In a way, head shakes can be much like vomiting...we're seeing the outward signs of an internal problem but even vets have a difficult diagnosing the cause(s). There is a general consensus that, when limited to just head shakes/tremors, with no loss of awareness or other notable signs, that the problem is not a true epilepsy. But that said, shakes can come from low blood sugar, from pain, from a drug reaction and I'm sure a dozen or more things I'm not aware of.

Most vets will diagnose head shakes as IDIOPATHIC meaning of unknown cause/origin. I'm content to leave it that way. My dog has them and we've found that oral potassium bromide alleviates the great majority of them, particularly if I keep up on her medication.

Potassium Bromide (KBr)is a non-narcotic preparation first suggested by my old veterinarian who has since retired, but my present one uses it also and agreed to continue her on it for the last 10yrs plus...she used to get an oral dosing both AM & PM but about 5yrs ago I dropped her back to PM only and she maintains quite well on that. KBr is often used as a "boost" alongside phenobarbital given to epileptic dogs, but by itself it works well for us, and repeating its non-narcotic, non-habit forming, tho it is reconstituted crystals to a prescribed strength by my vet, Rx...and its quite bitter-tasting so she gets a treat immediately after I squirt it into her mouth!

For my dogs, it's been food related.

how did you know to put her on it. Ever since Jackson acl surgery, he has been having head shakes too, not all the time but the last one the other day was really horrible (for me) He looked like a parkinson patient.

...I didn't think there would be an "easy" answer.

We don't really have issues here. Roxy had her first and only bout early this morning, and I wasn't overly concerned. We fed her a little earlier than normal last night, so it was probably a blood sugar thing with the elapsed time (she LOVES) to sleep in!!!

I wasn't terribly concerned, more curious, as usual.

Thanks again!










HO HO HO-LD ON THERE! The photos in this post are private property and may not be used without permission (no matter HOW good a girl or boy you've been this year!)

More Roxy Photos: http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/yy239/DavDRox/
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and I honestly doubt there ever will be. I've tried very hard to have the AKC Canine Health Foundation do some research but no luck.

Of the many many people I've been in contact with regarding this, the common element is at one time the dog was under anesthesia.

Myself & others have had many tests done and most vets don't have a clue.

Cathy & Zimmer


http://www.midatlanticbulldogrescue.com

becasue i never had it in my danes or rottweilers and those are the only two breeds i owned for years....is this just a bulldog thing...i showed my vet the video...and he stated it was a low sugar problem....he then went on to yack about short noses not enough air,,,small air ways. ..elongated pallettes....i some how couldnt see how that fit into low sugar....
but one thing after he finished his babble....small dogs yorkies..chichua (ms) toy poodles get these head shakes alot...and that is low sugar because of fast metabolisms...and they should be fed three to 4 times a day.... i feed my boys 3 times a day rather than one large meal....
if your having the problem.....i would buy some urine strips and get a pee sample during or after one of these esipodes and see what the sugar or keytone level was....