head Tremours

[jennyp130]

:confused:

Sometimes Oliver shakes his head rather quickly (almost seizure like) when he is waking up from sleeping. It's not the normal shake that boxers ALWAYS do. It's a shake from side to side. If you were to shake your head no....this is the direction. It's short and quick shakes and if I talk to him, he will look at me and stop. The vet doesn't think it's a seizure, and wants me to watch it. Does anyone else ever notice their boxers doing this? I have read that Bulldogs are prone to these "head tremours," but it doesn't seem like they have control over them like Oliver does. The vet thinks maybe his ears get hot from lying on them and he tries to "air" them out. Any suggestions are helpful. It's not an ear infection either, b/c they looked into his ears, too.

 

[Austin's Mom]

Hi Jenny. My Austin gets head tremors. I know exactly what you are talking about. Thankfully they don't happebn often. If you do a search on head tremors, you will find a lot of helpful info. Don't worry, tho, it's harder on us then it is on them.

Chris

 

[jennyp130]

What did your vet have to say about them? Do they show any long term affects on the dog? I read that there is nothing that they can take for this either. Does your dog come out of it when you talk to him and then start up again when you stop? Basically, I'm just worried that this will harm him somehow somewhere along the line. Thanks so Much!!! I'm glad to hear someone else out there goes through the same thing!

 

[Austin's Mom]

Yes, my vet knows about them, but since they don't happen very often and are not that bad he isn't on any medication. If I talk to him calmly and rub the back of his neck it seems to help. If the kids come in the room when it's happening he gets all excited and it becomes worse. His head shakes harder and faster. There aren't any after or long term effects that I know of. The most important thing I learned is to STAY CALM. I know it's hard but it's best for both of you at the time. If it's happening alot maybe you could talk to your vet. Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[gilaort]

Hi Jenny
Our 4 months old Boxer has developed a much worse behavior. At the age of 3 months, she started having head tremours, but different from those you describe. She has this "seizures" - moves her head like "assuring' movements, up and down, very small and repetetive movements, while standing, sitting or even lying awake.(not in her sleep). At first it was seldom, but now - every few moments. It does not disturb her while active (walking, running or playing) But is very frightening. We went to the two differents vets yesterday and today, and they never saw such a thing, and sent us to a neurologist! Does not sound very good in our case. The puppy is SOOOO sweet, and we love it so much! We are truely worried.
GIla

 

[nvin]

Hi There
My Names nvin we have a Five and a half year old boxer called Luther, he's a red. We are in U.K.
Does your boxer have these tremors all the time or just for a few minutes at a time?
Luther suffers from Head Tremors, not continous but maybe 5 or 6 times a month. We found a way to "break" the tremor which he seems to like, we give 5 or 6 pieces of his favourite treat ( in Luthers case thats almost anything) one after the other and that seems to break the cycle. Our vet seems to think it is a neurological problem, like one side of his brain kicks in before the other, it seems to bother him at the time but he now knows we can do something for him.
Give this a try it works for us.
Good luck and a Happy New Year.
nvin

 

[nvin]

Hi Eveyone
A Happy New Year.
Regarding Head Tremors read my reply to "gilaort" posted 01/01/03 01:12 pm .
Good Luck
nvin

 

[jennyp130]

head tremors

Hi. I have read in many different places about the head tremors in which the dog is totally active, running, eating, drinking, etc. with the constant "assuring" head movement. It is common in bulldogs, great danes, and boxers for some reason. Usually the common medication for seizures is not recommended b/c they still continue. And once you go on a seizure medication, you always stay on it. However, my dogs head waives side to side, as if nodding "no." I can also snap him out of it. The vet I took him to has never heard of anything like it before. And like I said before, Oliver's shakes are only when lying down, which is odd, too. But I also remember reading that if they do get too bad, some sort of medication is needed.