​

​

Boxer owners are no strangers to panic attacks when it comes to their dogs. The inquisitive and mischievious nature of the breed frequently leads to bumps, bruises, bites or stings, and the ingestion of materials that are not necessarily dog-friendly. Occasionally, however, something will come up out of the blue, made all the scarier because there is no apparent cause or trigger.

​

Idiopathic head tremors, or "head bobbing", occurs when the Boxer's head moves rapidly and uncontrollably, either up and down or side to side. The motion is best described as similar to what is seen in humans with Parkinson's disease. Boxers are not the only breed affected: Dobermans, Bulldogs, and other "bully" breeds commonly have these head tremors, though they can occur in any breed. (The video at the left is a classic example of side to side tremors in a Boxer.)

​

Causes of Head Tremors

​

The term "idiopathic" means there is no known cause for the tremors. Many Boxer owners whose dogs experience head tremors keep a journal of their dog's daily events, including when the tremors occur and how long they last. Journaling has discovered various triggers for individual dogs, such as diet, supplements, low blood glucose, low calcium levels, flea/tick preventives, heartworm meds, anesthesia, hormonal changes, and one Boxer who had them every time he laid on an electric blanket.

​

Several other conditions may cause a dog to have tremors, most notably epilepsy in various forms. While most epileptic seizures involve the entire body, focal seizures are localized to a small area. Typically focal seizures present as twitching or blinking on one side of the face. Paroxysmal dyskinesia, a movement disorder, may show tremoring in the head and neck, but the rest of the body is typically also affected with strong, uncontrollable muscle contractions. A key characteristic of idiopathic head tremors is that the dogs are fully conscious and aware during the episode. They can respond to your voice, move around, eat, or even grab a toy. Note that dogs experiencing partial focal seizures are also aware of their surroundings.

​

Treatment and Prognosis

​

Vets and owners frequently assume head tremors are epileptic seizures, and put the dog on phenobarbital. The drug does not help with idiopathic head tremors, and long-term use can damage the liver, so it's best avoided if the dog is not clearly epileptic. Currently there is no treatment for idiopathic head tremors, although many Boxer owners have found that changing the diet, minimizing vaccination or medications, or supplementing with Vitamin B-complex have prevented them from recurring. In some dogs, calcium supplementation has proven helpful, but too much calcium can cause other problems.

​

Dr. Eric Glass, a board-certified veterinary neurologist, has studied idiopathic head tremors as part of his research into involuntary muscle contractions. He calls the tremors "postural repetitive myoclonus", and suggests they are not a neurological disorder in the brain, but related to the neck muscles and the stretch reflex mechanism. In a letter to a Bulldog breeder whose vet sent a video of idopathic head tremors to Dr. Glass, he emphasized that the tremoring "absolutely does not harm the dog; in fact the dog does not seem to even be bothered at all". Though his research evaluated various medications, none of them were sucessful in stopping the tremors but, as Dr. Glass writes, "who cares as it does not affect the dog."

​

Most dogs will go through a period of tremors and then not have them ever again, and live perfectly normal lives. The tremors are benign -- they cause the dog no pain or distress, they have no short- or long-term effects, and they are typically transient and self-limiting. Tremors are typically stopped in their tracks by giving the dog peanut butter, Karo syrup, honey, or vanilla ice cream, or by simply supporting the head. (Note in the video link that the white Boxer's head tremors stop as soon as she rests her head on the other Boxer.)

​

If Your Boxer Experiences Head Tremors

​

First of all, don't panic. Your dog is not affected by the tremors, but may become confused or stressed by your reaction. Evaluate your dog's condition: is he alert and responsive, what color are his gums, is the rest of his body affected? If it seems to be only head tremors, you can try stopping them using the above methods, or just wait them out. A typical episode lasts about three minutes, though it may seem longer as you're watching it. When the tremors stop, your dog should be entirely unaffected, as if nothing had happened. If he is not, a veterinary visit is in order.

​

If you want to be absolutely sure nothing else is going on, or if the tremors recur several times in a day or over a few days, a vet visit is never a bad idea. If you can get a video of the tremors to show your vet, do so -- our Boxers rarely oblige us by exhibiting random symptoms when they're actually at the vet's office. Ask for full bloodwork, including glucose and calcium levels, liver enzymes, albumen, and platelet counts. Odds are these will all come back within normal limits, but you can then rule out several other possible underlying issues.

​

In most cases, idiopathic head tremors will recur for a period of time and then stop entirely. Keeping a journal of the tremors can help you pinpoint possible triggers and make changes to avoid future tremor activity. Most importantly, keep in mind that idiopathic head tremors are not life-threatening, they have no effect on the dog, and any treatment should be aimed at lowering your own anxiety level during and after an episode.

​

​

this does not mean your boxer will have this. this is for f.y.i