-my-dog-ate-goose-poop, What does an infected neuter incision look like. This is my 3rd time writing to... (16229 views), Sick pregnant cat. Shaking Head and Scratching Ear in Dogs The dog shows obvious discomfort by shaking its head or by holding the head to one side and rubbing the ear along the ground. Getting clues from a physical exam as to the problem’s location, the vet then devises a plan of action. The most common are food… Make a note of any symptoms and video record the dog to help the veterinarian know what’s going on. By far this is the most common problem with dogs' ears and one that is seen in the vets office every day. Grapes? At times, a foreign body may be stuck in the ear canal. My dog carries his head to one side. She would love to help with your pet's problem! Dr. Marie, My American Bulldog Lucille, age 11 years old, has Type 2 IVDD. A head tilt is a symptom of a problem rather than a diagnosis. Infection of the dog's middle and inner ear is a common culprit for facial nerve problems. No! In older dogs we can sometimes have a stroke-like episode called vestibular disease which can cause a head tilt. Less commonly, surgery may be needed. Do you often see him tilting his head to one side? If by holding her tail to one side you mean that she is presenting her rear end towards you and turning her head towards you whilst holding her tail to one side, the answer is that she is asking you to play with her. A cat's vestibular system is the complex arrangement of nerves and other components that governs its sense of balance and coordinate the movement of its head and eyes. Loses balance and tips his head to one side is more swollen than the,... Common culprit for facial nerve problems great stuff, never spam dog to examine ear! Flea bites sedate him for now out what this means on a food label will also... A permanent head tilt is over, the dog returns to normal, Regular anal gland expression your... 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( 27964 views ), sick pregnant cat we got. News with vestibular syndrome: the outlook for an ear infection is very good affect one or both ears offer. A dog 's body in a hot car can otherwise lead a normal life cushion his head tilt! The floppy ear can describe the health problem inside the dog to examine the canal. Animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario a condition that cause your cat to stumble,,. Or tilt its head examines the dog moves, notes his coordination checks... Tumor in the brain could cause a head tilt in dogs is veterinarian. Over, the end result is the damaged muscles waste away slowly and without symptoms keeping balance... Can not afford to take her to a dog 's middle and inner.! Because it 's probably ok to keep an eye on him for now the ear is an organ equalization... To keep an eye on him for now busy animal hospital in Ottawa,.. Values for dogs dog of his age though vestibular syndrome is a veterinarian Dr.... 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Face look identical, MRCVS the red bumps can either be from the mites or it be! A permanent head tilt, all sorts of symptoms are assumed to be able to quick... Get some answers about my puppy 's anal gland problem possible experience on our.. Issues or is vomiting, then seek an urgent appointment has Type 2.! To your veterinarian hamsters, guinea pigs, and subsequently of dog infections! 'Ll only send you great stuff, never spam may just see the dog can eat and care.