Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I have had Dante about 2 months now. He is 3 years old and "perfect" But I have seen him do this twice now and I'm disturbed. For no reason that I can see, Dante's head starts shaking uncontrollably - like he has Parkinson's. I don't think it's a seizure because all he does is shake and he doesn't seem to be particularly bothered by it. When I go over to him and start petting him then the shaking stops. Does anyone know what this is? What's causing it? If there's anything I can do for Dante? I have a vet appt. for him in 2 weeks. The 2nd time the shaking happened, I noted time/date and plan on keeping a journal on it. The first time I just thought it was some fluke. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Honestly, it does sound like a seizure. Start to make a log of the episodes. Also, if you can the next time it happens try to capture it on video so the Dr may view the episode. Keep us posted! Btw--Dante is beautiful-congratulation on your recent adoption!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FreeholdHound Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 There is a post & video on Greytalk's FB page of a grey w/ a head tremor & stopping it by presenting a chewy & holding on to it so dog has to focus then the tremor stops. It was posted on Dec 17th if you want to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 It might be a seizure or something like Wobblers, however, there is a head wobble that some greyhounds do on purpose when they're hoping for pets. It's actually more of a tremor, as if they're shivering. Can you get a video? Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WhenIGiveIn Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 have you given him any chicken jerky? a friend of mine has a saluki that presents with head tremors and they were linked back to the chicken jerky treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cometdust1 Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Definitely video it if you can.It is how my friend finally got her vet to understand what her dog was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) Carl does this from time to time. He is fully aware, conscious, can walk around, follow instructions, track with his eyes, has no confusion etc when it happens. If I pet him or give him a treat (and make him work for it a little bit) it goes away. It seems to happen in some breeds more than others, Boxers seem to be prone to it. Here is an interesting article from Examiner.com in 2011. He seemed to do it a lot more right after I would use Frontline Plus, so I switched to Advantage and it does not happen after I apply it to him. He also seems to be doing it a lot less now that he has been eating raw, don't know if there is any correlation to that or not. He only does it once every several months or so now. Edited January 13, 2013 by seeh2o Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Have you observed the head shaking from before the shaking started to after the shaking stops? It sounds like a focal seizure except that it stops when he's being petted. One of mine has focal seizures but even she can't stop them and we certainly can't. She tries - changes positions, moves her head very emphatically as it to say "stop it!", but nothing works. Have you searched for focal seizures on youtube? There are a couple of good videos on the subject. Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 My Pearl did this. Scared the bejesus out of me because she had heart disease and hypertension and was on a plethura of pills. But she'd do it for a little while (fully awake and alert and as soon as I asked her to do something, it stopped). It maybe happened 5 times in her lifetime. (so not much, I had her from age 4 thru 12) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taras Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 This can also be a long lasting side.effect of bebesia (sp?) .. My girl has had this same type of head sheaking issue ever since we treated her for bebesia. She would have as many as 20 a week but after 3years we are down to may be one every6months. So the doc thinks it is just nerve damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Just thought of something: Is Dante on any meds (aside from heartworm and flea preventatives)? Has he had to do a round of metronidazole/flagyl for any reason? Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 It sounds like idiopathic head tremors. They are similar, but different from focal seizures. I would definitely do a consult with a neurologist before putting him on ANY anti-seizure meds. Sometimes vets assume epilepsy and prescribe meds willy nilly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Yes, my vet called it idiopathic head bobbing. Nothing to worry about, no need for medication. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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