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Weird head movements...need opinions please
Brent Dunlop Australia (Verified User) Posts 43 Dogs 0 / Races 0 17 Mar 2024 07:50
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My dog was restless in the night.She was whining a bit and wandering around sticking her neck out with head down , like in a vomit stance. I tried throwing a ball and she chased it fine and then ate some food. Then she laid down to sleep. For the next hour, everytime her eyes would close they would open suddenly and she would move her neck and head in an upward motion. This happened every 10 seconds for an hour or more. They were quite slow , smooth motions. Not jerks. But definitely not normal. She didn't seem in distress when laying. Next day it was gone. This also happened 4 months ago but with some wobbliness when standing. My thoughts are. 1. Pinched nerve in neck 2. Ear problems 3. Cramp or spasms 4. Something more sinister Thanks for your opinions
Michael Worth Australia (Verified User) Posts 875 Dogs 2 / Races 0 17 Mar 2024 18:15
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Hey Brent, Im no expert in this field and Im pretty much having a guess but I know how distressing this can be for you. Do you feed many bones as she may have had a small piece stuck in her throat that was annoying her especially if it happened four months ago and this time was gone overnight. A dog cant vomit that well laying down and the head movement when she was laying down seems to be like a swallowing action. The fact that she still wanted to chase the ball and the time between events makes me think it may not be that sinister however the wobbliness throws me a bit although dogs can get a bit staggery when trying to vomit. Hope this helps. Cheers
Brent Dunlop Australia (Verified User) Posts 43 Dogs 0 / Races 0 18 Mar 2024 02:24
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Thanks Michael No bones but i did find a chewed up stick or root in the yard , around one inch pieces. It's a possibility.
Michael Worth Australia (Verified User) Posts 875 Dogs 2 / Races 0 18 Mar 2024 04:21
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Yes mate Ive had that before with hunting dogs. Grass seeds can also be a problem. My mate has just had two removed in the last six months from his greyhounds eating grass and picking up the seeds. Cheers
Anthony Dawson Australia (Verified User) Posts 3 Dogs 0 / Races 0 18 Mar 2024 18:45
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Hi Brett, do a google search on idiopathic head tremors. I have recently had one diagnosed with this condition. It is very rare in greyhounds but much more common in other breeds.
Brent Dunlop Australia (Verified User) Posts 43 Dogs 0 / Races 0 19 Mar 2024 03:49
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Hi Andrew How would you describe the head movements your dog made? The movements in the videos on idiopathic head tremors look different. They seem quite rapid and shakey. My dog would drift off to sleep for 10 seconds then her eyes would suddenly open as if someone pinched her and she would slowly move her head and neck upwards. Ears pricked up the whole time and it went on for about an hour or more. I wouldn't quite say it looked like a tremor.
Anthony Dawson Australia (Verified User) Posts 3 Dogs 0 / Races 0 19 Mar 2024 04:01
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Mine was an involuntary head wobble from side to side. Episode only lasted a few minutes, maybe 5. Completely alert and did not affect her afterwards and she was running around like nothing had happened a short time later. I had her assessed by a neurologist who made diagnosis. Perhaps yours sounds like it is more triggered by something like a spasm or pain of some sort but thought it might be a variation of this.
Brent Dunlop Australia (Verified User) Posts 43 Dogs 0 / Races 0 19 Mar 2024 08:28
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Hi Anthony Yes sounds a little different but you never know how things start out and evolve. Did your dog do any wobbling on its legs? The first time it happened she was stretching her neck out and then would almost topple over to the side. Blood tests were normal. Went to a non greyhound vet and they said infection due to low WBC but i ran it by a greyhound vet and he said no. Was yours able to race?
Anthony Dawson Australia (Verified User) Posts 3 Dogs 0 / Races 0 19 Mar 2024 08:46
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Hi Brett, the best thing about that condition is that is just an involuntary movement of the head similar to a tick in a person, she has been cleared to race as there are no co-ordination issues and the fact that the condition may only present a few times in their life. There was no wobbling as such. I think it is a bit of a concern that yours is losing some balance. I took a video of the episode which was key in the diagnosis. I also had a video of her in the run straight after which also helped. Happy for you to message me and I can pass on some more details if you like.
Do you have questions regarding the health of your greyhound? Do you need tips what you should feed your dog?
