Uncontrollable Head Shaking

[LucyCiel]

Okay... so I've just read about a million posts on this topic, and am now even more bewildered than before. If your dog has had this SAME thing, plz help!

My baby Capone, now almost a year old, just had a second episode of this weird head shaking. It is -just- his head. He does not seem freaked out by this at all, and has no other symptoms (ie: pupil dilation, ear infection). He has been on purina one large breed puppy, and then in the more recent months large breed adult. There has been no change in his eating or food *other than the TOTALLY STRANGE* crap he eats around the house. I am especially inclined to believe this condition is a mystery to vets, and that it may be stress-related. I will have to keep a detailed list of daily doggy events in order to really be sure, but that's the most common thread I can find with these tremors. Again, this is not something that bothers him, it just weirds his mommy & daddy out! This is our first boxer, so I have no frame of reference, and have not seen this in any other dog I have owned.

Please, any advice or input will be greatly appreciated!

 

[boxer]

Head tremors often (not always) seem to be related to food intake. For that, and several other reasons, I'd suggest that you feed her a better quality food. Purina One is junk food, I'm afraid, and boxers aren't a large breed dog anyway. Switching her to a premium food that has a higher meat and vegetable content - instead of the by-products and waste grains of Purina - is likely to help matters. And even if food isn't the cause here, there are a load of other good reasons to feed good quality food - you are what you eat, and that's just as true for dogs.

There is some good information on how to choose a good quality dry dog food at www.boxerworld.com/feeding which tells you what to look for and avoid in a dog food (and why). Some brands of good quality that might be good alternatives for you include Innova, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Wellness, Merrick, Fromms Four Star and Blue Buffalo.

Second thing I'd try is feeding her a little more frequently. At least twice a day, perhaps three times. Even if it's just a biscuit when the head tremors start. In some cases the tremors seems to be related to low blood sugar, and food helps in those cases. Worth a shot, anyway.

 

[Austin's Mom]

My Austin had these head tremors until I changed his food. He hasn't had one in over 2 years.

 

[Elyse]

Nestle had these when she was about 1. The first thing I did was think about my house hold products that she is in contact with. I stopped using Febreeze and switched laundry detergent and they stopped. About a month later I pulled out an old blanket that had been washed in the old detergent and had been febreezed and she had a mild episode again. Needless to say, the blanket was washed and that was that. Ness is almost 3 now and had not had an episode in almost 2 years.

A lot of people had great success switching foods. That might be a good place to start. As freaked as you might be seeing Capone having an episode, it is nothing to really freak out about (I know, easier said than done).

((((HUGS)))) and please keep us posted.

 

[KonaKoffe]

What kind of heartworm medication are you using. I have read the Heartgard can cause problems.

I have also heard that there are problems with Freebreeze too.

 

[natesmom]

My first boxer was allergic to corn and had the head shaking problem. I switched to Canidae and problems stopped.

 

[angleheart]

My 5 1/2 yr old male has head tremmors every once in a while. It's impossible to know for sure how often they occour unless someone was literally watching him 24 hrs. a day. I do feel that stress plays a role, food could have a part but they are not severe enough or frequent enough to worry too much about at this point. I would like to know for sure what causes them but they are so sporatic, and short lived, its impossible to know.

 

[LucyCiel]

Okay, just over a month now

And only one more head shaking. It was when we moved apartments at the first of the month, and Capone had to be separated from his "roomate" for the first time since he's been home with us.
He has always lived with me & my bf's roomate's dog Storm (female black lab). Being without Storm is pretty much the last thing we thought about when we decided to ditch our roomie, but now I see the impact. All of this head shaking comes directly back to some stressful event or moment.

I feel bad, and I am thinking of getting another puppy, but I'm not sure yet. I will post separately about that, but I wanted to give you guys an update. I so appreciate how everyone here at the boards is so supportive and surprisingly always very informative.

 

[Elyse]

Great news that the shaking has tapered off. Poor baby Capone. Happy to hear that you guys think you have it figured out as well. As for a 2nd puppy, I say go for it. I don't even remember what it is like with only 1.

 

[mtripp]

Head Shaking

My lucy has had a head shaking tonight. She was spooked tonight and I do not know why, she followed me all around and growled at my other dogs, even my son for trying to pass her ??

this head shaking has happened before and it really scared me. Same as baby capone, no other symptoms. Then it's over and everything seems fine.

I'm not sure if I should be her into the vet's.

Okay... so I've just read about a million posts on this topic, and am now even more bewildered than before. If your dog has had this SAME thing, plz help!

My baby Capone, now almost a year old, just had a second episode of this weird head shaking. It is -just- his head. He does not seem freaked out by this at all, and has no other symptoms (ie: pupil dilation, ear infection). He has been on purina one large breed puppy, and then in the more recent months large breed adult. There has been no change in his eating or food *other than the TOTALLY STRANGE* crap he eats around the house. I am especially inclined to believe this condition is a mystery to vets, and that it may be stress-related. I will have to keep a detailed list of daily doggy events in order to really be sure, but that's the most common thread I can find with these tremors. Again, this is not something that bothers him, it just weirds his mommy & daddy out! This is our first boxer, so I have no frame of reference, and have not seen this in any other dog I have owned.

Please, any advice or input will be greatly appreciated!