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If your pooch has a habit of spinning around in circles, don't ignore it and assume that he's "just being a dog." Although circling behaviors can indeed be totally innocuous, they can also occasionally be a sign of medical ailments in canines. Spinning can point to emotional turmoil, too.
If severe stress causes you to bite your nails down to the quick, then you're familiar with the concept of compulsion. A dog who obsessively spins around in circles may be dealing with intense frustration that is leading to repetitive actions. If your dog spins around in circles and you can't figure out why, look deeper into his life. Maybe he doesn't get enough attention from you and is home alone all day. Maybe he's upset that his closest canine companion is no longer in the picture. Investigate what may be troubling your dog and get on the path to fixing it, whether it involves the help of a veterinarian or a little extra TLC and attention on your part. Circling isn't the only way that canine compulsions manifest themselves. Other common compulsive actions include immoderate barking, chasing shadows and "snapping" flies.
When a doggie spins around in circles before bedtime, he may be behaving in a way that is natural to him -- a vestige of his wild origins. Dogs in the wild often dig out their own resting spots. Once they're satisfied with their work, they may examine it several times over by walking around it in circles. If your pooch circles his bedding site before retiring for a nap or for the night, he's essentially just checking his digging work and making sure that he has a cozy and safe place to sleep -- canine style. Dogs also often circle around as a way of driving out any pesky bugs that may be lingering in their sleeping spots.
If a dog is in the midst of a perilous high-anxiety situation, his natural response may be to circle his immediate area obsessively. Perhaps the poor thing is afraid that another larger dog is on the verge of a physical attack -- and simply doesn't know how to handle his predicament.
When a dog is spinning around in circles while smelling the ground, the answer is often a pretty simple one -- the pooch has to go to the restroom and needs to go outside -- pronto.
Spinning also frequently points to health issues in canines. If your pet is on the elderly side, circling can signify problems with his cognition, whether memory, vision or hearing. It can also be a symptom of various neurological medical conditions, including brain tumors. The sooner you take your dog to the veterinarian and figure out what exactly is causing the circling, the quicker you can take action.
Circling behavior in dogs can be due to a variety of medical conditions, some of the immediately serious. If your dog is walking in circles, please see your vet right away. In senior dogs, circling is often due to canine vestibular disease or canine cognitive dysfunction (a.k.a dementia or Doggie Alzheimer’s).
My dog Cricket had canine cognitive dysfunction and showed many of the typical symptoms of that condition. She paced, she stood in corners, she got stuck behind furniture, and she forgot what she was doing. She also circled, and it was always counterclockwise. Here is a short video of what it looked like.
Video Transcript: Turning Circles: A Common Sign of Dementia in Dogs
>> EILEEN ANDERSON: When my 15 year old dog first started pulling to the left on walks, I thought she was just more interested in people’s yards. Then I thought it was because her back legs were weak.
But after a few months, I realized that she was consistently drifting left and starting to circle. Because of that and some other symptoms, she was diagnosed with canine cognitive dysfunction.
Circling can be a symptom of some other serious diseases and conditions as well. That’s why a vet visit is a must if your dog is circling.
Some dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction circle very obviously. It wasn’t so obvious with Cricket.
Can you see it?
Here’s another example.
I’ve sped up the following indoor clip to make the circling more obvious.
You can see that her left rear leg gets “left behind” but this was not diagnosed as a physical problem. It was most likely neurological, and part of the brain deterioration due to the dementia.
It’s important to identify signs of canine cognitive dysfunction early. There is medication that can often help, and actions you can take to help your dog and family cope. Learn more at dogdementia.com
Circling can be very obvious once the dog has an advanced case of dementia, but it doesn’t necessarily start out that way. Cricket was doing it for several months before I noticed. At the beginning she didn’t stand in one place and twirl; her counterclockwise movements was integrated into how she walked around. When I would see it, I attributed it to other things.
She even pulled consistently to the left when I walked her on leash. At first, I thought she was focused on the neighbors’ yards, but then I realized she wasn’t really focused on anything at all. She was trying to move counterclockwise.
Circling by dogs with cognitive dysfunction is categorized by some researchers as a “spatial orientation” issue. Related problems are wandering, standing in corners or small spaces, and interacting abnormally with ordinary household objects.
You probably can’t get your dog to stop this type of movement if she has dementia. But there are medications that help with canine cognitive dysfunction, and they can possibly reduce circling and other abnormal behaviors. If your dog is stressed or anxious, your vet may be able to prescribe something for that as well.
Remember: only a veterinarian can diagnose your dog, so if he or she is circling or performing other repetitive or confused behaviors, go to the vet right away.
Copyright 2018 Eileen Anderson
Puppies may have a habit of running around in circles chasing their tails, but when a senior dog starts walking in circles, it’s usually a sign that something is wrong.
And while spinning in circles before lying down is considered normal for dogs, you should definitely be worried if your old dog walks in circles for several minutes at length or excessively repeats the behavior.
Why is my dog walking in circles? 6 Common Reasons.
So why do dogs spin in circles? There are multiple answers to this question, but circling usually means something is not quite right with your dog’s ears or brain. Some reasons for the old Fido walking in circles can be:
1. Inner ear infection
One reason for your senior dog walking in circles can be an inner ear infection. This usually progresses from an outer ear infection, but sometimes dogs can present with an inner ear infection despite never having had signs of a problem before.
How to diagnose: If your dog walks in circles and seems disoriented, it might be due to an ear infection. Other symptoms include odor from the ears, itchiness, redness, an inability to focus eyes in one place, and repeated shaking of the head.
Is it serious: If the infection has already started affecting your dog’s behavior, then it’s serious and needs immediate treatment.
How to treat: An inner ear infection is a deep infection, past the eardrum and close to the brain. If the eardrum is intact, topical medication won’t get deep enough. Even in cases with a ruptured eardrum, ear drops are unlikely to penetrate far enough. It’s likely your dog will need to go onto oral antibiotics – so if you suspect an inner ear infection, it’s time to visit the vet.
2. Vestibular syndrome
Old dogs are particularly prone to vestibular disease, which affects the inner ear and balance. Old dog vestibular disease is likely a result of damage due to injury or infection but can also be due to a nutritional deficiency. In some cases, we never find out what caused the ‘attack’.
How to diagnose: If your old dog has vestibular disease, he will repeatedly fall, excessively drool, walk with his head down, and experience flickering of his eyeballs from side to side. He may be nauseous. In fact, vestibular disease is often described as being like a stroke.
Is it serious: Although it can be frightening, most dogs recover from the vestibular disease on their own in a matter of days. Some dogs can deteriorate, though, especially if they’re too nauseous to eat.
How to treat: Home treatment for vestibular disease in dogs includes nursing care: encourage your dog to remain in his bed, propping up his head if you need to. You’ll need to carry him out to the toilet, make a sling to help him walk, or resign yourself to regularly changing his bedding if he can’t get up (See our recommendations for products that can help with incontinence). Offer him water, and small amounts of tasty food wherever possible – but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t eat. However, if Fido’s stumbling is severe, you can’t do this care at home, or he hasn’t shown any improvement in 48 hours, he may need to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.
3. Behavioral disorder
Dogs are prone to behavioral disorders like humans, which can also be the cause of their circling. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorders can compel your dog to repeatedly circle a spot before completing an activity.
WATCH: 3 Important Tips To Care For an Old Dog [VET VIDEO]
How to diagnose: In case of a behavioral disorder, your dog will not have any medical symptoms but might exhibit other repetitive strange behaviors.
Is it serious: The seriousness of such disorders depends on their intensity and other accompanying behaviors.
How to treat: Keep your dog away from any triggers and make sure they’re getting sufficient mental and physical exercise.
4. Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD)
A slow decline in the cognitive function of dogs as they get older is known as canine cognitive dysfunction, or ‘doggy dementia’. It results in loss of memory, learned behavior, and motor function.
How to diagnose: A dog suffering from CCD will be disoriented, sluggish, irritable, and more prone to house soiling. He may also undergo sleep changes.
Is it serious: It is a progressive disease that, unfortunately, cannot be cured and gets more serious with time. Proper management is the key to maintaining the quality of life.
How to treat: Luckily, the symptoms of CCD can be managed with a consistent routine, dietary supplements, and regular mental and physical stimulation. Feed your dog food rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to help alleviate symptoms.
5. Neurological disease
Neurological disorders and other brain ailments like head injuries and tumors can also lead to circling behavior in dogs. Old dog neurological disorders include seizures, spinal diseases, intervertebral disc degeneration, etc.
How to diagnose: An old dog might be spinning in circles due to a neurological disorder. Symptoms include fever, pain, skin changes, diarrhea, and a lack of appetite. Dogs with neurological problems are also unlikely to be able to stop or redirect their circling when distracted.
Is it serious: Neurological disorders are quite serious but can often be cured with proper medical care.
How to treat: Take your dog to the vet and support it with supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and MCT oil are excellent supplements for dogs with neurological problems, but you should check with your vet before using, as these can interact with some commonly-used medications.
6. Pain or Anxiety
If you’re still asking yourself, ‘Why is my old dog walking in circles?’, the answer could be pain or anxiety. Pain can also lead to anxiety which can become especially bad if your dog is the anxious type.
How to diagnose: An old dog walking in circles and panting is likely to be anxious or in pain. Other signs of pain and anxiety are aggression, excessive barking, house soiling, agitation, growling, hiding, and shallow breathing.
Is it serious: Pain is a sign that something is wrong with the body, so your dog’s condition could either be serious or nothing to worry about depending on the cause of the pain.
Disclaimer: This website's content is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your local veterinarian for health decisions. Learn more.
How to treat: Let the vet determine the source of the pain and begin proper treatment. [JW4] Calm anxiety using exercise, massage, and gentle petting.
How Do You Know if it’s Serious?
It is completely possible that your old dog is spinning in circles just because he wants to. This is especially likely if your dog spins in circles before pooping or laying down and shows no compulsion or other medical symptoms.
Dogs also circle when investigating. This is usually accompanied by sniffing and is nothing to worry about.
However, if your dog spins frequently every day, it could point to one of the health issues outlined above. Some of these causes could be as serious as a tumor, so it’s important to get your dog checked out at the vet soon.
Other Things You Can Do to Help
If you’re still wondering how to stop a dog from spinning in circles, here are some things that can help.
- Exercise. If your old dog has no underlying medical conditions, then he could be circling due to pent-up energy. Give him longer walks and more active playtime to help reduce the behavior.
- Eliminate stressors. Certain environmental stressors can also lead to circling in anxious dogs. For example, he could be spinning in circles due to loud sounds. Eliminate these stressors to put an end to the circling behavior.
- Dietary changes. Your old dog could be spinning in circles due to dietary issues in some cases. Consult your vet for dietary changes to help reduce this type of circling.
Final Words
It is concerning to see your senior dog suddenly spinning in circles. While there’s a possibility that it’s nothing serious, a visit to the vet is always recommended. Reasons for the spinning could include stress, ear infection, vestibular syndrome, behavioral disorder, canine cognitive dysfunction, or neurological disease. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the sooner the treatment will begin and your dog can return to being the good old boy peacefully enjoying his day.
Disclaimer: This website's content is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action. Read More.