Please can anyone tell me if they have experienced/heard anything like this.  My 11 year old very fit collie had surgery to remove a perianal tumour.  The day before the operation she was fine, competing at an agility show.  Following the surgery she was unsteady which I put down to wearing the Buster Collar.  When she had her stitches out I mentioned this and the vet checked her ears, which looked fine, and said to bring her back if things didn't improve once the collar was off.  I realised that some thing was very wrong once she was at home without the collar on as she was still unbalanced, jumped on the sofa and fell off, could get in but not out of the van and would be very unsteady if she turned whilst in the garden.  We went back to the vet  who thought at first that she was blind because she was not blinking - which I had not noticed.  Even when objects are moved right up to her eyes she does nothing.  Her facial muscles are paralysed, although her third eyelid is blinking.  She was put on a course of steroids and treated for inflammation of the nerves.  Her balance has improved a lot, she looks normal now apart from if she runs for a toy, she fell over the other night when she stopped to get it.  I also noticed a flattish scab on her neck about the size of my little finger nail and showed the vet.  He said it looked like a tick had fed and dropped off.  The day before her op we were competing at agility in the Lake District, known for ticks.  I have asked for a blood test for Lymes disease, although they don't think its that as she isn't ill - the facial paralysis is the only symptom she has.  It was suggested last night that it may be a brain tumour.  I am devastated, she is fine in herself and its both sides of her face that are affected.  Does anyone have any information on anything like this please?  Thank you.

Vestibular disease or vestibular syndrome? My cat had it and had similar symptoms.
I am speaking purely from personal experience and have no animal/veterinary training whatsoever.
Hope you get things sorted out xx

I thought of that too
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_vestibular_disease.html

So sorry to hear about your girl.
Keep an eye on her for the next few days, very similar to my bosses dogs story a couple of weeks ago :(

Karen

Can dogs get Bell's palsy which is a non-permenant facial paralysis in humans ?

Another possibility - many years ago we had a Hungarian Kuvasz bitch who was diagnosed as having "masticatory myositis" - her symptoms were very similar. She was successfully treated with steroids and immuno-suppressants and recovered completely.

Thanks for the suggestion, but the vet is saying that it isn't Vestibular Disease.  Her eyes are not doing the flicking side to side and her face is paralysed on both sides.

Karen, what was wrong with your boss's dog?

my sisters Boxer had repeated facial paralysis. It was eventually shown she had epilepsy.