What this means
Dogs often twitch their paws, wag the tail or give a soft bark in their sleep, which in most cases goes with dreaming. It is important to tell sleep twitching apart from twitching when your dog is awake, whether it is responding to you or seems unaware of you.
Watch what twitches: one leg, the face, the whole body, or individual muscles under the skin. Note whether your dog is aware at the time, responds to its name, and whether it also drools, trembles or falls. That helps a great deal in telling a muscle disorder from a seizure.
Write down how long it lasted, when it happened again and what your dog was doing beforehand. Some breeds have their own muscle or movement disorders that appear with excitement or after exercise. Try to film it: a video often tells the vet more than words.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Epileptic seizures
A seizure can look like twitching of the whole body, or of just the face or one leg. Your dog sometimes does not respond when called, drools or is confused afterwards.
About the condition: Epilepsy and seizures -
A cramping syndrome resembling epilepsy
Dogs of some breeds develop episodes of muscle cramping during which they stay aware. An episode may last a few minutes and then pass.
About the condition: Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (Spike's disease) -
Breed-linked muscle cramps
In some breeds, such as Scottish terriers, the muscles stiffen or jerk with excitement or after exercise. The episode passes and your dog stays aware.
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A disorder of the peripheral nerves
Damaged nerves can cause muscle trembling, weakness or reduced sensation. Your dog may move with more difficulty or stumble.
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Low blood sugar
Puppies and small-breed dogs whose blood sugar drops can show trembling, twitching or weakness. Your dog may be dull or unaware of its surroundings.
About the condition: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Which part of the body twitches: a leg, the face, the whole body or single muscles
- Whether your dog responds to its name and seems to see you at the time
- How long it lasts and how often it returns
- Whether your dog also drools, falls or passes urine without control
- Whether it follows exercise, excitement or a long gap since eating
- Whether your dog is confused, dull or weak afterwards
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the twitching happens while your dog is awake, keeps returning or is increasing, even if your dog looks normal between episodes. If your dog falls, does not respond or an episode is long, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Epilepsy and seizures Nerves and muscles A seizure is a sudden disturbance of the brain's electrical activity that can make a dog twitch uncontrollably, fall over or briefly lose consciousness. When seizures keep coming back and no other clear cause is found, this is called epilepsy, but seizures can also be caused by poisoning, other illnesses or head injuries. A seizure can be life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately.
- Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (Spike's disease) Nerves and muscles This is a condition in which a dog has episodes of muscle cramping: the muscles tighten involuntarily and walking becomes uncoordinated. Unlike in an epileptic seizure, the dog stays conscious throughout the episode. Because other illnesses can look similar, a vet decides whether this is the cause.
- Scottie cramp Nerves and muscles This is an inherited disorder of the nervous system in which excitement or physical exertion brings on episodes of muscle stiffness and cramping. The dog stays aware throughout the episode and moves normally again after a short rest. Other disorders can look similar, so a vet decides what is really going on.
- Polyneuropathy Nerves and muscles Polyneuropathy is a disease in which many of the peripheral nerves, which carry signals between the spinal cord and the muscles, are damaged. When the nerves work less well the muscles weaken and coordination suffers, and in some cases the voice or swallowing is affected too. Polyneuropathy can be inherited or arise from other diseases, so its cause and course are for a vet to assess.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Hormones and metabolism Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood drops too low and the brain and muscles run short of energy. It can affect young puppies and small dogs, especially if they have gone a long time without food or are exhausted, as well as dogs with certain diseases. Hypoglycemia can quickly become life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately.
- Distemper Infections Distemper is a contagious viral disease that can damage the airways, the digestive system, the skin and the nervous system. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at greatest risk. What is making a dog ill and how far the disease has gone is for a vet to work out, and the first signs are easily mistaken for an ordinary cold.
Body systems: Nerves and muscles Hormones and metabolism Infections