Dog head tremors can be a bit disconcerting. One minute your dog is normal, and the next he or she seems to be nodding “yes” or shaking “no” on repeat. To put your mind at ease, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of idiopathic head tremors in dogs.
“It was the strangest thing. When I looked over at Dudley, his head was shaking up and down over and over again, almost like one of those bobblehead dolls. After a few minutes, the nodding stopped and he wandered over to play with a toy like nothing had happened.”
As my client said those words to me, the condition that immediately popped into my head was idiopathic head tremors in dogs. But I knew that before jumping to that diagnosis, I needed to gather more information to ensure that her beloved English Bulldog wasn’t suffering from a more serious neurologic condition.
Since dogs can occasionally have seizures that involve the head, the first order of business was to determine if what my client was seeing was truly a head tremor.
What are dog head tremors?
I explained that the term “tremor” describes the involuntary shaking or trembling of a body part. When this trembling is localized to the head, it is called a head tremor.
Head tremors in dogs are considered to be a type of involuntary muscle movement disorder. In other words, your dog cannot control when or how the muscles are moving. Head tremors mostly occur when dogs are awake, but can sometimes happen while a dog is sleeping.
What are the symptoms of head tremors in dogs?
In dogs who are experiencing a head tremor, their head may shake up and down (as if they were nodding “yes”) or side to side (as if they were shaking their head “no”). Occasionally, dogs can also have a rotational tremor. These movements are typically small yet rapid.
While they might look a bit similar at first glance, head tremors are different from seizures because dogs do not lose consciousness with head tremors. Also, seizures in dogs may cause other signs such as twitching of the muscles of the face, loss of bowel or bladder control, or involuntary limb movements. These signs are absent with head tremors.
What causes head tremors?
Unlike in seizures where the causes are better understood, the exact mechanism of action behind head tremors is not clear. However, some researchers have theorized that activation of certain areas of the brain can cause head tremors. More specifically, head tremors may be connected to stimulation of the groups of neurons within the brainstem that helps with patterned motor activity.
In a condition called idiopathic head tremor syndrome, these neurons seem to activate spontaneously and without any obvious trigger. However, there are a variety of neurologic and neuromuscular disorders that can also cause dog head tremors. They include:
- Central nervous system disorders
- Congenital disorders affecting brain development
- Damage or injury to the cerebellum (i.e. the part of the brain that controls coordination)
- Low blood sugar (i.e. hypoglycemia)
- Toxin exposure (e.g., pyrethrin, drug overdoses, various poisons)
For the purposes of this article though, we will focus on idiopathic head tremors.
What are idiopathic head tremors in dogs?
Many of the conditions in the list cause head tremors that are more persistent or chronic. But canine idiopathic head tremor syndrome (IHTS) is characterized by head tremors that are intermittent and self-limiting. They can start and stop at random. And in some instances, you may be able to halt a tremor by drawing your dog’s attention to something else such as a toy or a dog treat.
What causes idiopathic head tremors in dogs?
As alluded to earlier, the term “idiopathic” means that there is no obvious cause for the tremors. However, some veterinary researchers believe these episodes are stress-related. Other studies propose that illness, various medications, heat cycles (in female dogs), and surgery may be triggers for head tremors.
Which dogs are prone to idiopathic head tremors?
There also may be a genetic link as certain dog breeds are more susceptible to IHTS. Predisposed breeds include:
- Boxers
- Doberman Pinschers
- English Bulldogs
- French Bulldogs
- Labrador Retrievers
- Spaniels
While there doesn’t seem to be any sex predisposition for IHTS overall, some reports indicated it is more likely to affect male Doberman dogs than female Doberman dogs. Also, most dogs with idiopathic head tremors will experience their first episode around two to three years of age. But it is possible for older dogs or senior dogs to experience IHTS as well.
What are the tremor episodes like?
These tremors occur spontaneously and may only last for a few minutes at a time. In fact, the majority of idiopathic head tremor episodes last less than five minutes. However, in some cases, the head bobbing may last for up to an hour. And there are a few reports of tremors lasting more than 12 hours per day.
Some dogs may experience idiopathic head tremor episodes multiple times in a day or in a week. But for other dogs, the episodes may be few and far between.
Most dog parents will notice head tremors while their pup is awake. But it is possible to see head tremors in dogs while sleeping. This is different from the limb-twitching or vocalizing that you might notice when your puppy or senior dog sleeps.
The video below illustrates what a tremor episode may look like. If you find this disturbing, you may want to skip this video.
How are idiopathic head tremors in dogs diagnosed?
If you suspect your dog is experiencing head tremors or other neurologic signs, it is important to contact your vet promptly. Based on the information you provide, your vet will advise you on whether you need to make an emergency vet visit, schedule a vet visit during regular business hours, or continue to monitor your dog.
Since idiopathic head tremor syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, your vet will want to rule out other causes of your dog’s symptoms before making a diagnosis of IHTS. This usually involves collecting a medical history, performing a physical examination, and running diagnostic tests.
Medical history
A detailed medical history will be important. The more you can remember about what your dog was doing prior to the episode, what you saw during the episode, and how long it lasted, the easier it will be for your vet to figure out what is going on. Also, having a video recording of your dog during one of these episodes can help immensely!
In order to be IHTS, the only clinical sign present should be the head tremor itself. The tremor can be in any direction (vertical, horizontal, or sometimes rotational) and may stop when someone distracts the dog.
On the other hand, if the dog has a history of loss of urinary bladder control, drooling, difficulty walking, or loss of consciousness during the episode, it may be more likely the dog is experiencing seizure activity rather than IHTS. Or, especially in an older dog or senior dog, head shaking, a head tilt, and being a wobbly and off-balance dog could point to old dog vestibular disease (i.e. doggie vertigo), not IHTS.
Physical examination
A comprehensive physical exam, with an emphasis on the neurologic exam, is also an important part of the diagnostic process. Dogs with idiopathic head tremors should not have any persistent neurologic abnormalities or other abnormal findings on their physical exam.
Diagnostic testing
Depending on your dog’s symptoms, your vet may also recommend specialized testing including:
- Bloodwork
- Infectious disease panels
- CT scan
- MRI
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
For dogs with idiopathic head tremor syndrome, these tests will appear normal, thus ruling out many of the other conditions that can cause head tremors (plus some of those that cause seizures or other neurologic problems).
What is the prognosis for idiopathic head tremors?
In many ways, if your vet diagnoses your dog with idiopathic head tremors, this is good news! Unlike seizures, idiopathic head tremors are not dangerous for dogs. They don’t cause sharp elevations in body temperature. And they shouldn’t cause any bodily harm (like if a dog were to hit their head or fall down the steps during a sudden seizure).
Plus, unlike other causes of head tremors, idiopathic head tremors are not a sign of a bigger and potentially serious problem. They don’t cause pain or discomfort, don’t tend to progress, and don’t require ongoing monitoring.
In fact, some studies show that the tremors may stop altogether in about 66% of affected dogs. But even for those dogs with long-term idiopathic head tremors, their prognosis is still good. These episodes of head tremors do not impact their overall quality of life.
What is the treatment for idiopathic head tremor syndrome?
Since it is such a benign condition, there is usually little reason to attempt to medically treat idiopathic head tremors in dogs. This works out well since there also aren’t any medications, including anti-convulsants, which can effectively and reliably stop the tremors.
Interestingly, while it sounds almost too easy to be true, distraction halted the head shaking in 87% of dogs according to a study in Veterinary Medicine International. Therefore, the main “treatment” is to remain calm and try to distract the dog with a toy or treat to see if the head tremor stops.
Speak with your veterinarian
Idiopathic head tremors may look a bit odd, but they are nothing to fear. Other causes of head tremors, however, can be more serious. If your dog starts shaking his or her head side to side or up and down, or showing other neurologic signs, head to your veterinarian to get some answers.
Hopefully, just like my sweet Bulldog patient that I told you about earlier, it will turn out that your dog has idiopathic head tremors. If that is the case, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Chances are good that the head tremor may bother you more than it bothers your dog. And like I told my client, IHTS doesn’t pose any danger to your dog and shouldn’t interfere with him or her continuing to live life to the fullest.
Does your dog have idiopathic head tremors?
Please comment below.
I am a LVT and have a 3 year female Labrador Retriever. Her first episode of this was when she was about 10 months old and it was vertical. I have not seen it since then but just this week she’s had a couple more episodes that appear horizontal. They only last a couple seconds and she will come right out of it when we acknowledge her. Interestingly enough they tend to happen when she is relaxed or about to fall asleep, never when she is awake and walking around. I consulted with a veterinary neurologist when they first happened and he felt based on the signs and her breed, this was likely the diagnosis. I’m wondering if it’s common for there to be such a long period between the episodes as the last one I saw was two years ago. Thanks!
Hi Carly,
I am sorry your pup has started having these episodes again. While it isn’t common for them to have such a long period in between, it is possible. I am glad you are paying such close attention to this issue and recommend you keep a journal of the events surrounding the head tremors. I know you already mentioned they seem to occur when your girl is relaxed, but I also wonder if there are any other common factors such as stress, exercise, medications, food changes, etc. If the tremors continue to be more frequent, it might be worth another talk with the neurologist just to err on the side of caution. Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience with us. Wishing you and your sweet girl all the best!
This is a great article. I’m almost 100% my minibullterrier has IHTS. She’s my 16 1/2, and had pre testesting with a cardiologist to give the ok for surgery with local anesthesia. After the surgery she started gettingnhealt tremors… my vet thought it was seizures from the video, I said there’s no way, I’d have noticed before, and that I think it’s from the after effects of the sedation or lidocaine. it actually only happened for a week, stopped for 2 months and just had another. if I wave treats in front of her, she snaps out immediately. So, if any of you panic, try waving food or treats in front of their nose… it really does work in my situation. 😊
thanx for this informative article!
Dez & Dizzy
Hi Desiree,
I am glad you have found a way to quickly get your girl’s attention and stop the head tremors. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Wishing you and Dizzy all the best for continued success.
My Libra dog is only 5 months old or is suffering from gastro or is undergoing treatment but during this time his head shakes, sometimes it shakes and then stops, what does this mean?
Hi Sapna,
I understand your concern for your young pup. Unfortunately, without personally witnessing this behavior and examining your dog myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. I think it would be best to discuss this odd behavior with your vet. If you can get one of these episodes on video to show your vet, it could be very helpful. Best wishes to you and Libra. Bless you.
Thank you madam but he is no more. He fought a lot with gastro disease but he died. But I need some help from you. If I get another dog, can you give me a diary?In which it is written about the health of the dogs like what to give, what to eat, at what time, which medicine to give, in which month the injection should be given. Please give me such a diary.So that I can take care of my dog. 🙏🏻
Dear Sapna,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Libra. I am so sorry he lost his battle with his gastro disease. I think it is good you are thinking ahead and trying to be prepared and informed before getting another puppy. Unfortunately, what you are asking includes a TON of information and I am not sure it is found all in one place. I can attach links to other articles that may cover most of the basic things that I think are important. If there are any other topics you want to learn about, I encourage you to talk to your vet. They should be able to discuss puppy care recommendations or at least point you to some good resources. Most vets have informative handouts or brochures that they can give to clients. Wishing you all the best of luck as you consider adding another dog to your home. May Libra’s memory be with you always and bring you joy.
1. New Puppy Checklist: 6 Things Only a Veterinarian Will Tell You
2. How Often Should I Take My Dog to the Vet? Answers By Age
3. Which Dog Vaccines Are Absolutely Necessary?
4. Fecal Test for Dogs: 10 Myths Dispelled
5. Heartworm Disease in Dogs: The 10 Deadly Myths
My 13 yr old black labseems to have head tremors. I do not havecthe funds for the needed testing. But at times her head shakes as in the video above. Usually fir a couple of seconds and then she goes back to what she was doing. She does not loose bladder control ever. She is having trouble at times breathing. The vet said a flap in her throat is sticking at times. I just want her to be comfortable. Anything I can do to help her?
Thank you,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I understand your concern for your senior girl. I wish I had some great advice but unfortunately, without playing a personal role in your dog’s medical care, it is hard to offer specific recommendations. I am not sure what could be causing the tremors, but it sounds like your vet is suspicious of laryngeal paralysis causing the breathing trouble you are noticing at home. Here is a link to another article with more information on that condition: Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs: The Ultimate Guide
Hoping you can get some answers and find a way to offer relief. Wishing you both all the best.
My English Bulldog has head tremors, and when she does I find it important to keep calm because if she senses my anxiety it makes them worse. I usually distract her with a treat or Peanut butter, or if none are in, I find holding/supporting her head gently and distracting her with kisses helps (the first time I did this it stopped the tremors immediately)
Hope this helps other furbabies out there!!
Hi Hayley,
This is great advice. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Best wishes and keep up the good work. ♥
I hope someone can help. My boy Ace a toy labrodoodle is right at one year old.
Oct. 14 (6-7months old) He had his first seizure No convulsing or drooling but crossed legs, loss of balance, and then seemed to sleep it off for about 3-4 hours and was fine
Dec. 31 didn’t have one that we are aware of until New Year’s Eve. But he started dripping urine, lost balance, collapsed on side and seemed unconscious for 3-5 minutes. My wife and I rushed him to the ER but before we got there he started improving and over the course of 20 minutes he was up and alert and moving around. We ended up not going in the ER and he improved overnight – would get lost in a stare some but by morning was 100%.
Feb 11 Just before the Super Bowl he had his third one and it was similar to the one on New Years. Dripped urine. Loss of balance and body control. Threw up twice. Seemed to lose consciousness and we got him into banfield two days later. Showed the videos.. He again was improved although he seemed to be in that post stage for much longer. Nearly a full 24. And upon recovery shook his head twice the next day but that was it. But made a full recovery. After blood work vet found nothing. Tested him for valley fever – negative.
Feb 21 (yesterday) my wife came home from work at 3pm and found him on his side collapsed. We immediately took him to the ER. They gave him some fluids and kept him there and suggested blood work but we told them we just had blood work less than 10 days ago and was reported negative. They suggested we see a neurologist and sent us home with him still with stiff legs and a wobbly head but the neurologist wasn’t open and doesn’t have an appointment until March 6. Overnight he did alot of scratching his ear.
It’s now 9:20pm the next day – over 24 hours and he is still delayed in response and jumpy at most sounds. He also has shaked his head a couple of times and has occasional twitches. He seems very restless. Now seems to be itching his side a lot.
He seemed a bit better this morning and to be about 80% recovered in terms of energy and awareness earlier this afternoon and I was feeling good about it being behind us, but he is now sitting like his head and shoulders are heavy and still having moments like of not being aware or delayed in response.
I feel helpless and we are now 700 dollars in with no information. Every symptom I Google for him seems to be bad news and suggest immediate care but no one seems to know anything. His age gives me hope and hoping it’s epileptic.
Sorry for the length of this. I just want him to be okay and get some actual help. I’m in the Phoenix area if anyone has quality vet suggestions
Dear Adam,
I understand your concern for your young pup. I have to admit that these symptoms have me worried and I don’t have any great suggestions. I do think a neurologist is the way to go with something as strange and severe as what your dog is experiencing. Also…. please forgive me for mentioning scary things, but is your dog fully vaccinated? I ask because any time I have a young dog with neurological symptoms, rabies is on the top of my rule out list since it can have such devastating results to the health of any humans the dog would be in contact with. Hoping the specialist can get some answers and find a clear path forward with the appropriate treatment. Praying for healing and wishing Ace all the best for a full recovery.
Hi! Our 5 year old boxer gets them from time to time! I think it scares us more than anything! We just run and grab a spoonful of pb and have him lick the spoon until it goes away! I had posted on a Boxer Facebook page and many suggested that and it works everytime! Still is terrifying though!
Hi Jamie,
What a great idea. Peanut butter for the win! Thanks for sharing this bit of advice with us.
Hi Dr Buzby,
Our English Setter started experiencing head tremors the morning after we picked him up from a board and train center. All of the tremors seem to be originating from his neck area. We are pretty sure it’s a ptsd or stress reaction to E collar training. He has previously only had positive reinforcement training and has all basic obedience and is a sweet guy! But, we were having trouble with his prey drive distractions while on leash. Anyhow, the tremors have decreased each day since he’s been home. We are now day 5 post training and only a few very minor neck tremors noted. and we of course, are not using E collar. Our vet thinks likely due to trauma of board and train, but is not completely ruling out focal seizures. He also had lab work which is normal. Have you seen this happen or heard of such a response? We have multiple videos if you are interested. Thank you,
Hi Marci,
What a strange situation! I have never heard of E collar training causing this type of issue, but I guess anything is possible. If these tremors continue or they begin to increase in frequency, it might be worth reaching out to a specialist for advice. I would hate to assume this is a side effect of the training methods used and end up missing something serious that needs attention and treatment. How are things today? Hoping all is well and wishing you both the best.
We have an English bulldog with idiopathic head tremors. We see a bulldog who specializes in English and French bulldogs. He has told us to try a tablespoon of honey or a bit of ripe banana. Tremors stop almost instantly.
Hi Kristi,
Wow, very interesting! Thank you for sharing!
our 6 yr old siberian husky rescue has exhibited a plethora of problems (uveo dermatological syndrome, stomatitis, micro hepatica and these tremors) in the 2 years since rescue pulled him and we took him – the tremors are short and he eats, listens and motors around during them – they last 15 to 120 seconds normally and are usually subtle as opposed to noticeable
– the vet chiro, since his atlas is always out, (probably from the uveo) adjusts him and treats him for lymph drainage in his head and we perform that at home as well – she suggested there was perhaps some relationship to parkinson’s in humans – so he is on Tien Ma Gou Teng Yin and CBD oil – that stopped him for 4 months but now they happen, and more frequently than before – this was an helpful piece of knowledge and calming to our concern though we will not neglect checking further for neurological malfunctions in the future – we are thankful to learn that this is not an uncommon phenomena and we thank you for the post
Hi Ron and Heather,
That is very interesting! Thank you for sharing your experience with this condition and offering some insight. I am glad your boy seems to be doing well despite his episodes. Wishing you all the best for many happy years to come.
Hi Julie, I have a 3 1/2 Australian Bench Kelpie who this morning at 11.30 showed symptoms of head shaking/tremors, gave me a fright, this happen 4 times over 3/4 of an hour the longest was about 20 seconds. Got him to the vet straight away and discussed possible causes, such as eating something while out walking in the morning, he is not one to scavenge, or into my compost, but there is an electric fence around that and my vegetable garden, thought it is not on, the dogs know its not a place to go.
Been reading information as we are about to go on holiday and my dogs travel with us, so will need to keep an eye on him. Gave my vet two videos of his tremors for his records.
Has had not further tremors since this morning.
Hi Murray,
I am sorry your young boy has started exhibiting these worrisome symptoms. I think it was a wise decision to get him to your vet quickly for evaluation. The videos were a great idea! Hoping this is all in the past and it will be smooth sailing from now on. Enjoy your holiday and wishing you both nothing but the best!
Thank you for this informative article. Our now 4 yo, 45 lb multi-gen labradoodle (probably a higher genetic mix of poodle/spaniel than lab) had her first head/whole body wobble episode when she was 3. It has only happened a few times since then, always in the evening, and is gone by the morning. During the episode, she is fully able to comply with her obedience/trick commands; distractions do not snap her out of it. We showed a video of an episode to her vet, who checked her out, did a full blood panel, ruled out any obvious causes and suggested we take her to a neurologist if they continued. Since they are infrequent, don’t seem to cause her any distress, and she’s perfectly normal after a night’s sleep, we have not gone that route. Your column is reassuring — even though she isn’t our first dog, we didn’t know this was a “thing.”
Hi Barbara,
I am glad your girl is doing well despite her strange episodes. What a blessing her lab work was normal, and your vet did not find any urgent cause for concern. Hoping she will continue to live a long a happy life. Wishing you all the best and give your sweet girl a hug for me.
Our rescue pup Lulu is a lab/husky mix and has developed head tremors in the last year. She is 3.5 years old. The first time it was after a round of Simparica for lice. after researching I found that Simparica has a not great track record and can affect some dogs neurologically. Everything that others have described, has been our experience as well. Comes on often while laying down, can be distracted easily, still responds to commands, lasts about 5 minutes. Another round of tremors came on after we had given her Benadryl for a couple wasp bites. She is also a bit of a nervy, suspicious dog, startles easily. I am thinking to look into a holistic vet that can maybe offer some supplements to support her nervous system? I just feel so horrible for her when it’s happening and I do really hope that it is IHTS and not something else.
Dear Holly,
I understand your concern for Lulu and these tremors she is experiencing. She is a lucky girl to have you advocating for her health and well-being. I think finding a holistic vet is a great idea. If you find something that works well for your girl, please leave us an update and share your experience. Wishing you both the best and praying for many happy years ahead.
I have a one and a half year old havanese, yorkie and powderpuff mix who’s had a wobbly head for some time. At first it was really scary(for me), but now it seems fine. It bothers him very much, but it doesn’t seem to hurt him at all. I noticed the stress bit though, and my dog is a very anxious dog. He doesn’t like other dogs, he gets really scared of cars and bikes and he seems to struggle a lot with anxiety. So it was very interesting to read that stress might be a factor to his wobbly head. Either way, definitely something we will work on, and then maybe his head will calm down
Hi Vega and Günther,
Head tremors can definitely be a bit scary looking at first, and it does seem like some dogs are more bothered by them than others. Your plan of reducing his stress and anxiety levels to see if it reduces the tremors sounds like a good one. There are a variety of natural options for stress relief (calming pheromones like DAP/Adaptil, calming treats or supplements, etc.), as well as anti-anxiety medications. Your vet could help you figure out what might be the best place to start for him.
I hope this works! Feel free to give us an update.
my 13 Yr old girly has over the last few months ,done a slow head nodding ,its occasionally when she lays down,it only last seconds. could it be a trapped nerve ? I worry it could be a stroke. She sees a vet regularly because of other health issues, had bloods done ,all came back within normal parameters
Hi Bev,
I understand your concern for your senior girl. Have you discussed this strange behavior with your vet? It might be a good idea to see if you can get this on video as it can be hard to make a diagnosis when there are no symptoms to evaluate on physical exam. I am glad your pup’s lab work looks normal and she has no other health issues. Hoping you can get some answers and ensure your sweet girl remains happy and healthy.
My year old husky pit mix just started with head tremors two days ago, and at first it was really scary to watch! He doesn’t seem at all bothered by them (and even tried to play through them!) We are able to distract him and break the tremors, too. I’d say it’s been happening 2-3 times per day for about 3-5 minutes each time.
I do feel quite bad, but I think it’s bothering me more than him.
Hi Julie,
Head tremors can definitely be disconcerting at first! I’m glad that your pup doesn’t seem bothered by the tremors and that you can usually distract him out of them. If you have any other concerns about his health, it doesn’t hurt to check in with your vet, but overall it sounds like they are the typical idiopathic head tremors. Thanks for sharing!
My three year old French Bulldog just started the up and down head tremors today and it scared me so bad. I rushed her to the vet and they gave her medications for anxiety, nerve pain, and an anti inflammatory. They want to see her in a week to do bloodwork. She has had about 8 episodes so far. It does seem to happen like others have said, when she’s relaxed and laying down, trying to fall asleep. I have wracked my brain trying to think of what may have started it… we recently ( about a month ago) switched her food, gave her a bath two days ago and maybe water got in her ear canal. Just want it to go away. Distracting her doesn’t stop it, so trying to learn about it at 11 pm. In bed while keeping a close eye on her.
Hi Kristen,
I am sorry your young dog has started showing these worrisome neurologic signs. Glad you were able to get her to your vet quickly and start the process of narrowing down the cause. Hoping the medications will start working and you will see an improvement soon. Praying for answers and a positive outcome for your sweet girl.
Kristen
We’re going to a very similar if not same situation with not even our 1yr old mix pit. Reading your post I was curious if you figured out what caused it and a solution as our vet said if anything we have to go CT scan and MRI so hoping you’d be able to share your outcome so can help my pup. Thank you
My 16 month old English bulldog Winnie just started this yesterday and it freaked my wife and I out. she had about 7-8 episodes the first day and seemed very confused/concerned (maybe because she could sense we were scared). We took her to the vet and her blood work came back spotless. Bet basically just said keep an eye on it because it wasn’t electrolyte/blood sugar related. Do you have any general timeline for how long we should expect this to be an issue? Various forums suggest it gets better but don’t really list a timeline for reference.
Hi Brandon,
I understand your concern for Winnie, and I can only imagine how scary it was when this first started. Unfortunately, no one really knows what to expect with idiopathic head tremors. For some it is a lifelong issue, but thankfully does not seem to cause any negative effects. If the episodes start to increase significantly in their frequency or Winnie develops any new symptoms, I recommend informing your vet right away. They may end up scheduling a consultation with a neurologist just to be on the safe side. Hoping your sweet girl will continue to thrive. Wishing you both a long and happy life together.
My just turned 4 yr old lab has been having head tremors in the evening as he is settling down next to me on the couch or on his bed for the last few days. I had a dog with intractable epilepsy that I had to have put down in February so this was very stressful for me. I’m glad I found this site. I will make a vet appointment this week to rule out something more serious but I am not nearly as stressed out about this now. Thank you.
Hi Michele,
I am sorry for the loss of your other pup earlier this year and can only imagine how worried you must have been when these head tremors popped up in your Lab. I am glad the article was able to offer some peace of mind. How did the vet appointment go? Hoping you received good news, and all is well. Wishing you and your sweet boy the best.
I came across this article at 4:40 am when I was awakened by my 3-year-old lab’s trembling head. I had never heard of such a thing and googled and landed here. He did have a stressful 2-hour drive in the car yesterday and I wonder if that somehow caused this. I will be watching closely to see if it happens again. It didn’t bother him a bit and he has no other symptoms. I am the only one who lost sleep over it! Thank you for making this information available.
Hi Candace,
I am glad your Lab did not seem to be bothered by this episode. Hoping this was a one-time thing and you won’t have to worry about it in the future. I do think it would be wise to mention this to your vet. At the very least they can make a note of it in your dog’s medical record. Best wishes!
I will absolutely mention this to my vet. Thank you!
In 2019 My Boxer Moose developed intermittent head tremors at a 1 1/2 years old. The first one lasted about 5 minutes and was at 9 pm. We saw it occur about 6 times over the next year Then stopped. for a solid 2 years. It did occur again twice back in March of 2022 but have not seen any since. The only consistent thing i’ve noticed is it always occurs in the late afternoon or evening.
Hi Dana,
I am glad Moose’s condition has remained stable and these tremors are not a constant issue. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Hoping your sweet boy will continue to thrive and live a long happy life. ♥
I’ve just come across this site after like everyone else has been up all hours googling.
My speinger spaniel has had head tremmers
since 2016. That’s the last is 30 seconds maybe once twice a year then all of a sudden last Tuesday. He had a long one which lasted about 15 minutes and he’s been having six every day for the last week which is intermittently lasted 30 seconds, five minutes 10 seconds all at random times. But like your post sometimes smells toys distract him and it stops.
The vet has put him On epiphen which hasn’t helped and also now levetiracetam this still hasn’t helped. He is still having the head tremors. Because he is so drugged up he can hardly walk straight banging into walls no balance it’s heartbreaking. They are now saying if the blood levels are at a normal level as they should be and they have said the meds should be working by now they want to send him
For a ct scan which is going to cost thousands. Is it worth me doing this as I’ve come across your page and I’m now a little reserved in doing this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Dear Latoyah,
I understand your concern for your Spaniel as you face some difficult decisions. It does make me wonder why the head tremors have all of a sudden starting increasing in frequency and duration. A CT or MRI would be the next best step in trying to get answers, but that doesn’t mean you have to have answers. It all really depends on your dog’s quality of life. If he is struggling and suffering, then you would either need to move forward with more testing and treatment or make a choice to pursue palliative care. Have you talked to a veterinary neurologist about your pup? If not, it might be a good idea to ask about a referral or a consultation. I am hopeful you will find the information needed to make the best decision for you and your dog. Wishing you all the best for happier days ahead.
I noticed that our 16 week old Mini Daschund puppy has head tremors which always occur after he has been active and is then needing/wanting a puppy nap. There are no tremors when he is asleep, or when he is playing during the day. When I see the tremors it generally means that a sleep is on the way and he needs a cuddle to help him on his way…
Hi Bryan,
This is very interesting! Thank you for sharing your experience. While it seems these head tremors in your puppy are benign and not causing a problem, I would recommend you mention them to your vet so they can make a note of it in his medical record. It is always good to play it safe and err on the side of caution. Best wishes!
Our 4yo male Frenchie has seizure disorder and is on levetiracetam, phenobarbital and zonisamide which have stopped seizures for the past 3 months.. Tremors and seizures presented uncontrollably after Ibdd back surgery initially.
Head Tremors preceded seizures but now come many mornings and don’t result in seizures.
We treat tremors by making sure Bruno isn’t laying down and supplying treats or food till they stop – a minute or so. We always take Bruno out to pee after.
Our neurologist feels that the chewing action disrupts the tremors.
We are going to check out the low blood sugar angle as they come 7-8 am usually after sleep or during sleep. Thanks for the thorough article!
Michael Klee
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your kind words about the article and for sharing your Frenchie’s story. I’m glad that the chewing motion seems to help disrupt the tremors, and it is great that he hasn’t had a seizure for several months. I hope he continues to do well!
Our 8 year old French Bulldog started having up and down head tremors last year. We did bloods and a CT scan and found nothing but a middle ear infection. Weirdly he was put on a long dose of antibiotics and they stopped. Then two days after being off them he had another one. More antibiotics and they stopped again. He’s been two days of no antibiotics and he’s had two in four days. Not sure if it’s a coincidence but he was tremor free for 6 months! Back to the vet tomorrow.
Hi Jo,
That is so strange! I am sorry you are dealing with this chronic middle ear issue with your pup. What did you find out at the recheck last week? Praying for answers and hoping your dog can make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My 16 year old staffy has had two seizures that started last week out of the no where, and is under the care of a vet, After the second seizure i noticed some head tremors that were really sublet and then today seemed a little stronger however seems I can touch my dog and he will snap out of them. What is the correlation to seizures and head traumas????. My beloved dog was put on potassium bromide 1ml daily. a couple days ago. I have read numerous message sent to you and your articles and would so value your thoughts too. Thank you for your time..my heart and mind is weighted heavy by these events
Hi Karen,
I understand your concern for your senior boy and these worrisome neurologic symptoms he is displaying. The brain is a complicated and wonderous thing. I am not sure what the connection is between your dog’s seizures and these head tremors other than there must be an interconnected part of the brain that is being stimulated. Or else it is just pure coincidence that these issues are happening around the same time. It may be a good idea to seek a consultation with a veterinary neurologist. They could offer testing to rule out various causes and try to get some answers. Praying your sweet boy can remain happy and maintain a good quality of life. Wishing you both the best as you continue life’s journey. ♥
My 1 year old Shepherd, Jack Russell, Dachshund, Pit mix recently began having the “no” head tremor. It is very scary, indeed. She is having maybe one tremor (lasting a few minutes) every 3-4 days. Our vet said to just keep an eye on her for signs of focal seizures, but was not inclined to think our pup is having anything other than head tremors.
Hi Elyse,
I can imagine how scary these episodes must seem. I am glad your vet did not find any other abnormalities and is comfortable with monitoring at home for now. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. I hope your sweet girl will continue to live a long and happy life. Wishing you both the best.
My Aussie bulldog has them only recently. At the moment for the last 12 days he has 2-3 a day.
Will this slow down? Or it’s an off week? Or could this be the start of a new normal?
He is always distracted out of them.
The only thing I worry about is if I’m not around to help him.
Can they manage on their own?
My work is dog friendly so he is with me all day, but now I’m too scared to leave him alone for a day
Since they happen daily
Sam
Dear Sam,
I am sorry your pup is struggling with head tremors daily. I understand why you are concerned and how hard it must be to even consider leaving him alone. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what the future holds. Even if I could personally examine your dog, I would not be able to tell if the frequency of these episodes would stay the same or change. He should be able to manage but you could think about getting a pet camera in your house. They make some that allow you to talk through them. I was thinking that maybe if you could see what he was doing and then talk to him it might be enough to distract him out of the tremors. Praying your sweet boy can continue to find joy in his days. Wishing you both the best.
My 7 year old cocker spaniel has been having head tremors roughly once a month they last 1-2 minutes after his tongue and gums are very pale. He’s back to normal straight after. My vet wants to medicate with EPI meds and prednacare I’m not 100% happy with this as these episodes aren’t affecting my boy and after and his bloods etc are all normal. Any advice greatly received
Hi Bev,
I understand your hesitancy to start these medications. But the symptoms you describe have me very concerned. Idiopathic head tremors should not cause your dog’s tongue and gums to become pale. These symptoms lead me to believe that there is something else going on and more investigation is warranted. Your vet may be exactly right in thinking this is seizure activity. I am not sure what testing has already been done and you may want to reach out to a veterinary neurologist for guidance. I hope you can find some answers and ensure your sweet boy is happy and healthy. Wishing you both the best and good luck!
Hi I have an Old English Bulldog, Indie is 4 years old next week, we took on Indie when she was 20 weeks old, we’re not quite sure of how she was treated for the 8 weeks her previous owner had her but stories tell us it wasn’t good, anyway she came to us and on the 2nd night she had her first head tremor, I done what most do and panicked, this lasted about 5 minutes and went on its own as I didnt know what to do to help, I took her to the vet she had bloods etc done all came back clear and we were told they were IHTS , she had these occasionally and we got used to them , the custard creams and honey really didnt help, but a tennis ball worked amazingly !
Over the last few years the episodes have varied widely, sometimes she’ll have a couple in a day then none for a few days, other times she’ll have one very long one, about an hour then nothing for a few weeks so we are pretty random, I do wonder if hers are related to her anxieties, she came to us with anxieties which have only got worse since having her spayed despite help from top behaviourists and our total love for her.
Hi Tracy,
Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Indie has such an interesting story, and it helps others to know what they might experience with their own dogs. I am glad your sweet girl seems to be thriving despite her anxiety and head tremors. I think it is so cool that a tennis ball is her therapy! Wishing you and your pup continued success and many happy years ahead. And please give Indie a hug for me. ♥
Our 2.5 year old Frenchie girl, who’s fixed, woke up at 7am this morning with her first bout of IHTS. Have to say it was quite troubling. She has seen the vet this morning and had a thorough exam to rule out of issues. She’s been shaking her head up and down quite a bit since the first one both awake and now as she’s trying to sleep. She had a busy past three days with surprise visitors which affected her sleep patterns. Everything else about her is normal. Guessing stress did bring it on.
Hi Andrew,
I bet that was quite a shock and can only imagine how worried you must have been. What a blessing your girl showed no abnormalities on her exam and seems to be ok otherwise. I hope with time the tremors will subside and she can relax a bit. How are things today? Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My 2 1/2 year old Pitbull/border collie/Shar-Pei/Mastiff/etc. male just woke me up presenting with the up-down tremor. Called the emergency vet and they said it wasn’t an emergency and to call back if it got worse. It didn’t, he’s fine now, but was very scary. The only symptom was the head shaking. We can’t afford all of the tests. I guess it’s something we have to live with. Hoping it was a one time thing.
Hi Susyn,
I am sorry you experienced this scary episode with your young dog. While I am glad the symptoms resolved on their own and he is back to normal, I am worried this may happen again. I recommend you contact your vet and let them know what happened. They can tell you if any testing is needed and give you an estimate of the cost. Please be honest with them about your financial concerns. Most vets will tailor their treatment plans to work with your wants and needs. Hoping your sweet boy will continue to thrive and wishing you both the best for a happy future.
My boxer begs these tremors about twice a year. When it happens we give him cbd and it’s gone within minutes. Then we follow up with a couple
Of days of cbd and he’s good for a year or so. I was terrified the first time it happened. But by the third time I had to try cdb since there’s nothing else. And it worked.
my dog started to exhibit head tremors before he was age 2, but in taking him to the vet it helped me discover that he had lyme! not sure if the two were connected but it makes sense in some way as lyme can affect the nervous system. after he recovered from lyme with antibiotics the tremor would come back from time to time, mostly when he was stressed (or really, when i was!). it freaked me out, but never seemed to bother him. it always stops when he licks something, so i learned to remain calm and just get him to lick my hand. perhaps also to note, they often come on when he is settling to rest and is sleepy.
we live in the woods and last year he got into old trash a bear must have torn up. it gave him a real terrible exposure to mycotoxins or what our vet called “garbage gut”. we almost lost him – dr. buzby you should do an article on that! i wish i knew to give him activated charcoal right away, it would have helped his recovery and helped me feel capable in a moment of total helplessness. the vet monitored him for 24 hours and when he could lift his head up on his own i took him home to continue his care. he was having full body tremors on and off for days to detox as much as his sweet body could. all we could do was wait and see. he came out having to relearn how to walk, and exhibiting some neurological damage. we didn’t have the money to run all the tests but we do know that his paws clearly don’t communicate 100% to his brain where he is in space. he’s just a wobbly guy now! the head tremors come back in waves (definitely more frequent than before) but they still don’t seem to bother him at all, and still are resolved by licking. he is back to his sweet self and happy as ever, even with a new walk that makes everyone smile. definitely good to know if there are other issues affecting the tremors and to keep in contact with a trusted vet, but seems to me some pups are just different and special in a twitchy funky way!
Hi Rhea,
Thanks for sharing your dog’s story! I’m so glad that he has recovered from Lyme disease and garbage gut (this is a great article suggestion) and is still living his best life with his new funky walk. You are doing a great job taking care of him and I can tell what a special part of the family he is! I hope he continues to do well and doesn’t have any more medical issues for a while.
My Boxer developed tremors around 10 years of age She had a history of refractory idiopathic epilepsy since age 4 She was hospitalized as the tremors would not stop She had every possible test available After a week in intensive care her Neurologist tried a trial of Vitamin B 1 ( thiamin) and she completed recovered and went on to live the rest of her life seizure free
Hi Martha,
Wow, that is amazing! So glad your Boxer was able to make a full recovery with the use of Vitamin B1. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I am hopeful this will be just the thing someone else needs to hear while going through a similar situation. Best wishes!
thanks for the info
I believe my dog might have ipht . not sure until studies ate done to rule out other causes but mri are so expensive i won’t know for sure.
I have a mix of bulldog..
thanks
Hi,my olde tyme bulldogge is now 3 he had
one of these episodes when he was about 6 months and has just had one at midnight on the 17th July.Our vet diagnosed nodding head syndrome at the time,it was just his head every other body function was normal and lasted approx 5 minutes,I will get him checked but if as before do not think anything to worry about,Regards,
Gary Falkingham
Hi Gary,
I am sorry to hear your dog was experiencing these episodes. Thank you for consulting your veterinarian to make sure he is okay. Wishing for strength and health for you and your pup. ♥
My Boston Terrier Ricky Bobby has them. Everything else was ruled out and the big sign was that I can quickly distract him out of it. We did try eliminating things as well and found taking him off his particular flea & tick prevention greatly reduced, but did not stop, them. He’s perfectly fine otherwise and is more scary for the humans to watch than him 🙂
Hi Shelly,
I am glad your pup is still happy and enjoying life despite these aggravating head tremors. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Wishing you both the best!
My almost two year old bulldog is currently experiencing head tremors. It’s a worrying thing to watch seeing her like that, since I’ve never had a dog before.
She’s currently in season with some stress due to a dog next door
Dear Hayley,
I am sorry your young dog is experiencing head tremors. Has she been examined by a vet? I ask because this may not be idiopathic head tremors but could instead be something more serious. Please make sure your vet is aware of these episodes and keep them updated! Best of luck to you and your girl.