Why is my old dog twitching, flinching, and acting scared after sleep?

That is very odd. Certainly pets can have a seizure in response to a stimulus but it would be unusual for it to be something more subtle like paper crinkling. If he has a bad back or a neuropathy and he is trying to move too quickly, it could mimic a seizure type activity. If you can capture it on video to show the veterinarian, that may help a lot. If the doctor has not checked his proprioception and his back, have this done. If seizures are still suspicious, you may try the new Purina diet for seizures called NeuroCare. Omega 3 fatty acids for dogs can help with inflammation as well and this may be beneficial. Lastly, there are medications for seizures as well. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If he is still acting this way, he will need to see his veterinarian. Was there any chance that he could have ingested a toxin? That was my first consideration when reading your post. If not, then he could have a primary neurologic disease. His veterinarian will be able to guide you based on his exam findings. Good luck!

Yes, it may be seizure related but i would be concerned it may also be due to pain and spasms. I recommend you video the episodes if they happen again and show them to your vet. I would be concerned that this could be progressive

It is possible that it was a seizure, or it may have been what we call a syncopal episode. A syncopal episode occurs when there is a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain, often due to an abnormal heart rhythm or other heart condition. Its also possible that was neither---if she remained conscious (was responsive and aware of her surroundings), it could just be that she had a itch or uncomfortable spot on that side she was trying to get to. As long as she's been acting normal since, its fine to just keep a close eye on her and get her to your vet for the appointment. Your vet may recommend running some lab work (probably some blood tests) to see if there are any abnormalities. Ask yourself and your mom if there is any possibilities of toxin exposures your dog could have gotten into, and be sure to let your vet know. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

His doesn't sound like anything to be concerned about. She is getting older so it is udnerstandsble that she may not rouse as easily as she once did in her younger years. Also the description of events suggest she was having very vivid dreams and the eye twitching is normal when a pet is asleep. This is an indication of REM sleep. Also pets are often limp when they are completely asleep. However if you still are concerned about Precious, then there are no issues with taking her in to your vet for a standard physical exam to ensure she is in healthy condition.

Oh my. Poor guy. It sounds like JJ is having possible seizures. You will need to get him seen by your vet for baseline bloodwork to look for some possible causes for the seizures. If none are found with this first test, then an MRI or CT scan may be recommended. However, he likely will go on anti-seizure medication right away since he had multiple seizures within a 30 day time frame. Hopefully we can manage his seizures well with medication, but due to his age, there is unfortunately a higher risk for an underlying brain or spinal cord lesion as the cause. If he has another it is best to take him to your ER vet right away. However, if they don't reoccur, he may be able to wait until morning to be seen by your regular vet. I do hope that JJ feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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.