Why Is Your French Bulldog Twitching? 3 Reasons and Solutions

It’s not uncommon for French Bulldogs’ parents to notice that their dog is twitching.

Most of the time, twitching is nothing to worry about as it could be a normal reaction to external stimuli. However, in some cases, it might be an indicator of a more severe health condition.

As a pet parent, you need to understand why your French Bulldog is twitching to determine whether this behavior is normal and ensure your dog is perfectly healthy.

So, why is your French Bulldog twitching? Your French Bulldog might be twitching because it’s feeling cold or having an emotional reaction such as anxiety, excitement, or happiness. It might also be twitching due to a muscle spasm or other health problems such as seizures. You need to know what’s causing it to ensure your dog is healthy.

Keep reading to learn more about the common cause of twitching in French Bulldogs, when you might need to take your dog to a vet, and what to do if your dog is having a seizure.

3 Reasons Why Your Frenchie is Twitching

There are various causes of twitching in French Bulldogs and they are all considered normal behavior.

So, let’s break down these causes in more detail:

Cold Temperature

French Bulldogs cannot withstand cold weather as their bodies cannot regulate extreme temperatures and they tend to lose body heat more quickly than they can produce it.

You’ll notice that your dog is twitching and shivering more often when it’s feeling cold.

Other signs that your dog is feeling cold include refusing to go outside, lifting its paws off the ground, trying to make a nest by pulling at blankets or burrowing in bed, frequent barking or whining, and lack of energy.

If you notice any signs that your French Bulldog is feeling cold, you need to warm it up as much as you can, otherwise, you’ll be putting it at risk of developing some serious health problems such as hypothermia or frostbite. You can start warming up your French bulldog using sweaters and coats as explained here.

Emotional Reaction

French Bulldogs are emotional and very sensitive to surrounding stimuli, especially when they’re young.

You might notice that your dog is twitching in certain situations because it’s having an emotional reaction. Some dogs will start twitching when they’re nervous or anxious, while other dogs will start twitching because they can’t contain their happiness or excitement

So, it’s best to be aware of the situations that cause your dog to have an emotional reaction in order to be prepared and prevent your dog’s behavior from escalating.

Muscle Spasms

Your French Bulldog might be twitching due to muscle spasms which typically occur in response to muscle strains, injuries, dehydration, or an allergic reaction.

Muscle spasms are easily detected as you’ll notice twitching or tremors in one area of your dog’s body. Your dog might also exhibit additional symptoms depending on what’s causing the spasms.

You can easily prevent muscle spasms by making sure your dog doesn’t overexert itself and keeping it hydrated. If your dog’s muscles begin to cramp, try to gently massage the affected muscles and apply heat pads to relieve any associated pain or discomfort.

When to Contact a Vet About Your French Bulldog’s Twitching?

You need to determine the main cause of your dog’s twitching so you can determine whether this behavior is normal.

If your dog’s twitching persists for too long without any apparent cause, it might be a good idea to contact a vet as your dog might be suffering from more severe health problems such as seizures.

How to Tell That Your French Bulldog is Having a Seizure?

Seizures mainly occur due to abnormal activity in the dog’s brain. The episodes might happen while the dog is awake or falling asleep.

Here are some of the signs you need to look out for to determine whether your French Bulldog is having a seizure:

Your dog will act anxious and try to hide before the episode starts
Your dog will be uncoordinated and staring straight ahead
Your dog will start to bark and whine excessively
Your dog will appear to be confused or disoriented
Your dog might start urinating or defecating without a warning
Your dog will fall on its side once the episode starts, and its legs will start jerking slightly with a fair amount of force
Your dog might lose consciousness or experience temporary blindness during a particularly severe episode

What to Do If Your French Bulldog is Having a Seizure?

Your dog having a seizure can be a frightening experience for you as a pet parent, especially if you’ve never seen it happen before.

Here’s what you need to do if your French Bulldog is having a seizure to make sure your dog doesn’t suffer too much during the episode:

Keep calm

The most important thing to do when your dog is having a seizure is to keep calm so you can effectively attend to your dog and help it through the episode.

If you start panicking, your dog might take notice and become more scared which could make the episode a lot more difficult for it.

Move your dog to a safer location

Once your dog starts having a seizure, make sure to move gently to a safe location away from the edge of the bed or stairs to prevent it from falling or injuring itself.

Your dog will also be too uncoordinated before or after the episode so it might start running around without looking at where it’s going.

Remain near your dog

You need to be close to your dog during the episode in order to monitor your dog’s condition and also make it feel safe.

However, be careful not to pet your dog as this might make scare it or cause it to bite. Instead, it’s best to speak to the dog in low comforting tones to reassure it.

Time your dog’s episode

When your dog is having a seizure, it’s recommended to keep track of how long the episodes are whenever possible. You can do that by using a stopwatch or simply by keeping an eye on the clock.

This could help you determine the severity of the seizure. If the episode lasts less than two minutes, then it’s usually safe. However, if the episode lasts from two to five minutes, then your dog needs to be taken to the vet as soon as possible.

Why Is Your French Bulldog Twitching? 3 Reasons and Solutions