Dizziness occurs when there is a breakdown in the signaling between the inner ear and the brain, controlled by the vestibular system.
Ear Infections
An ear infection can cause your dog to seem dizzy. Your dog may also scratch at his ears, shake his head, or experience redness and swelling of the ears. There are several causes for ear infections in dogs, including bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Allergies, mites, and foreign bodies may also cause inflammation that leads to an infection in your dog. Dogs with floppy ears, such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels are more likely to get infections, and an ear infection can occur at any age; however, older dogs are more likely to suffer from infection as their immune systems weaken with age.
Head Trauma
Head trauma to the ear, the side of the skull, and the brain can also cause your dog to be dizzy and disoriented. Head injury is a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from a concussion or contusion. Any bleeding or swelling of the ear or side of the face may indicate an accident as well.
Poisoning and Toxicity
Certain medications, such as ACE-inhibitors, can cause weakness and dizziness in your dog. The toxicity levels are mild to moderate, but this also depends on how much was given or consumed by your dog. An ACE-inhibitor medication is used to treat hypertension in both humans and dogs, but if the medication is accidentally consumed at toxic levels, it can cause hypotension in your dog.
Hypoglycemia and Diabetes
Low blood sugar, whether related to diabetes or not, occurs when there is not enough sugar in the blood to fuel blood cells and often results in dizziness, trembling, and overall weakness in your dog. Glucose, a metabolized sugar, fuels your dog’s cells, but if there is too much insulin in the body, the glucose reserves in the blood will drop to low levels. Higher amounts of insulin may occur if you give your diabetic dog too much insulin, if he skips a meal, or if he exerts himself too hard.
A hypoglycemic attack can cause your dog to become disoriented, dizzy, and possibly vomit. Hypoglycemic attacks occur more in older, obese dogs, and more frequently in female dogs that are in heat or are pregnant.