Simple tics (motor or vocal) Simple tics involve the movement of very few muscles and making sounds; these last for just a few seconds. Some examples of simple motor or vocal tics include facial grimacing, eye blinking, neck jerking, grunting, sniffing, or constant throat clearing, etc. Complex tics (motor or vocal). Tics are often repetitive, with numerous successive occurrences of the same action. For instance, someone with a tic might blink their eyes multiple times or twitch their nose repeatedly.

Aidan could feel it. He was in the middle of an exam and didn't want to make a scene, so he tried to control it. But it was no use. The stress of the exam was getting to him, and the longer he held in his tic, the more he could feel it building up inside him. Finally he had no choice but to let it out. It wasn't as bad as he anticipated — his shoulders jerked slightly and no one seemed to notice.

Aidan has a tic disorder, a condition that affects many people before the age of 18. Sometimes a person will have one kind of tic — like a shoulder shrug — that lasts for a while and then goes away. But then he or she may develop another type of tic, such as a nose twitch.

What's a Tic?

A tic is an uncontrolled sudden, repetitive movement or sound that can be difficult to control. Tics involving involve movements are called motor tics. Tics involving sounds are called vocal tics. Tics can be either simple or complex.

The type of tics a person has may change over time. How often tics happen also may change. Tics often come and go and can get worse when a person is stressed or anxious.

It's perfectly normal to worry that a tic may never go away. Fortunately, that's not usually the case. Most tics are temporary. They tend to not last more than 3 months at a time.

Motor Tics

Simple motor tics involve a single muscle group. Complex motor tics usually involve more than one muscle group and can even look like the person is doing the tic on purpose. Simple motor tics include:

• nose wrinkling
• head twitching
• eye blinking
• lip biting
• facial grimacing
• shoulder shrugging

Complex motor tics include:

• kicking
• skipping
• jumping
• mimicking movements by others
• smelling objects

Vocal Tics

Simple vocal tics involve one simple sound. Complex vocal tics involve more meaningful speech (like words). Simple vocal tics include:

• coughing
• throat clearing
• grunting
• sniffing
• barking
• hissing

Complex vocal tics include:

• repeating words and phrases
• animal sounds
• calling out
• yelling

Types of Tic Disorders

There are several kinds of tic disorders:

Occasional Tickle In Throat

• provisional tic disorder — this is the most common type of tic disorder. With a provisional tic disorder, the tics have been happening for less than a year.
• chronic (persistent) tic disorder — this is a less common tic disorder. With chronic (persistent) tic disorder, tics have been happening for more than a year. The tics may be motor or vocal, but not both.
• Tourette syndrome — this is a much less common tic disorder. With Tourette syndrome, a person has multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic happening for more than a year.

The Doc's Diagnosis

Tics can sometimes be diagnosed at a regular checkup after the doctor gets a full family history, a medical history, and a look at the symptoms. No specific test can diagnose tics, but sometimes doctors will run tests to rule out other conditions that might have symptoms similar to tics.

In certain cases, tics are bad enough to interfere with someone's daily life and medicine may be prescribed.

The Embarrassment Factor

Many times, people with a tic can think that their tic is the worst one ever. Of course it isn't, but it's still a concern for many people with tics. And those worries can cause unnecessary feelings of embarrassment and actually make the tic worse.

Occasional Tics Treatment

Nobody wants to make tics worse, but is there any way to make them better? While you can't cure tics, you can take some easy steps to lessen their impact:

• Don't focus on it. If you know you have a tic, forget about it. Concentrating on it just makes it worse.
• Try to avoid stress-filled situations as much as you can — stress only makes tics worse.
• Get enough sleep. Being tired can makes tics worse. So make sure to get a full night's rest!
• Let it out! Holding back a tic can just turn it into a ticking bomb, waiting to explode. Have you ever felt a cough coming on and tried to avoid it? Didn't work out so well, did it? Chances are it was much worse. Tics are very similar.
• A tic? What tic? If a friend of yours has a tic, don't call attention to it. Chances are your friend knows the tic is there. Pointing it out only makes the person think about it more.

Don't let a little tic dictate who you are or how you act. Learning to live with and not pay attention to the tic will make you stronger down the road.

Occasional Tics Disorder

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Tremors in dogs are involuntary, rhythmic twitches of the muscles that contract and relax, which usually results in a back-and-forth movement of one or more parts of the body. They can vary in how rapid or slow the vibrations happen.

Dogs may shiver or shake for several reasons. They may shake from excitement, because they are cold, when they experience pain, as a result of illness or medical conditions, or for reasons that are completely unknown. Some dog breeds inherit a predisposition to tremors.

If you see odd movements or shaking in your dog, it’s best to consult your veterinarian so they can determine if the cause is benign or serious and prescribe treatment. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for tremors in dogs.

Symptoms Of Tremors In Dogs

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The symptoms of tremors in dogs can appear in any body part, or they may affect the entire body. They can be mild or severe, and the vibrations vary from slow to rapid.

Localized tremors most often affect the head or hind legs.

It’s usually easy to tell them apart from seizures in dogs, as tremors are more regular. They can happen during rest, but generally get worse when dogs are excited.

Causes Of Tremors In Dogs

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There are many possible causes of tremors in dogs, though most of the time the cause is unknown.

Certain dogs experience generalized tremor syndrome, also known as “white shaker dog syndrome,” as it was first noticed in small white dogs like the Maltese and West Highland White Terriers.

Occasional Tics Meaning

Several breeds are predisposed to tremors and are known as “shaker dogs,” and these include:

• Chow Chows
• Dalmatians
• Doberman Pinschers
• English Bulldogs
• Labrador Retrievers
• Samoyeds
• Springer Spaniels
• Weimaraners

Occasional Tics

There are several other conditions that can cause tremors, and these will usually be accompanied by other symptoms. If your dog starts trembling and showing other signs of illness, consult your vet.

Here are some of the medical conditions that may cause tremors:

• Trauma or injury
• Exposure to certain drugs
• Kidney failure
• Heart disease
• Immune disease
• Pain or weakness
• Exposure to toxins or poisoning
• Inflammation
• Nervous system disease
• Lesions of the spinal cord
• Nausea (due to several medical conditions)
• Old age
• Seizure disorders
• Full anal sacs

Treatments For Tremors In Dogs

Treatment for tremors in dogs can vary greatly depending on the cause, and some causes are not treatable. Genetic abnormalities might not be manageable or treatable in any way.

General tremor syndrome may be treated with corticosteroids such as prednisone, sedatives such as Valium, or pain relievers. Pain medications, muscle relaxants, or sedatives might also be prescribed to treat immediate symptoms of tremors while the root cause is being determined.

It’s important to keep dogs warm, hydrated, and fed as they recover in addition to limiting exercise and excitement, as these can make tremors worse.

If a cause for the tremors is found, then it will need to be treated to relieve symptoms. For example, if the tremors are the result of exposure to medications, a vet may prescribe different drugs or adjust the dosage.

If the cause is exposure to toxins or poisons, then the substance must be removed from the dog’s environment. For other causes of tremors, you should consult your veterinarian for treatment options.

Does your dog suffer from tremors? How do you treat them? Let us know in the comments below!