Title: Idiopathic head tremor

{{short description|Animal disorder of unknown origin}}
{{about|the disease of idiopathic head tremor in dogs|epilepsy|Epilepsy in animals}}
{{Orphan|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox medical condition
 |name          = Idiopathic head tremor
 |synonym       = 
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 |pronounce     = 
 |specialty     = &lt;!--from Wikidata; can be overwritten--&gt;
 |symptoms      = Involuntary lateral, up-and-down movement of the head
 |complications = 
 |onset         = 
 |duration      = Less than five minutes
 |types         = Between 6 months and 3 years
 |risks         = 
 |diagnosis     = Signalment and medical history
 |differential  = 
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 |prognosis     = 
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'''Idiopathic head tremors''' (IHT) are characterized by involuntary lateral or vertical movement of the head.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot;&gt;{{cite journal|last1=Shell|first1=Linda G.|last2=Berezowski|first2=John|last3=Rishniw|first3=Mark|last4=Nibblett|first4=Belle M.|last5=Kelly|first5=Patrick|date=2015|title=Clinical and Breed Characteristics of Idiopathic Head Tremor Syndrome in 291 Dogs: A Retrospective Study|journal=Veterinary Medicine International|volume=2015|article-number=165463|doi=10.1155/2015/165463|pmc=4430662|pmid=26064776|doi-access=free}}&lt;/ref&gt; Idiopathic head tremors are ordinarily considered a benign disease of the dog characterized by uncontrollable head tremors of spontaneous initiation and cessation. These head tremors are considered idiopathic because the cause is not apparent,&lt;ref name=pmid24375621&gt;{{cite journal |last1=Guevar |first1=Julien |last2=De Decker |first2=Steven |last3=Van Ham |first3=Luc M.L. |last4=Fischer |first4=Andrea |last5=Volk |first5=Holger A. |title=Idiopathic head tremor in English bulldogs |journal=Movement Disorders |date=February 2014 |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=191–194 |doi=10.1002/mds.25767 |pmid=24375621 |s2cid=116029842 |url=https://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8178/1/8178.pdf }}&lt;/ref&gt; but nervous system disorders, [[seizure]]s and head injuries may be significant contributors of idiopathic head tremors in dogs.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot;/&gt; Head tremors are usually not associated with any other symptoms, although some dogs have other signs of disease in addition to head tremors.

== Overview ==
Idiopathic head tremors are characterized by three movements: rotational, up and down, and side to side. They occur spontaneously and typically last for 1–3 minutes.&lt;ref name=&quot;:2&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|url=https://vetgirlontherun.com/idiopathic-head-tremors-in-dogs-vetgirl-veterinary-ce-blog/|title=Idiopathic Head Tremors in Dogs {{!}} VETgirl Veterinary Video|last=Lee, DVM|first=Justine|date=2016-02-12|website=VETgirl|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-30}}&lt;/ref&gt; There is often not a [[Postictal state|postictal stage]] that generally follows a seizure, because idiopathic head tremors are not considered seizure activity. Dogs are generally alert and responsive during an episode.&lt;ref name=&quot;:2&quot; /&gt;

This condition is more common in dogs from six months to three years old, and some breeds are more susceptible than others,&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot;/&gt; including [[Sabueso Español|Spanish Hounds]], [[Chow Chow]]s, [[Samoyed dog]]s, [[Doberman]]s, [[Labrador Retriever]]s, [[Dalmatian dog|Dalmatians]], [[Pit bull|pitbulls]], and [[Bulldog]]s.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot;/&gt;

== Cause ==
The cause is idiopathic, or unknown. One commonly accepted theory is [[dyskinesia]] that originates in the [[basal ganglia]] of the [[brain]], which is responsible for [[motor control]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; Other possible causes are low [[glucose]] and/or [[calcium]] levels in the blood, often experienced by [[Lactation|lactating]] dogs. [[Hormone|Hormonal]] fluctuations may be a factor as well, since idiopathic head tremors are often more pronounced during [[Estrous cycle|estrus]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:1&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|url=https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Head-bobbing-in-dogs|title=Why Is My Dog's Head Bobbing? The Causes of Head Tremors in Dogs|last=Farricelli|first=Adrienne|website=PetHelpful|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}&lt;/ref&gt;

== Diagnosis ==
The diagnosis of idiopathic head tremors in dogs is based on signalment and medical history.&lt;ref name=&quot;:1&quot; /&gt; It is considered a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other possible causes must be investigated and ruled out before diagnosing idiopathic head tremors.&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot; /&gt; Differential diagnoses include primary neurologic diseases like [[Cerebellum|cerebellar]] disorders, [[steroid]]-responsive tremor syndrome (&quot;little white shaker syndrome&quot;), and exposure to [[toxin]]s. [[Endocrine system|Endocrine]]/[[Metabolism|metabolic]] diseases like [[hepatic encephalopathy]] and infectious diseases like [[rabies]] and [[canine distemper]] must also be ruled out.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite journal|last=Troxel, DVM|first=Mark|date=January 2020|title=Tremors|journal=Clinician's Brief|volume=18|page=69}}&lt;/ref&gt; The first step is a comprehensive physical examination, including obtaining vital signs, [[auscultation]] of the heart, and palpation of the head, neck, and limbs.&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot; /&gt; Additional testing includes a bile acid test, eye exam, brain [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]], and [[cerebrospinal fluid]] (CSF) analysis. These tests will enable the [[veterinarian]] to rule out the cause as an eye or progressive [[central nervous system]] problem. Dogs with idiopathic head tremors have no other neurological abnormalities, and both [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] and cerebrospinal fluid analyses produce normal results.&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot;&gt;{{cite web |title=Head Tremors in Dogs: What You Need to Know |url=https://www.vetneurochesapeake.com/veterinary-news/head-tremors-in-dogs-what-you-need-to-know/ |publisher=Veterinary Neurology of the Chesapeake }}&lt;/ref&gt;

== Treatment ==
There is no treatment available for idiopathic head tremors. Anticonvulsants have not been shown to have an effect on curbing the occurrence of head tremors.&lt;ref name=&quot;:2&quot; /&gt; For dogs that are actively having an episode, distraction techniques may be helpful. Talking to the dog or offering food and treats are methods of distraction.

Although there is no treatment, prognosis is considered to be good because idiopathic head tremors are benign and do not lead to long term disease or illness.&lt;ref name=&quot;:2&quot; /&gt;

== References ==
&lt;references /&gt;

[[Category:Dog diseases]]