18 month old Shih Chon w/muscle spasms

[tysonsmom]

Is it normal for a healthy, neutered 18 month old Shih Chon to have muscle spasms?  We've had him since he was 8 weeks old and today is the 3rd time he's had them (at least that's what I think they are)  He whines and twitches his body and then will try to lay down to stretch his body out.  Should I be concerned that it's something more?  I don't want to spend money at the vet is I don't have to.

Thank you for your time,

[GabiDog]

I, too, have an 18 month old female Shi - Ma (Shih Tzu / Maltese) who has experienced 3 sets of muscle spasms about 6 months apart.  After x-rays, several vet visits, and nerve medication (thinking it was IVD), we've discovered it IS indeed muscle spasms, which is probably caused from her extreme activity.  The nerve medication didn't work, tried several medications under Vets care, finally was given a muscle relaxer along with an anti-inflamatory, which instantly did the trick.  She's now back to normal and while speaking with the vet, he agreed and felt it was not a seizure or IVD.  Her symptoms included, yelping and crying in pain, curling her head back toward her back above her tail, since that seemed to be where the pain was, walking around for hours, because every time she tried to lay down, it was more painful, stretching with butt in air to try to relieve pain.  It was definitely a back pain issue, not a seizure, so now we just keep the muscle relaxer and NSAID available when it occurs again.  Our Shima is very active and loves to run, jump, and play... so a muscle spasm completely fits the symptoms and seems to be the only answer to this delima.

[Ghilly]

What he is doing is definitely NOT normal, so I would take him to the vet and have him checked out.  SOMETHING is causing it, and that's what you've got to find out so you can put a stop to it.  Are you sure that it's muscle spasms and not some sort of seizure?  It almost sounds like a petite mal seizure the way you are describing it, and it's not unheard of for genetically carried epilepsy to manifest at this age.  It's a BIT early, but not out of the question.  

Just out of curiosity, a Shih Chon, I am assuming is a mix between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon?  Does the breeder have both of the parents?  I would call her or him and ask if either of the parents are affected by these spasms, or if either one is epileptic.  It might go a long way toward helping to diagnose what is wrong with your dog.

Ghilly