Easily startled - YorkieTalk.com Forums

congaman59 · 02-05-2021, 10:41 AM

Our little fellow "Buddy" turned 10 in Nov. Right around that time we began to notice when he is resting that seemingly low volume noises would startle him to the point his whole body would tense up like something really scared him. It doesn't happen all the time but more than occasionally. We also noticed now & again he would be in the floor and the same sort of thing would happen even without any abrupt noises. It seems to me he has no control over when this happens, like it's an autonomic response.
I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this kind of behavior?

Bluebells · 02-05-2021, 05:21 PM

Could you perhaps give a more complete description of this behavior and the circumstances under which it occurs? Is he awake or asleep when it happens? Does he jump or spasm or ....? Does he seem to be frightened or upset or disoriented or in pain? How long does it last? How often does it occur? You said it sometimes seems related to noises ... are there any other triggers you’ve observed?

congaman59 · 02-07-2021, 11:30 AM

It is a spasm. He doesn't actually jump. It happens mostly when he is awake. Although I have had him react to low volume noises like tapping the back of my cellphone case or a noise on the tv. While laying in my lap. Those times he jerks. He doesn't get up or make a sound. Like I said these are low volume noise things he never reacted to in the past.

02-05-2021, 10:41 AM	#1
congaman59 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, GA USA Posts: 8	Easily startled Our little fellow "Buddy" turned 10 in Nov. Right around that time we began to notice when he is resting that seemingly low volume noises would startle him to the point his whole body would tense up like something really scared him. It doesn't happen all the time but more than occasionally. We also noticed now & again he would be in the floor and the same sort of thing would happen even without any abrupt noises. It seems to me he has no control over when this happens, like it's an autonomic response. I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this kind of behavior?

02-07-2021, 11:30 AM	#3
congaman59 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, GA USA Posts: 8	Reply It is a spasm. He doesn't actually jump. It happens mostly when he is awake. Although I have had him react to low volume noises like tapping the back of my cellphone case or a noise on the tv. While laying in my lap. Those times he jerks. He doesn't get up or make a sound. Like I said these are low volume noise things he never reacted to in the past.

02-05-2021, 05:21 PM	#2
Bluebells YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 370	Could you perhaps give a more complete description of this behavior and the circumstances under which it occurs? Is he awake or asleep when it happens? Does he jump or spasm or ....? Does he seem to be frightened or upset or disoriented or in pain? How long does it last? How often does it occur? You said it sometimes seems related to noises ... are there any other triggers you’ve observed?