temporary paralysis?

[jps4soc]

My 14 year old Beagle has been having these 'episodes' for a few weeks now. She acts like she can't move. Even food won't make her stand, which is really out of character because she's a pig.

She'll do her wanting-something whimper, but won't move. A few minutes later, she'll be 100% back to normal, running around. The longest I've seen one of these episodes last is fifteen minutes, but I can't say for sure because sometimes I was not around when it started. I find her like that.

The last time it happened, this morning, I pet her head and she felt like she was on fire. A few hours later, I checked her head and she wasn't warm at all.

Her health is not good anyway. She has chronic ear infections that no treatment helps. At the most she'll get a month before it will be full-blown infection again. The vet says the only long term solution is to remove both her ear canals. We both agree that she is too old and too unhealthy to do the surgery.

She also has problems with her anal gland and the vet also recently detected a heart murmur.

I don't have the money to take her back into the vet, but I'd at least like to know what I'm dealing with and if there is anything I can do when she has one of these episodes. Coaxing her to get up with food or attention doesn't do any good.

If this is something that is just going to get worse, should I start thinking about putting her down?

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry for the pain for both of you.

There may be some pain and inflammation.  Have you done a search on the web about giving a dog aspirin?  I never have, so I've never searched on its use on dogs, may be bad news, if okay it is inexpensive and would provide form relief if there is pain and/or inflammation.

[jps4soc]

We've done steroids, antihistamines, prescription ear washes, cream, antibiotics, and more. We couldn't keep doing the steroids because it was causing liver damage. All the other stuff helps short term but never lasts very long.

Her condition is getting worse. When she walks, her back legs are really shaky. If she has to stand for any length of time, she turns her one foot in at an angle to help support her weight.

I wish I had the money to take her in now, but as much as I hate it, I'm going to have to wait.

[Jerry_NJ]

Even for a small dog 14 is getting up-in-years.  

Yes I think you should think/plan for her end.  But, if she isn't in pain (not sure what to think about the high temperature) I'd just try to make her comfortable and enjoy her when she recovers to more normal behavior and eating.

The ear infection is a problem we deal with on our 9 year old Westie, he is a rescue and we don't know his true age.  His ear infection is a Yeast based problem and may be food allergy related.  We use a prescription ear drop but not every day.  He has also been on antibiotics and other meds that seem to help.  I can look them up, but I am sure you vet knows all the thing we use under the direction from our vet.