Are these focal seizures?

[lougle]

My dog is almost 3 years old. Every so often, he seems like he's nibbling a very small object, but there's nothing in his mouth at the time. Sometimes his skin on top of his head jerks up and down rhythmically at the same time. He doesn't go completely absent, but he does still during these 'episodes'. I've tried to video it, but it only lasts 15-20 seconds at a time, so by the time I've got my phone out, turned on the camera and switched to video, it's finished.

[moosemama]

When does this happen. It sounds like it's probably teeth chattering, which is a common dog behaviour and happens when they are really excited. It's more pronounced in some dogs than others and male dogs will also do it when they catch a whiff of a bitch in season.

They are essentially pushing the scent into the Vomeronasal or Jacobsen's Organ so that they can sort of taste the smell, iyswim. The same organ is particularly good at helping them process pheromones when they come across them, hence the male dogs reaction to smelling a bitch or finding the urine of a bitch in season.

[lougle]

No, it's normally when he's tired - late at night at bed time, or in the afternoon when it's quiet and he flops down for a rest. There isn't really much sound at all, just the occasional sound of a suction grip being lost, if you see what I mean, when his jaws pull open.

It's quite a subtle movement, but the skin jerking is quite pronounced.

[moosemama]

Hmm, doesn't sound likely to be teeth chattering then.

Found . Is it anything like that? Apparently the dog in the video tended to do it when tired as well.

If it is, it might be worth getting the vet to give his mouth the once over, as there are a few people mentioning similar symptoms with granulomas.

[lougle]

Hmm nothing as pronounced as that. It's only his very front teeth that he 'nibbles' with, as if he has a tiny stone or something in his mouth. But the top of his head jerks quite markedly, sometimes both sides simultaneously, other times both sides jerk, but out of sync with each other.

[moosemama]

Not sure then. If you're concerned, perhaps take a video of it along to the vets and see what they think?

[lougle]

I couldn't get it on video, but I've got a vets appointment late this morning. If it's nothing I'll be glad.

[moosemama]

Fingers crossed it turns out to be nothing - better safe than sorry though.

[lougle]

Good news, I think. The vet days they are almost certainly complex partial seizures, but many dogs who have them don't develop further seizures.

If he gets many more or seems dazed in between, then they would do blood tests, etc., but he's too young and not a typical breed for a brain tumour to be a likely candidate and in any case, if it were we'd see a fairly rapid progression of symptoms.

The vet also said that often the side effects of treatment are more distressing than the seizures, so best to just monitor. I'm happy with that.

[moosemama]

Well done for picking up on it. Many owners would have missed it or dismissed the signs as just a quirk.

Fingers crossed they don't develop and he continues to cope without medication.

[lougle]

Thanks moosemama. :)