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
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
