This patient came in with unilateral conjunctivitis and superficial corneal ulceration. However there’s more to it. This animal can’t blink 👀properly hence the secondary damage to the eye. 👁
.
There are 12 cranial nerves and they all have different functions including sensory function, motor function, gland secretion and many more. Facial nerve paralysis is the inability to move the muscles of facial expression (Eg eyelids, lips, ears, nose) 👅👃👂because of dysfunction of the motor component of cranial nerve (CN) VII, the facial nerve.
.
An idiopathic form of the disease is the most common cause in dogs (up to 75%) and can also occur in cats (25%). Other potential causes include:
-Extra-cranial causes (eg. otitis media, otitis interna, head trauma, surgery of ear and face)
-Facial nerve (neoplasia, inflammation, metabolic disease, toxin)
-Intra-cranial causes 🧠 (eg inflammation and brainstem neoplasia)
.
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and cranial nerve reflex testing. The diagnosis of idiopathic facial paralysis is made by exclusion. In majority of cases, the condition is unilateral. Some of my favourites cranial nerve reflex testing included menace reflex, palpebral reflex, pupillary light reflex (PLR) and dazzle reflex
Medical tips:
It is important to perform neurological examination. It is easy to do and it only takes an extra 30 seconds