Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 8/5/2005

Question
Hello, My boxer had puppies on July 4 2005. When they were 4 weeks old I put the puppies into a larger box and one of them climbed out. Before this happened I had given the pups a bath. After falling out she now walks and sits with her head tilted sideways all of the time (one way). I don't think she hurt her self when she fell out of the box but I am not sure, I do remember getting water in her ear during the bath. I want to know if the water in her ear would do that to her or did the fall and also how can I fix it?
Thank You for your time.
Patty  

Answer
The fall could have caued this if she damaged her eardrum or her vestibular apparatus in her ear was traumatized during the fall.  You can have the vet look to see if her eardrum is ruptured or if she has other signs of neurological disease.  Sometimes, these will resolve on their own, but sometimes not.  I doubt that water in the ear would do that.