Tremors and neck twitch

[Cniewald]

Hi everyone — looking for some guidance or shared experiences with my English Bulldog, Thor.





Thor is 8.5 years old, and over the last few months he’s developed some strange, very specific episodes that I’m trying to understand better. Hoping someone here has seen something similar.





What’s been happening:

• This first started 4–5 months ago after a normal tug-of-war session. He suddenly froze and his eyes darted back and forth for a few seconds.
• Since then, he’s had intermittent 5–7 second episodes that happen immediately after he shakes his head — never at random.
• During these episodes his head dips/tilts, his eyes twitch rapidly, and he looks briefly off-balance.
• He snaps out of it quickly and then acts completely normal: eating, responding, cuddling, going outside, etc.
• Separately, he has had mild bulldog “head bobble” tremors his whole life — the classic IHTS head nodding — but those occur on their own. They are NOT triggered by head shaking and are completely different from these new episodes.
• In the last 24 hours, the head tremors become longer and more frequent

What we’ve already tried:

• Two full weeks of focal seizure medication — no improvement at all.
• Before that:
  • Two weeks of oral antibiotics
  • Ear medication (topical)
    → No change in the episodes.

New symptom today:

• He’s slightly ginger on his back right leg — still using it, but slower/hesitant.

What I’m trying to figure out:

• Could this still be an inner or middle ear issue, even after antibiotics and ear drops?
• Could it be a vestibular problem, pinched nerve, or cervical spine issue that only shows up after he shakes his head?
• Has anyone seen these short “post–head shake” episodes in bulldogs that were not seizures?

Thor is completely himself outside of these episodes, but the frequency increase has me worried. We’re following up with our vet, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has seen something similar or has insight into possible causes.

 

[Cniewald]

Had to take Thor to the ER for tremor clusters. He’s staying overnight. Please please if anyone has dealt with these please reach out. Xray and blood were negative, no mri yet….

 

[Lennie. U.K.]

I think the MRI, may help with the diagnosis. When is Thor due to have the MRI?

 

[helsonwheels]

If he had head bobble tremors his whole life, the tug a war must of unlocked a nerve. We’ve seen this question many with some members. When the dog goes into a trance, some will give like a tablespoon of peanut butter and it stops almost immediately. You said:

• He snaps out of it quickly and then acts completely normal: eating, responding, cuddling, going outside, etc.”

You say it’s nots a seizure. Who said it wasn’t cause it sounds like one. It doesn’t harm the dog either and basically nothing to do about it. Vets will give all sorts of meds like they did with yours and nothing works. Just wait till the X-ray results. Please keep us posted.

@2BullyMama