Why dog turns in circles

Another disease that can cause walking in circles and collapse is canine distemper. It is caused by a virus, and usually starts with a respiratory and lung infection. The later stage often causes neurological damage that results in paralysis, muscle twitches and a tendency to walk around in circles.

Animals with distemper may have a nasal discharge and seem uncoordinated in their movements. Other signs include aggression, lethargy, wandering, and excessive thirst.

The disease is transmitted via fluids produced by coughing and sneezing, and pets are most likely to get distemper from contact with other dogs. Puppies are especially susceptible to this disease, and many veterinarians recommended vaccinations starting at an early age.

There is no treatment for the disease, but with good general care, the pet may gradually recover. SLE is a type of autoimmune condition that has a whole body effect and can cause arthritis and muscle weakness as well as many other symptoms such as fever and kidney disease.

It can be a difficult disease to diagnose, as it may seem like many other conditions. A veterinarian can make a diagnosis by using a blood test. Early signs of SLE include paralysis and a limp in addition to suddenly starting to walk in circles. The condition is often made worse by sunlight exposure. The breeds thought to be most susceptible to SLE due to a genetic predisposition include the German shepherd, Shetland sheepdog, collie, poodle, beagle, Afghan hound and Irish setter.

The disease is usually treated with drugs that suppress the immune system, but this can leave the dog more susceptible to infections. For more information on pet care and other helpful resources, visit Pettable's blog. Susana is an avid animal lover and has been around animals her entire life, and has volunteered at several different animal shelters in Southern California.

She has a loving family at home that consists of her husband, son, two dogs, and one cat. She enjoys trying new Italian recipes, playing piano, making pottery, and outdoor hiking with her family and dogs in her spare time. Get covered with Petplan An insurer who cares about your pets nearly!

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Veterinary Medicine. Warm Weather. Read our Privacy Policy. More Posts. To get to the bottom of this canine behavior , I did some research and found that Melo is not alone—this circling tendency is quite common in dogs. So dogs inherited this little pre-bedtime dance from their ancestors.

But what purpose does it serve? As it turns out, this circling practice is geared towards survival. Even though your dog is safe and sound in your home, dogs nonetheless retained the protective trait from their wolf ancestors.