The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: TracyC on October 24, 2016, 09:24:05 am
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Hi there folks
I'm hoping you can help. I've got an appointment at the vets for Wednesday but that's the earliest they can do and I don't think I'm in emergency situation at the moment.
We've had 2 Jack Russell crosses from 8 weeks old and are vaccinated, due their booster on Wednesday (it was due early October so I am late with it in case that is relevant). We have an older lab who they live with.
Buster has recently started with "tremors" as I describe them. He will lay in his bed and shake (tensing on breathing then stop, do it again on the next breath, just so you get an idea of the rhythm). He'll do it laid on my knee, sat at the door, anywhere. He's done it on and off for a long time and we just had him down as a nervous dog even though he is very boisterous and outgoing.
It hasn't affected him at all which is why we haven't worried. He does everything as normal. He still does to be fair, except the tremors seem to be more frequent. I've seek shaker syndrome and a whole host of scary things out there. I don't think he's scared or excited, could be anxiety but it isn't obvious if it is.
So has anyone been through this before, what can I do for the poor lad? Thanks in advance for reading and hopefully commenting with some ideas.
Of course I will follow the vets advice, but the experience of people who've been through it would help me get my mind in order.
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Google the breed, it is something they can be prone to. My 13 year old Jack Russell has done this all his life.
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I'd noticed that thank you. I was just hoping for help on how people deal with it, if at all? Thanks for the info though, it helps settle my thoughts.
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I have a spaniel with arthritis and he will sometimes do this if he's in pain. Not saying that your little dog has arthritis, but shivering can be a pain response.
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Does he seem 'spaced out' at those times? Or is he totally responsive to you? These are probably questions your vet will aslk
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It can also be helpful to video the tremors.
Your vet will likely examine everywhere for any obvious pain or illness underlying, but a video of what he does at home with the tremoring is worth it's weight in gold.
Good luck and I hope it is just "a Jack Russell thing".
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He is 100% normal when he tremors, he will jump up mid way to pounce on his brother (same litter, shows no tremors) so not spaced out at all. Thanks for asking.
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Thanks for the video tip, I actually did record it last night. I'll show the vet on Wed. Fingers crossed it's normal, ish.