Hi
can anyone help?
We have a 4 1/2 week old Shetland sheepdog puppy bitch, who's head seems to
be in constant motion - moving to the left & then to the right.
If the head is held, then the eyes move from left to right.
The puppy is gaining weight and in all other respects appears normal. Her
litter brother & sister do not exhibit this behaviour.
We have bred about 7 other litters over the last 8 years and have not
noticed this behaviour before.
Any ideas??
Regards
Denise
denise@samphrey.co.uk

Hi, Denise,
Your Sheltie pup appears to have a condition known as 'Nystagmus', where the eyes flicker to one side, then return slowly to the resting position. It is rare in young dogs, but is seen in older ones after an episode of 'vestibular syndrome' when the part of the brain which controls balance is affected by a disease process.
Most older dogs show an improvement after a week or so, but I suspect that in a puppy it is unlikely to improve. Your vet may wish to refer you to a specialist for a prognosis.
Walter