Why is my dog moving like fighting in sleep? Seizure or nightmare?

Yes it could have been from a seizure or a bad dream. As long as Lola is normal now I would monitor her to see if this happens again. Dogs who have seizures more than once monthly or who have severe seizures should be put on anti seizure medication to prevent brain damage. Since you are not sure if this was a seizure I would write it on your calendar so if you see this again you know how long between episodes to share with your veterinarian. I do like to check blood work and do an exam before putting dogs on medication. Hopefully Lola just had a bad dream and this won't recur. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lola.

If you can wake her up when this occurs and she seems normal then this is probably a nightmare or dream. If you attempt to wake her and it doesn't stop I'd be concerned that this might be seizure activity. If it seems a seizure is more likely I'd recommend making an appointment to see your vet.

I would just keep an eye on him and if it should happen again take a note on how long does the shaking last, if he is salivating, passing urine or feaces, as this could be signs of a seizure. It' s important not to overstimulate him so let him come out of the seizure spontaneously, make sure he is not on an elevated surface and turn off lights and avoid loud noises.The seizure should last a couple of minutes and then stop. If it doesn't stop you should seek veterinary help. Hopefully it will not happen again, if it does appear to have another seizure make sure you offer some water and food once it' s over. There is a chance that Ted did not have a seizure but he was just twitching in his sleep .. so try not to worry too much ! If Ted should have seizures, he will need further investigations to understand what is causing them and remember that at no point he should have a seizures after another, if this should occur you should take him to see a vet asap. One off seizure is not an emergency though, and it' s normally contraindicated to rush them to a clinic as this could trigger more seizures. If you are worried and you are not sure about what s happening, call for advice/have him checked over.

The signs you are describing may be compatible with the so called nerve root signature, which is usually caused by a compression of nerves coming out from spinal cord at the level of her cervical area. This compression may be caused by a slipped disc or ostheoarthritis on the cervical vertebras and it is usually dynamic, so only caused by certain movements. A check up and full neurological examination is required to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Puppies do tend to sleep very deeply and they do dream more than adult dogs. I recommend to record one of these episodes. Start filing before you begin to stimulate her and then record the entire session until she is fully awake. Show it to her veterinarian. This will help to give a better idea of pathology or not. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is normal for dogs to go someone limp and have rapid eye movement while in deep sleep, just like with people. In some cases, you may see your dog whimper or even twitch their limbs if they are dreaming or deep in REM. If your pup seems in distress, or this happens often or when she isn't asleep, a vet checkup is always a good idea.

Some dogs will move while they are asleep and dreaming, but walking like a drunk is not normal, and Max needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately for assessment. That sounds as though it may be a neurological problem, as some types of seizures can look like that. Please have Max seen by a veterinarian for evaluation, and take in a video of his behaviour if possible. Please see the following link for more information on seizures in dogs, including when they can be considered an emergency. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=560 Max may also be dealing with a muscular injury, another type of neurological problem, or pain leading to these symptoms. Generalized weakness from systemic diseases (such as endocrine disorders or infection) or toxin ingestion could also be a cause. I hope Max feels better soon!