Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

ceri stewart — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:57:28 GMT

Our neighbour's EBT does this under the kitchen table. Apparently her mum did it too. They believe it's an EBT thing, like chasing her own tail and running through glass oven doors...

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

rachaelyost — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:49:28 GMT

I spoke to a friend who has one. It always does it under the xmas tree. I very rarely see Bull Terriers and had not heard of the problem before.

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Bob Russell — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 15:04:35 GMT

OCD!

Our staffie suffers from it (actually I suffer from the effects of her OCD, she doesn't give a monkeys!).

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

KMurphy — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:35:35 GMT

My dog does this. He's normal (as a Bull Terrier can be!) in every other way. I do have a video of him doing it but I'm laughing in the background so it's not very professional He does it when walking under plants, the Christmas tree and I can make him do it by lightly touching his back. He seems to enjoy it. I had never heard of it before we got him but apparently it's reasonably common in the bull terrier breeds, if you believe what you read on the internet.

Does it need management?? Happy to provide samples for studies if you need them, Mark!

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 12:15:31 GMT

Excellent choice of music anyway.

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

ChrisBVSc — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:39:41 GMT

Very bizarre - never heard of this before. In the video it almost looks like the plant is having some weird effect on the dog! It will be interesting to see if anyone finds an explanation!

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Mark Lowrie — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 09:48:45 GMT

TRANCING SYNDROME IN BULL TERRIERS

With assistance from the Kennel Club we are asking colleagues to contact us regarding cases of trance-like syndrome in Bull terriers for the purposes of characterising this poorly understood condition. Phenotypic characterisation may help in identification, management and understanding of this poorly described but seemingly common disorder.

Episodes consist of a slow-motion gait exhibiting compulsive pacing. The duration of the episodes can vary from seconds to half an hour or longer, during which the dog remains aware of its surroundings. Some owners report that this is triggered by walking under house plants or table cloths. This video footage shows a typical episode:

www.youtube.com/watch

If colleagues have a case of suspected trance-like in a Bull Terrier, or would like further information, they should contact Mark Lowrie at the address below, email: mll@vetspecialists.co.uk or telephone 01582 883950.

Mark Lowrie, Peter Smith, Laurent Garosi, Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire SG5 3HR

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Laura Marshall — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:01:25 GMT

Thanks for the rapid reply. One pair were mother and son living in the same house, but the other two are (as far as I know) unrelated to the others.

Have you ever had any referred to yourselves?

Re: Trance-like English Bull Terrier

Laurent Garosi — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:09:24 GMT

Dear Laura,

Wish could come up with a definitive answer but can only come up with hypothesis of what it could be. My main suspicion is that it is a form of paroxysmal movement disorder characterised by hypokinesia. Similar disorders in human are usually associated with basal ganglia disorder. The other possibility (less likely) would be a type of behavioural disorder which in that breed is not uncommon occurrence. There is nothing in the veterinary literature but lots on the net about this problem in EBT. Did any of your affected EBT related in any way?

Laurent