White Shaker Dog Syndrome (Tremors)

By DC (Guest Post)

My chihuahua/papillion mix was just diagnosed with shaker dog syndrome by a neurologist. It is an inflammation of the brain and the valium helps quiet the shaking until the prednisone can do its thing to reduce the inflammation causing the tremors. My pup (almost 2 yrs) responded really well to the treatment and is now off the valium...the pred seems to be doing its job. She has no more tremors and is back to herself for the most part. She sleeps a little more than she used to, but that may be the antiobiotic (one side effect of the pred is that they are more susceptible to infection and she did get a minor bladder infection). In 2 weeks we are switching from pred to a less hard steroid that she will be on for about 3 months. This should clear up the tremor syndrome completely. I'm so grateful to the neurologist - I was so scared it was something uncurable or worse. It was expensive, but worth it - she had an MRI and spinal tap to be more conclusive with the diagnosis (to rule out infection or other brain problems). The neuro said she was not in any pain with the tremors, but they were definitely impacting her quality of life. Hope this offers encouragement to anyone who gets this diagnosis.

By RBD2 (Guest Post)

It is inflammation of the cerebellum, in the brain. Hugs are not going to cut it.

We just saw 3 vets at three different practices, in 4 days, and then we got a referral to see a pet neurology surgeon, one of three, at a neurology pet hospital in Phoenix Arizona. (FYI: There is on in Las Vegas too.)

We were expecting to pay $2,400.00 for an MRI. That would probably revile an unfixable brain problem. (Which we would have done) But it turned out the surgeon knew what it was after only a few tests.

Our "KID" who happens to be a Maltese puppy, has been prednisone and valium for 3 days and is doing unbelievably better. He is almost back to normal, other than being a little groggy from the valium. 3 days ago he was shaking, twitching, and stumbling so bad, my wife and I thought we were going to lose him after the 3rd vet appointment, and we were heat broken.

We are now told he has about a 99% chance of being 100% cured for good, but only if we totally eradicate the syndrom, Not just 2 or 3 weeks of treatment. Possibly 8 to 10 weeks, on the prednisone, and 2 weeks on the valium. We were told that if we under treat, it will come back. (Not fair to the pet.)

He is doing so much better, I am going to ask about stopping the valium sooner, but will abide by whatever the specialist says.

The neurologist also told us to be careful about what we read about it on the internet, because a lot of people don't know as much as they think they do about this, vet included. He said he has seen it a lot, because pet owners end up there when the vets think pets have had a brain injury causing damage.

Just on a side note. He said that 90% of the pets that come in because they are believed to have had a brain injury, have not. I just thought that was interesting.

So, Give your loved ones the best chance at a great life as you can, no matter how many feet they have.
Bobby (RBD2)

By Jessica (Guest Post)

Our Shih Tzu just started this and he seems to want to be close to us for comfort when it happens. Whispering to him and petting him a lot helps him calm down. I'd much sooner go with the homeopathic for him than Valium and steroids since both are such powerful meds, especially because the results are mixed. Maybe quite, calm and cuddling are good for everyone. Thanks for all this helpful information, everyone!

By Marilyn (Guest Post)

One of my westies came down with white shaker dog syndrome when he was about two. It happened around the 4th of July when there were a lot of fireworks. He was shaking so badly that he couldn't sleep. The vet put him on prednisone and valium for about two weeks and he has not had any problems since, he is nine now. He always has a slight tremor with the back legs but nothing that bothers him. He is still afraid of loud noises, thunder, fireworks, etc. but he just wants to be held and then he is fine. I had thought I read somewhere that this might be an hereditary problem

By

MyAngels

Our Maltese at the age of 9 had WSS. I learned that there are many vets who do not know about WSS. We took him to a neurologist and wihtin 10 minutes he knew it was WSS. The vet placed him a steroids for about 6 months reducing it as well. Our little finally stopped shaking and was taken off all meds. Blood work should be done to check levels of the liver, etc. while on steroids. I would suggest if your pets have WSS that maybe a visit to a neurologist would be helpful to you. It takes time for the meds to show any improvement.

I found one key to WSS if they are shaking and when resting meaning sleeping or just laying on the floor and while the head is down the shaking stopped. It could well be WSS.

Our little one's shaking started out slow and not often - then it was constant.

I would suggest reading all material on WWS if you think or your pet does have this.

By Cindy. (Guest Post)

I have a one year old gold and white shih-tzu that we just found out has Shaker syndrome, She is on Predisone for 4 days now and no improvement. I have no Idea what I am going to do.

By Grant (Guest Post)

If you dog is shaking please also check out possible liver shunt problem.

http://www.livershunt.com/

By Sharon (Guest Post)

My maltese was told he has white dog shaker syndrome and has been on predisone and diazepame for 16 days. His condition has improved except for the head shaking. We are at a cross road, if we should taper off the medicine or continue as it is.

By ... (Guest Post)

Has my dog got this? It only seems to be when she gets scared so it does seem to have a pattern, but it is sometimes really bad. Most of the time it is from a tiny noise. Could this be the white shaker syndrome or just a symptom of a nervous dog?

By myla (Guest Post)

I have a three year old Westie who has starting shaking recently. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to it. Excitement doesn't bring it on, but a trip to the vet does. At home she will act startled, jump up from her bed, run into another room and sit there and shake. I cover her up and hold her for awhile and she gets better. It's almost like she's cold, but I know she's not. She has just started to do this in the last couple of months. The episodes seem to be coming more often now. I took her to the vet and a tech. saw her. She cleaned her anal glands hoping that might be the problem. She actually did act like she felt better for about three days, then tonight she had another episode. She also hasn't been eating and today she vomited. She has suffered with skin allergies ever since we got her. She as gotten steriod shots for that in the past, but it's been awhile. I don't like to give them if I can get her some relief thru baths and sprays. Her skin seems fine now, no dryness or bumps. She doesn't have fleas either. She eats Science Diet for Sensitive Skin dry food with a fish oil capsule and a brewers yeast pill. She doesn't seem to be depressed. The only other thing I've noticed is she has a lot of "belly" sounds. Her stomach growls. We really love her and I hate to think that she may be in pain. Any ideas from anyone?

By btaylor (Guest Post)

I have a white/brown shih-tzu who had been diagonsed with little white shaker syndrome. She is 15 months. With two days of treatment of steroids and valium, she isn't showing much progress. How long does it take to show some improvement and what is her prognosis?

By Donna Temple (Guest Post)

Hi Everybody,

I have a poodle mix that shook so bad when I first got him at about 8 weeks, he couldn't stand by himself. He grew out of most of it and now his head only shakes when he is tired or excited. He is now 4 years old. The vet I had before I moved that saw him for the first time at 8 weeks was not concerned because he grew out of it as he got older.

Today for the first time since he was a puppy he shook uncontrollably at my feet and would not obey, turned his nose up at all his favorite treats.

I took him to the vet and he wanted to run some tests and watch him for a while. He diagnosed him as having "White Shaker Dog Syndrome" and gave him Valium in decreasing amounts.

I have taken 2 valium in my life and both times I was out for days. I just can't imagine giving my 16 lb dog a valium a day even if it is only for the next 3 day and decreasing from there!

Is there anything else I can do for him besides drugging him?

Donna

By Nancy (Guest Post)

Our little (8.5 lb.) 7 year old Miniature Schnauzer has these tremors occasionally. I wrap her tightly in a large towel or small blanket and hold her while she is having the tremors. After a while, they stop and she sleeps in my arms. She comes to me when she is having a seizure and seems to want me to hold her.

By Guest (Guest Post)

My little shnauzer/poodle mix (10 yrs. old) has started having tremors. Seems to happen when she is laying down. She doesn't seem to be in any pain and is alert the whole time. It reminds me of Parkinson's disease that humans get. I just pet her and speak softly to her.

By

ThriftyFun

As my little Maltese got older, she would get the shakes which sounds like what you are describing. Feel to see if your dogs abdomen is hard. If so they are probably in pain. We'd give her 1 baby aspirin a day and it seemed to help. She was arthritic and when the pain would get bad she would get the shakes. What she had might be totally different but it's worth a try. She weighed about 10 pounds and a baby aspirin or 1/4 regular aspirin was the dose the vet told me. She lived to be 18 years old.

Susan from ThriftyFun

By Doggy (Guest Post)

http://www.westieclubamerica.com/health/whiteshaker.html
Here is a web site I found that tells about the whiteshaker dog syndrome. Might contact this person to see if they can give you any ideas as to how to help your dog. Ther used something froma health food store to calm the dog. Hope you find somerhing it is hard to see them suffer.
Have a lovable terrier seems very healthy am thank ful for that had to put precious dog down for health reasons.

By Vicki (Guest Post)

Have you consulted another vet? It sounds like you & your dog are not being taken care of. I would also consider an alternative vet: www.altvetmed.com.

By Kim (Guest Post)

Hi Madeline,

My sister has a female bull dog, and there really wasn't much you can do about it, she wasn't going to put her through a bunch of pills. The best advice she got was to get her out of it, give her a treat, something to kind of snap her out of it and it worked. It started out where she would have the tremors several times a day, then it slowed right down. There really isn't much info, and it seems vets don't really have a lot of explanations. Do what works, as long as she isn't in pain that is all you can ask for.

Best of Luck
Kim