I adopted him from a local shelter, and since then he’s had somewhere between 7 and 10 of these episodes. These breeds tend to be more susceptible to developing idiopathic head tremors:Ĭapa is a three-year-old Lab/Basset hound mix. Some dogs are more prone to them, but no one has figured out why. They affect male and female dogs equally. They’re more common in young or middle aged dogs but can show up at any time in a dog’s life. Which breeds are most affected?Īny dog can experience idiopathic head tremors, including mixed breeds. If your dog is otherwise healthy and acting normal, there’s no need to worry. The tremors shouldn’t affect your dog’s appetite, energy level, or temperament at all, and the only time you’ll notice symptoms is during an episode. If everything looks normal in the tests and your dog isn’t experiencing any other symptoms or pain with the tremors, there’s no cause for immediate concern. Idiopathic head tremors are usually diagnosed after all other potential problems have been ruled out. Any tremors that continue to happen without known reason are considered idiopathic until a different diagnosis is found. That said, if your dog is having head tremors, you should bring him to the vet just to be sure nothing is seriously wrong. Keep a log of the attacks and look back on it to check for any patterns. Pay attention to what’s happening before they start, what your dog is doing, if there’s anything that might have overstimulated or exhausted him, or if he appeared stressed before the tremors started. If you can, keep track of your dog’s episodes. It could be as simple as his neck muscles getting tired and that triggers an episode. He holds the position for so long that after a while, his head starts to shake. Other times, he’s lying down on his side holding his head up and looking at the ceiling. Capa’s attacks coincide with a few different things. However, because nerve abnormalities can cause involuntary movements, it is possible that they are linked to idiopathic head tremors. Nerve abnormalities – Nerve abnormalities can be very broad and no specific neurological disorders have been linked to idiopathic head tremors. Sometimes the episode stops as soon as I put his leash on. If he’s been home alone for a while and we come back or if he’s excited for his morning walk, every now and then I’ll notice the tremors. Movement disorders like dyskinesia – This basically means that your dog experiences involuntary muscle movements that some people – veterinarians included – may mistake for seizures.Įxcitement and overstimulation – This happens with my dog sometimes.
There are many theories on what triggers an episode, but here are some of the more common ones: Idiopathic head tremors happen when muscles in the head and neck contract involuntarily. If your dog has any of these symptoms, it’s a sign of a different condition and he should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible:īehavioral changes (fear, aggression, etc.)Īt this point, no one knows. It’s helpful to know what they are, both for your peace of mind and so you can report the problem to the vet. There are some symptoms that are NOT associated with idiopathic head tremors. The person taking the video feeds him Greek yogurt as a distraction, which eventually helps to stop the tremors. Lab results, blood work, and any other tests will come back normal if your dog has this conditionĪ video showing an English Bulldog having idiopathic head tremors. So how can you tell if they’re idiopathic or caused by something a specific condition? Well, the only way to find that out for sure is by visiting your dog’s veterinarian. “Idiopathic” means that the cause of the tremors is unknown. The problem here is that there are tons of conditions that cause tremors in dogs. Episodes are short and in the middle of one, the dog is totally aware of what’s going on around him. The shaking isn’t violent and is sometimes so subtle you don’t see it at first. Idiopathic head tremors are characterized by a dog’s head bobbing up and down or shaking from side to side. Soon I came across a bunch of information on idiopathic head tremors. The tremors stopped after a couple of minutes. His eyes were open, he didn’t seem distressed, and he looked at me and wagged his tail when I said his name. Still, here he was with his head shaking as if he had developed Parkinson’s disease. My dog is healthy overall, and I wasn’t told about any health problems or chronic conditions when I adopted him.
When Capa, my Labrador Retriever mix, sat in his chair with his head bobbing up and down uncontrollably, it freaked me out.
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