Inetresting read

[Tank1023]

Been going through this with sausage. My vet found this article. Been having trouble with my video upload, sausage has had a few of these head tremors in the last week.

diopathic Head Tremors


Contributors:




Linda Shell, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)






Synonyms:


Movement disorder


Head shakes


Dyskinesia


Head tremors










Disease description:


This is a clinical sign, and/or syndrome, of unknown etiology that results in intermittent head tremors. There are no retrospective or prospective publications and much of what is known about the disorder has been passed down from neurologist to neurologist. There have been at least 3 theories as to the origin of the tremors.


They may represent a focal seizure discharge.
They are a form of dyskinesia or a spontaneous discharge from the basal nuclei which are involved in patterned motor activity.
They may be an abnormality of the stretch mechanism and the proprioceptive pathway of the head (trigeminal nerve). this theory may explain why the head tremors temporarily stop when their attention is diverted i.e. when they are directed to look at you or something else, the neck muscles tense which may release the stretch mechanism that is provoking the tremors.








CLINICAL SIGNS


Certain breeds have been identified as being affected. Clinical signs consist predominantly of episodes of head tremors that last seconds to a few minutes. Affected dogs appear to be fully alert during these episodes. The head tremors are described as either up and down (like shaking the head "yes") or back and forth (like shaking the head "no"). The tremors seem to start and stop spontaneously, but dogs may be momentarily distracted during the episode by directing their attention to something. Thus far, patients have not developed any other neurological deficits and generalized seizure activity has not been reported.






These links are to videos that show the tremors:




Bulldog with tremors




Boxer with tremors






DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENTS


Diagnostic evaluations, including MRI and spinal fluid analysis results, are typically normal. Nevertheless, if the dog develops any persistent neurological deficits, then a thorough workup would be in order.




The response to anticonvulsants is somewhat controversial with some neurologists indicating no response and others indicating that some dogs seem to respond.














Etiology:


Idiopathic, unknown








Breed predilection:


Boxer
Doberman pinscher
English bulldog
Labrador retriever


Clinical findings:




AFEBRILE


ANOREXIA, HYPOREXIA


Ataxia, incoordination


Bark, increased vocalization


Cachexia, weight loss


CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) SIGNS


Dysmetria


Exercise intolerant or reluctant to move


Head tremors


Hypersalivation


Kyphosis, spinal deviation dorsal


LAMENESS


Malaise, depression, dullness


Menace response absent or decreased


Nausea


Proprioception decreased


Rising difficulty


Torticollis, neck twisted


TREMORS


Unable to stand


VOMITING


Walking difficulty


ZZZ INDEX ZZZ

 

[2BullyMama]

yes, very scary and very, very common with our babies. There is an article here about it too.... it is good to know they are harmless, but scary nontheless


thanks for the add'l info

 

[Davidh]

Thanks for the info.

 

[KMARINO]

Vegas has done this 3 times, First time was over his beloved stuffie that my husband was playing keep away from, second, at the vet a big shepard kept barking at him. Third, again at the vet when his eye was swelled shut, he was just very nervous I think. It is VERY scarey and I freak out, but I know to just distract him and it will stop.

 

[Tank1023]

Mt second bullydid this a few times but it is more frequent with sausage

 

[Opie CHL]

Chum hasn't had one in a week. He averages one every few days..when he was given an unnecessary 3 yr rabies shot in July he was getting them 6 times a day! They are not fun to watch.

 

[Tank1023]

Poor Chum! We've been trying to find out what sausage is allergic to all summer, he'll scratch himself raw on his belly. He was on so many meds I thought maybe these were related but after the article I think they were not associated.