I have a 4 1/2 year old black lab (Elbie) who for the last 6 months has experienced a total of 6 head shaking episodes.  She is a very healthy (no human food, swim's at least 30 minutes a day) 43 kg "American Field Lab".  The first episode happened a few days after a stressful trip (rental house for the weekend).  While lying down in my office and her head elevated to look at me her head started to shake from side to side.  She did not seem to notice or be bothered by it.  I let it go for about 5 seconds then called her name and it stopped.  A few seconds later it started again but then stopped maybe 10 seconds later.  I took her to the vet right away and they couldn't really put their finger on it.  A few weeks later it happened again at work and then a week later at my ex-girlfriends house (we spilt the dog).  I didn't notice the next episode for until about 2 months later when it happened at home.  I took her to a Neurologist here in Seattle.  After looking at a few websites today I'm now surprised that he told me he had never heard of this type of reaction/behavior.  He recommended that I just keep a log and try to video the next episode and led me to believe this might be the start of epilepsy, which didn't make sense to me since she was coherent and it only affected her head.  I was thinking it might have something to do with the treats (allergy) people at work give her.  I asked everyone to not give her treats and the shakes seemed to go away for 4 months, but she had one last night while watching my roommate preparing some food at home.  There was nothing stressful about the day, no scrap food, she had some exercise during the day, for the most part it was a normal Sunday.
I have called the breeder and another owner who has 2 dogs from the same bitch and they haven't heard of any other dogs with this problem.  Vet's don't seem to know as well.
Again, she had experienced these for the last 6 months.  Just head shaking, alert, she doesn't really know they are happening or isn't bothered by them, laying down or standing up.

Anyone else experiencing this type of behavior in their lab/dog?
    

I believe there is someone on another forum who has a greyhound with very similar problems - head tremors and the dog doesn't seem too worried. Doesn't last too long and dog seems pretty normal afterwards. In this particular case, I am almost certain (just trying to remember aright, it's easy to get mixed up!!) the grey was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy.

I am no expert but i would also suspect epilepsy if someone described to me what you have just described.

Lindsay
x

It may not be epilepsy. It could just be a low in the blood sugar levels. This can happen with my breed and apparently it is due to when the levels are low. It can happen after exerise or upon waking. To help it give something high in glucose/sugar. It may well be epilepsy but please try this first, it may prevent your dog being on a lifetime of unnecessary drugs. If it is the case, then it may well happen again.

HTH Pm me if you want any more info, I know of a good site which there is alot of info on t but can't do links sorry. :-)