Head tremors

[tlkozak]

Has anyone heard of english bulldogs having head tremors? It's only happened twice so far, but after doing my research online, I've seen it's pretty common...His head will just shake back and forth for maybe a minute, and then it's over. It scared the heck out of me the first time it happened. That was about a month ago...then he did it again this morning. I called the breeder, and he said he hadn't heard anything like that, but was going to do some calling around for me. If he doesn't have any answers, I will most definately be calling his vet ASAP!

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

Can you try and videotape it?

[thehoundgirl]

Have you checked his ears? He may have an infection going on. I would get him to the vet.

[Toller_08]

Not sure if it's the same thing, but head tremors seem fairly common in Dobermans. I think they call it 'Idiopathic Head Tremors' or something like that, and it's usually nothing to worry about. Many dogs can apparently even be distracted out of them with a word they like (or their name) or a cookie. I've never personally owned a dog with head tremors, but I've known a couple dogs with them and their owners don't seem concerned and nor does their breeder.

If he were mine I might take him into the vet anyway just to make sure there is nothing else going on. And it helps to try and video it, too. My uncle's Doberman's vet was thankful that they recorded his head tremors as it made things more clear to understand.

[tlkozak]

I can try and get it on video..it's only happened twice so far, so it's not very often. But, today it happened as soon as he woke up. I'll see what I can do!

[JessLough]

Rosey gets them, we thought they were focal seizures but they seem not to be, she can be snapped out of it with her name

Originally Posted by Toller_08

Not sure if it's the same thing, but head tremors seem fairly common in Dobermans. I think they call it 'Idiopathic Head Tremors' or something like that

Yep, they're pretty common in Bulldogs too and that would be my guess as to what the OP is experiencing with their dog. I would still take the dog to the vet to rule out an inner ear infection, just because it's a Bulldog, since they're more prone to allergies and infections (my AB occasionally gets head tremors that look similar when he gets a deep inner ear infection but otherwise never has them).

Taking video to show to the vet is always a good idea when it comes to potential neurological issues, if you have the ability to do so.

[tlkozak]

I found a video on you tube of a bulldog with head tremors...this isn't my dog, and his head doesn't shake as much as this one in the video does,but it's pretty close.
http://youtu.be/x8AriEIc7Nk

[Doberluv]

My Doberman had those. Yeah....I could usually get him out of it with a treat. Somehow, the distraction made the tremor stop. It is quite disturbing though to see it. You can ask your vet to make sure it's not something else.

[tlkozak]

Originally Posted by Doberluv

My Doberman had those. Yeah....I could usually get him out of it with a treat. Somehow, the distraction made the tremor stop. It is quite disturbing though to see it. You can ask your vet to make sure it's not something else.

The first time it happened, I was freaked out!!! But, apparantly, it doesn't cause any harm to them, and I was told that he should just grow out of it.