Hi I've had Ringo for a year now and he has epilepsy( but he is not on medication as the seizures are very rare and not bad ones.) he has recently starting shaking just sort of bobbing and wobbling up and down a bit when he breaths in. Its not all the time but every now and then. Yewkie my other basset shakes (more like shivers) when she wants an extra snuggly cuddle, I have tried giving him big extra snuggly cuddles but it doesn't help. Any ideas of what this could be? - he doesn't appear to be in any pain he is 7.
2006-12-20 06:06:31 · 5 answers · asked by mum 2 Cameron and Ewan 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The behavior you're describing is very strange, but could be attributed to his epilepsy. The typical activity we envision when we think 'seizure' is the flopping, rigid posture of a grand mal seizure. However, there is a less pronounced seizure called a petit mal seizure.
They can manifest as something as simple as a bobbing head or rippling skin. They're difficult to diagnosis without a neurologic consult with a specialist. They have to see the activity in action; otherwise it's very difficult to diagnose. Recently, we sent an Airedale to a specialist for a consult because the owner described him 'always looking from side to side, as if searching for his eyebrows'. He was diagnosed with a central nervous system deterioration, and the activity was labeled a petit mal seizure.
If the behavior isn't accompanied by other symptoms of pain, like panting, constricted pupils or a tense abdomen, it might not be a painful condition. If there's no difficulty associated with the breathing itself, it could be that the bobbing is coincidental with the inhaling. Have there been any changes in the home or in your schedule that might be causing new anxiety or stress? It could be that he's having some problems associated with these sorts of factors. In that case, he might need some anti-anxiety medication to help lower his threshold for upsetting stimuli.
It's probably a good idea to run him into your vet's office for a physical and evaluation of the behavior. It could just be an abnormal but harmless change, but with his history of seizures, it might be a new problem. I commend your attention to this very subtle change - many dog owners might not have noticed this, and I hope that if it is a problem, your attentiveness to detail might really help your dog out. If you think of it, I would love to hear how things turn out. Bassets are such sweethearts, and I'll send good thoughts your way during this time of uncertainty.
2006-12-20 06:24:54 · answer #1 · answered by sjlawson12 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That shaking you are speaking of could be seizures. The normal age range for epilepsy to show up in dogs is between 5 and 7 years old. Seizures don't improve or lessen if anything they increase in number and can get pretty violent. I wish I could tell
you that his trembling is for cuddles and hugs, it is most likely the result of seizures. The bobbing and wobbling can be the after effect. You need to take him to your vet to be evaluated. This is can be a lengthy and tedious process. Once on correct medication and proper dose, they can live very normal and productive lives with epilepsy if treated.
I would like you to know that this is not just my opinion. I had a beautiful laborador that was diagnosed with epilepsy 18 months ago. He was just about to celebrate his 5th birthday. We didn't have any warnings, no tremors, no bobbing, wobbling, nothing. We went to bed one night, he jumped off the bed after about 10 minutes of relaxing, into what I would describe in human terms a grandmal seizure. We thought he was dying or had been poisoned, which of course we found out later wasn't the case. Unfortunately, we couldn't save Zeus. His epilepsy was so severe, that after about 8 months of constant vet care, diet changes, medications, hundreds of dollars in medical tests, we had to let him go. It is my understanding he was the exception to the rule, most of the time epilepsy is very treatable.
So get your little boy to the vet, have him evaluated and begin treatment as soon as possible. Good luck and best wishes.
2006-12-20 07:51:15 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy_cruzir 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shaking can be so many things in the canine world. I would take him to the vet and have him check further into the seizure's cause. Is it epilepsy or an underlying condition? They can give your dog some blood work to figure these things out. Another reason why dogs shake is pain, especially when inhaling or exhaling. A friend's dog who kept shaking was found to have Addison's Disease, a totally managable adrenal-gland disease when caught in time. This took a while for any vet to diagnose but eventually they figured it out. I'm not trying to worry you but I would def. bring him to the vet to explore these possibilities and/or just get a clean bill of health. I will send good thoughts your way :) Best of luck with things!
2006-12-20 09:55:49 · answer #3 · answered by monana_17 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CHECK THE TEMPERATURE IN THE HOUSE PRONTO !
2006-12-20 06:58:43 · answer #4 · answered by Sexi Betch 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
then he's sick or he just nervous take him to the vet....
2006-12-20 06:11:29 · answer #5 · answered by sandi_ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋