Head Tremors

[kendallblue]

Our 11 month old Fenchie Finn just started this strange behavior two days ago. Of course the vet is closed for the weekend, so I did some searching on the net. Every once in a while, and especially when he just lies down to rest, his head tremors as though he were saying "no." It literally looks like someone with Parkinson's. After tons of searching, it sounds very much to me like Idiopathic Head Tremors or Head Bobbing Syndrome, which is supposedly very common amongst Bulldogs and Boxers, especially. We will, of course, take him to see the vet, but I wondered if anyone here had any experiene with this odd Frenchie phenominon. There are tons of videos on YouTube that look just like what Finny is experiencing, and his only come sporadically. Anything you might offer would be great!

[fran and dari]

This is common... I have not experienced it ,but I know others who have.. One thing people do is give the dog some honey or high sugar item when it happens..Most dogs seem to grow out of it..

From what I have heard, it is more upsetting to us than the dog...

If I remember correctly, one of Sami's dogs has experienced this.. a couple of times and then it stopped..

[Samia Blaine]

sorry i don't know your name...i have experienced this a few times. once with one my bullie boy. i found he had low blood sugar. if i gave him some ice crean (tblsp) or honey and he was fine within a few minutes. i also experienced this with a frenchie, yankee. his were idiopathic. he was 7 months. he outgrew it within a few months after i spent close to $800 in tests. of course none of my experiences may apply to your pup...i think your plan to bring him in for a few tests is a good one. good luck!

[Tina]

I have a ten year old bulldog and he has these tremors off and on for close to nine years. I rushed him to the vet the first time he had them and she told me not to worry as long as he didn't show any other symptoms. My Bulldog's tremors don't seem to be related to blood sugar levels, I can ususally snap him out of them with activity or chewing a dog biscuit, getting him moving around etc. He sometimes will have spells of them on and off and then they can go away for months or even years. He tends to get ear infections and I have noticed he will sometimes get the head tremors when an infection is starting or his ears will be getting dirty/waxy.
They have not caused him any health problems in the nine years that he has had them.

[kendallblue]

Thanks for all the words of advice and experience! I'll let you know what the vet thinks about this crazy new development. I have never had dogs with so many strange health problems and conditions... ;-)

[Nancy Papador]

Both my frenchies have had head tremors, the 2-year-old only once, the 9-year-old a couple times. It's very disconcerting when it happens, but it's really nothing to worry about apparently. A couple teaspoons of yogurt or ice cream stops it pretty quickly! "Strange" does describe some of the behaviors this breed exhibits. . .but that's what makes them so special! (I'm brainwashed.)