If your dog jumps or jerks out of the blue, it will probably startle you. Jumping up sometimes is normal, of course; even us humans do it. But for dogs, jerking up like that can sometimes be caused by an underlying health condition, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on that.
In this article, we’ll be looking into what dog jerking is, the reasons why your dog might be jerking, what to do if you notice your dog seems to be jerking every few seconds, and why they tend to do such movements in their sleep – out of all moments. Of course, we’ll tell you if you should be concerned with all that jerking around, and how to prevent them from doing it as well.
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What is dog jerking?
Dog jerking is often an involuntary muscle spasm that might look like a jump or twitch. Dogs twitch, jerk, or jump on multiple occasions; when they’re excited, relaxing, or sleeping, much like humans do. It doesn’t seem to bother dogs too much, unless it’s continual and caused by irritation.
But you might be worried if your dog is jerking every few seconds. Let’s jump to it and find out why.
9 reasons why your dog is jerking
The reasons your dog jerks can be harmless; simple twitches, jumps, or muscle spasms, but jerking can also indicate an underlying health problem too. We’re knocking on wood for that one. In the meantime, let’s get into the 9 most common reasons that dogs jerk:
1. Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms happen for many reasons; nervous system problems, nutritional deficiencies, and electrolyte imbalances due to lack of fluids like when your dog is dehydrated being the most common. Muscle spasms can also be caused by certain medications.
You might want to read our guides to puppy nutrition or why your puppy might be drinking so much to know more about how to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
2. Allergies
Itching due to allergies is another reason that your dog might jerk or jump. Some dogs will scratch their ears, or rub themselves up against things too…you know what it’s like to have a crazy itch, right?
Dogs can be allergic to food or things in their environment. Allergies make the immune system go into overdrive which causes problems with your dog’s skin, thus making your dog scratch and jerk a lot. It’s not rocket science.
3. Pain
Joint pain caused by arthritis, growing pains, or back problems can all make your dog jerk or twitch if things are a bit sore. If your dog is in pain, it can make their muscles seize up to try and protect the painful area, and cause your dog to jerk.
4. Fleas
Fleas are terribly annoying little buggers. They are extremely itchy for your dog to have – just thinking about the sensation of them crawling might even make you jerk. Fleas might make your dog do more than twitch, they can even bite and gnaw at their fur.
Read more in our guide to puppy fleas.
5. Irritation or infections
Any kind of irritation is going to make your dog twitch, itch, jerk and jump. It truly is unbearable sometimes and your dog can’t help it. They’ll want to scratch until they get rid of it. Irritation can be caused by multiple things as well like injuries, parasites and skin-related issues like hot spots, or ear infections.
6. Neurological
There are a few different neurological conditions which can make a dog jerk. For example, white dog shaker syndrome, also known as terrier trembles or terrier tremors, generally affects small breeds of dogs like Westies and Poodles. The name is silly by the way, white dog syndrome affects dogs of all colors.
Other neurological reasons for dogs to jerk or shake are symptoms of Canine Distemper, head injuries or trauma, and strokes. These can all cause seizures, which inevitably make your dog jump or jerk.
7. Poisoning
If your dog has eaten something toxic like rat poison, certain insecticides, cleaning products or even a food that they shouldn’t have eaten, it can cause them to convulse, shake or jerk.
Touch wood you won’t have to worry about this.
8. Emotional reasons
You’ll often see nervous or anxious dogs shake, tremble or jerk when they are scared. But dogs who are overexcited can also shake or tremble. Dogs’ emotions are just loud, okay?
9. Cold
Some dogs really feel the cold, especially low to the ground small dogs without much fur like French Bulldogs and Jack Russells. Feeling cold can cause them to shake or jerk every once in a while; poor things.
What to do if I notice my dog jerking every few seconds?
If your dog is awake and jerking or shaking excessively, then we do recommend you seek Veterinary help; especially if it’s come on all of a sudden. While some kinds of jerking are harmless, it’s best to speak to a professional to cross out any worrying medical conditions.
Of course, your dog might be jerking every few seconds if they’re asleep, dreaming of chasing bunnies. But it’s a good idea to keep a diary of times your dog is jerking or jumping to see if you can find a pattern that’s worth looking at with the vet.
Why does my dog jolt more in their sleep?
It’s normal for dogs to jolt, twitch and even look like they’re running when they’re asleep. Sometimes, they’ll even pair it with some woofing or some creepy eye rolls! Dogs have different stages of sleep and this is when they are in the REM state, so is totally natural.
We’ve written heaps of articles on puppies and sleep – you might want to take a look at them. All your questions on why do dogs sleep on their backs, how often do puppies sleep, and how long does a puppy sleep for will be answered.
Should I be concerned about my dogs jerking?
It’s normal for a dog to jerk or twitch a certain amount, but if you notice your dog not being themselves or showing any other behaviors like shaking, whining excessively, panting or breathing fast, or can’t be calmed down, you definitely want to seek veterinary advice.
Remember to keep track of your dog’s jerking so you can refer back to it when you visit the Vet.
How do I prevent my dog from jerking?
Depending on the underlying cause of your dog’s jerking, there are steps you can take to help manage their jumpy behavior. Remember, though, if your dog’s jerking is due to a medical condition, you should keep your Vet informed so nothing is looking too out of the ordinary.
Keeping your dog calm and providing a stable environment can generally help them feel better. But in other cases, they may require medical attention. But let’s look at what you can do first, if you think your dog’s jerking or jumping is caused by excitement or nervousness:
Provide a stable environment
Dogs thrive on predictability and routines, so having a stable environment with reliable times for walks, mealtimes and play sessions will feel like a soft blanket and roses to a nervous dog.
Use positive reinforcement training
Having a well-trained dog, is a dog who can make the right choices and has a repertoire of behaviors to work through. These tools can help nervous or anxious dogs cope with day to day life; especially if you teach them using reward based training. By doing this, you’re helping them make being relaxed their default state of being, bringing agitation and nervousness to take more of a backseat.
Check for fleas
We know it’s grim, but if the twitches or jerking are caused by creepy crawlies like fleas or worms, then you want to be equipped to know how to deal with them. Some dogs might even take twitching to the next level and turn to biting their skin and bum.
Check their diet and your home for allergens
If your dog is eating something that doesn’t agree with them, and it’s making their skin itch, consider changing their food. Dogs can also have allergies from other things in their environment, like strong cleaning products or washing products used on their bedding. Sometimes if a product smells good, it means there are way too many chemicals in it.
We’ve got plenty more information about that time your puppy just can’t get enough of putting things in their mouths and other funny behaviors. Our full guides on how to stop your puppy from eating everything and why is my puppy scratching their ears will fill you in on what you can do!
That just about covers everything about why your dog jerks every few seconds. Just to round things up, jerking can look like a twitch, or a jump and happens for a few different reasons ranging from the harmless dreaming state, emotional reasons, to the common old flea infestation, or something more troubling like pain, or illness.
We recommend you keep a diary to try and find the triggers to why your dog might be jerking, shaking or trembling, so you get an idea of how you can help reduce it or seek help from a professional like a Vet or qualified behaviorist. Now that you’re here, why not jump over to our articles on fleas, finding out why your dog shakes so much, or what to do if your dog is panting or restless to learn more.
Of course, you should download the Zigzag app and see what we have in store for you there too. Not only is there a ton of content written specifically for your dog’s breed and age, but our team of professional dog trainers will always be happy to jump to the rescue when you need it. It can be hard on your own, we know!
