Have norfolk terrier 5 years old. Has recently started looking over his shoulders at his hind legs. He is not nibbling them but just keeps looking as tho something is there. gets so frantic that he ends up running wildly round the house with tail between legs, flings himself at me and the only way he will calm down is if i hold him really tight while he buries his head in me. Once he has calmed down he will go to sleep but the minute he is awake he starts again. Wont do it if something is distracting him but otherwise is constantly looking round. vet cannot see any nasties at all and anal glands checked. He is normally such a happy little dog but this really seems to be bothering him- he will go and lie under the table instead of in his bed. At night he will have a look but then usually sleeps through the night. Anyone got any ideas what might be going on? Have tried bathing him but this doesnt work. Vet has put him on 5 days of homeopathic remedy but  dog still bothered by something. Help!!

Has his sight and hearing been checked?

Is he OK away from home?

Is it possible that he could have a nervous twitch/trapped nerve of sorts? I get nervous twitches around my eyes sometimes and it almost like being prodded with a stick. Doesn't matter if i rub it, scratch it, slap it or whatever, it won't go away. I'm sure i must look a fool, especially when there is nothing there to attack! LOL! Sometimes they can last a few days or more and then nothing for weeks/months. They are not painful just irritating and a nuisance. Other than that i don't have any other suggestions, sorry.

have not checked sight or hearing technically altho both seem fine to me. he is ok away from home and out and about but at friends yesterday he showed same signs

Could it be stomach problems, maybe slight wind?

As this is a recent behaviour I would be wanting an answer and if your vet cannot supply one I would be expecting them to refer the case, something has and is happening now that was not before, would suspect pain in the stomach but could be almost anything and I would want to know what.

thanks jackie i have of course thought of a referral but not sure who i want to be referred to as i dont know what the problem is!! in the past have always got a referral to RVC as i think they are brilliant but then i knew what problem was so knew who i should be seeing!! poor little dog is going mad with it and has turned from a happy go lucky little chap into a very down dog

Think then perhaps you need referring for further tests and investigation once things become clearer you will assigned to someone who specialises in what ever is wrong or returned to your vet with the information required to provide treatment. Has your vet done x-rays and barium tracking.

no xrays or barium done. cant think that it is a stomach problem as he is eating well and toileting normally. he has no problem with me touching and pressing on any part of his body. It is almost like he is seeing something or feeling something at his rear end but i just cannot see anything. strange that he can sleep all night without bothering about it at all dont you think. i am very reluctant to start him off on a course of investigation which may be stressful for him and not necessary- dont think i dont care cos i am the first to get a dog to vet if i am at all suspicious and have no hesitation in asking questions or requesting a second opinion- having had a young dog die unneccessarily at a vets i am not bothered what they think of me at all!

You are saying that your dog is going mad with this, if so you really need need to be taking it to the vets now.

Lal, what ever is wrong needs research, it could be anything from the silly to the serious, please ask your vet to find out what is causing this, it will not be the dog imagining things there will be a cause and that could be serious so best to sort it sooner rather than too late.

Has your vet checked his anal glands ? one of my friends dogs does the same as your describing and it's always his anal glands that need emptying.

The reason I mentioned hearing and sight is that something may have changed with either that is concerning him,does he always turn the same way ie left or right to indicate that is the side affected.

Has he been wormed recently,sometimes the itching from worms around the anus can cause agitation.

Certainly is a curious thing, I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

to you all- thanks for your advice and to whoever it was who thought i hadn't been to the vet- well i have!!
worming not due, anal glands checked last tuesday as well as feet tail and skin and nothing found. Toady have been at a competition and asked chiro man there to do a check. He thought something out on back so did the usual flick thing and pulsing so i will see if that makes any difference over next 24 hours. Rest assured he will be back at vets if there is no improvement and i shall try to get to the bottom of it. Again many thanks for all your input everyone

Hope that does the trick,keep us posted.

I think the point about asking does he always look round in the same direction is a valid and good one and I didnt see an answer..would be interested...as am thinking re a shadow or different light in that corner of his eye? My dog pulls round towards his hind legs as if hes looking at them when hes windy and looks worried and starts to try and 'catch it' I think..its all we can summise hes doing! Has he had any diet change or treat change that may have caused something like that? The only other thing I can think is if he has a nerve twitch in a muscle at the back somewhere that hes not going to be able to reach so he will be chasing it without success, I can see my boy would do that too. I hope you find whatever it is, bless him!

update. no he looks in both directions!! have had him back at the vet this week and altho we cant see anything he suggested i bathe dog feet in salt water after every walk- in case of allergens- and rub in aloe vera gel, and a diferent homeopathic remedy given. Have to say he is not nearly so frantic about back end! does do the looking sometimes but not nearly as often and not frantically any more. Plus he is a much happier dog. So fingers crossed!!

The problem is pain. I have a Yorkshire Terrier who is almost 5 years old. He has done the exact same behaviors. What I learned, after spending a lot of money with vets, is that he has knee troubles that are very painful for him. When shooting pains run through his knees he spins and stares at his legs and jumps around as if something is biting him.

First, try to lay him back into your arms as if you are cradling a baby and try to massage the tissue in his legs. Be persistent. He may not like it at first, but in time he will learn that it will help. Be gentle. You will see that his leg muscles are very tense at first and will relax as the massage goes on.

I also give him ten minute baths in fairly warm water so that his knees can soak in the warm water. Also, have your vet examine his knees, you may need x-rays (As my dog got). Then, he will need pain relievers. Once he gets this diagnosis and therapy and meds he will be much better.

Also, try not to allow him to run or jump much. He needs to be gentle on his legs. You may also notice this pain behavior getting worse when rains or damp and humid weather approaches. Just like an old man can feel rain coming on by his arthritis. Same thing.

Also, have his walks seem to have become slower and longer? Does he seem to lose interest in the walk sometimes? If so, shorten his walks.

Good luck.

Sure you mean wall lorisuzannedell but you are almost 2 years too late the post was from 2011.

Can I ask why you leave a 5 year old to bear this pain, when a patella op will improve his life so much.

Several of the toy breeds have problems with patella luxation.  I've had the operation on 2 Toy poodles and 1 Yorkshire Terrier.  They are so very successful, as long as you do as advised with after care.

Unless you are a qualified veterinarian, I don't understand why you are deciding your own "treatment."