What this means
A sudden or new change in behaviour is a reason to have a vet rule out pain and illness first. A dog sometimes looks at something it hears or smells, and then it answers its name easily. But if the gaze is fixed, the dog does not react to being called or touched, and the episodes repeat, it is worth investigating.
An owner can write down how long an episode lasts, how the dog behaves before and after it, whether muscles twitch, eyes blink, or the dog licks or drools, and whether it can be drawn out of it. Note the time of day and how often it happens. If you can, film it.
Staring can be a sign of a seizure, a brain disease or age-related confusion, but it can also be an expression of anxiety or a change in sight. Here we only describe what can be observed; the cause is established only by a vet.
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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A seizure
Some seizures show not as collapse but as a brief freeze, a dimming of awareness, blinking or lip-licking.
About the condition: Epilepsy and seizures -
Age-related confusion
An ageing dog may gaze into space, get lost in a familiar place or no longer recognise everyday things.
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A brain disorder
Inborn or acquired brain changes, and growths too, can cause freezing, confusion or changed behaviour.
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Anxiety or repetitive behaviour
Tension or boredom sometimes shows as staring at one spot or repeated movements. Before deciding that, rule out health causes.
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Changes in sight or hearing
A dog that sees or hears less well may freeze and watch intently while trying to get its bearings.
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Pain or feeling unwell
A dog in pain or feeling poorly may freeze, withdraw into itself and respond less to its surroundings.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How long an episode lasts and how often it repeats
- Whether your dog responds to its name or to touch
- Whether its eyes blink, muscles twitch or it licks its lips alongside
- How it behaves before and after an episode
- Whether it seems confused, wanders or does not recognise its surroundings
- Whether sight, hearing, appetite or sleep have changed
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your dog is newly staring, the episodes repeat, or behaviour, sleep or movement have changed alongside. Bring a video and your notes.
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.
- Hydrocephalus Nerves and muscles Hydrocephalus is a condition in which too much cerebrospinal fluid builds up in and around the brain and presses on the brain tissue. It can be present from birth and show up in puppies, or develop later when inflammation, an injury or a tumour blocks the fluid from draining. The pressure on the brain can affect a dog's behaviour, movement, sight and ability to learn.
- Cancer Cancer Cancer is not one disease but a whole group of different malignant tumours that can appear in almost any organ or tissue. They can grow slowly or quickly and spread to other parts of the body, so the earlier a change is noticed, the more options a vet has. Only a vet can tell whether a lump or other change is malignant.
- Anxiety General health Anxiety is a state in which a dog feels tension and fear constantly or far too strongly, even when there is no real danger. It can be set off by being left alone, loud noises, new surroundings or strangers, and long-lasting anxiety wears down both the dog and the whole household. It helps to understand that this behaviour is not stubbornness or disobedience but a sign that the dog is struggling.
Body systems: Nerves and muscles Cancer General health