Pacing And Circling In Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

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Dog Walking In CirclesWritten By Kevin HughesPublished: 06/11/2017Updated: 05/06/2025Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVSDog walking in circles? Be aware of potential health issuesDogs do some strange things sometimes, don’t they? Whether it’s sniffing another dog’s butt, burying their own food or toys, or having a sudden case of the zoomies, our pets are never shy to show off their quirky canine habits. It’s one of the many reasons we love them, after all!Sometimes, though, what looks like funny behavior can be a big hint that something’s not quite right with a dog. A dog walking in circles may be an indication of a health condition that shouldn’t be ignored.Pacing and circling in dogs can be activities in which dogs engage in order to perform some normal activities like urinating, defecating, sniffing and investigating, or they can be compulsive behaviors which are not normal. They may also be indicative of underlying pain or a neurological disease or canine dementia.Let’s find out more.Youtube Play

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Symptoms of dogs walking in circlesObviously, the most common symptom of a dog circling and pacing around is exactly that — your pet is circling and pacing! But, there are more — some of which may not be quite so easy to detect. The symptoms of potential canine compulsive behaviors are varied and not every individual will display the same symptoms. Here are some things you might notice in your pet to some degree:

• Your pet keeps circling, even if you offer an alternative activity such as a game or walk
• Confusion or disorientation
• Aimless wandering
• Changes in sleeping habits and behaviors
• Changes in gait
• Changes in house training habits
• Appetite changes — both increased appetite as well as decreased
• Other compulsive behaviors likes spinning, tail chasing, fly snapping, excessive licking, toy fixation, barking etc

While it may seem ‘cute’ or ‘funny’ when your dog does the tail chasing thing, or when they’re pacing or circling sometimes for hours on end, it’s important to note that it may not be an intentional way to get your attention. Instead, it could be a signal of a deeper, more serious problem which needs to be evaluated and treated — and sooner rather than later.What are the causes of dogs walking in circles?So, the key question: what’s causing your dog to walk in circles, or pace around? While some occasional pacing and circling can be considered ‘normal’ doggy behavior, if it’s happening frequently it could be caused by another issue that does need closer attention. Something is triggering this compulsive behavior.Potential causes of a dog walking in circles can include:Anxiety or Anxiety Disorder

• This would include the fear generated by loud noises such as fireworks
• Too-little room for your pet to move around
• Lack of mental or physical stimulation/challenge
• A genetic predisposition to being anxious (more common in certain breeds)
• Pain from an injury or other condition
• Past traumatic event which is being remembered
• Canine compulsive disorder — similar to human obsessive compulsive disorder in which canine exhibits repetitive behavior

Liver Disease or Abnormality

• Diseased or damaged liver could cause neurological issues resulting in pacing, circling, head pressing and behavioral changes 
• Hepatitis and some parasitic infections can also cause neurological issues 
• Liver shunt — happens when a blood vessel shunts blood around the liver instead of blood processing through the liver to clean out the toxins
• Neurological damage occurs when the blood is shunted around the liver, allowing the toxins to build up in the bloodstream and kidneys

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

• Canine dementia causes deposits in the brain similar to those found in humans. Symptoms vary and can include a dog’s disorientation and circling, pacing, restlessness and increased vocalisation.

Brain Tumor

• A dog walking in circles, pacing and other repetitive behaviors are caused by neurologic changes from the pressure being exerted on the brain by the tumor as it grows

Ear Infections

• Bacterial, fungal or parasitic ear disorders can affect the balance centre and lead to behaviours such as circling, head tilting and restlessness. An ear infection can be one of the causes of dogs walking in circles.

Idiopathic Vestibular Disease

• Idiopathic Vestibular Disease — also known more simply as Vestibular Disease — is a condition generally seen in older dogs. Most will improve within a few days. Some, however, may have long lasting effects such as a mild head tilt that remains.

How does a vet diagnose dog disorientation and circling?As we've just covered, if your dog is showing signs of disorientation and circling there can be a wide range of causes. This means that reaching a diagnosis may not be easy, or quick, so be prepared. This may not be as simple as conducting a fast blood test.Your veterinarian, or other attending veterinary professional, will need a complete history from you — which typically includes your dog’s diet, living and housing arrangements, and exercise habits. This includes where that exercise takes place, any injuries or health conditions which have affected your pet over the course of his or her life and the details of the symptoms you’ve noticed along with their duration. You should note whether they came on gradually or suddenly and their severity.  Your vet is likely to do a physical examination and will possibly also need to order blood testing, urine and fecal testing, radiography (x-rays) and perhaps CT or MRI imaging to ascertain if there are any masses present which could be factors for the symptoms and clinical signs being displayed by your family pet. Once the testing results from the various testing modalities being utilized by your vet are received and evaluated, an appropriate treatment plan will be developed and initiated for your canine family member.Treatment for a dog walking in circlesIt goes without saying that the treatment options presented by your vet to help a dog walking in circles will be dependent upon the cause he or she has found for the pacing, circling and other compulsive behaviors a pet is suffering.  If a systemic condition is found, treatments will include those options which are consistent with the disease condition found, for example oral medication administration, medications to treat the infectious component, if any, or potential surgical options in the case of tumor growth being the causative affliction. If your vet determines that the problem stems from dietary issues, then he will make recommendations for dietary changes to help remedy the problem.When the condition is behavioural, we would implement behavioral training and changes in your pet’s home environment and routine to reduce stress and anxiety.In the event that your vet finds everything in his testing of your family pet to be normal and diagnoses your pet with a behavioral issue only (which doesn’t have a systemic component) and if the behavior continues beyond a few days, he may refer you to an animal behaviorist for appropriate treatmentCanine dementia cannot be cured but can be managed with environmental changes, prescription diet and supplements.Vet bills and follow-up treatments costs can be expensive — without pet insurance. Having a pet insurance policy means pet parents will get the support they need when it’s time to pay the vet. Get the best cover for your pet in seconds with free-to-use Wag! Compare.

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Will my dog recover from walking in circles-related health issues?Will a dog recover from whatever’s causing him or her to walk in circles, spin in circles, or pace around?The prognosis for a dog who suffers from this will be dependent upon the ultimate cause as determined by your veterinary professional.  For some of the causes, the treatments may be ongoing for the life of your pet, or they may be intermittent as the disease process waxes and wanes in its development. For other causes, it may be that a simpler solution will fit the bill, like giving your canine family member more exercise, more play time or training which keeps his mind active and learning, or it might be simply changing his diet. In any event, dispensing copious amounts of the three A’s — affection, affirmation, and attention — will always be part of the treatment plan.Pacing and Circling Questions and Advice from Veterinary ProfessionalsChihuahua6months

35 found this helpful

35 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:Spinning In Circles Counter Clockwise,I can tell something is wrong with her and i dont know what to doJan. 11, 2021Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM35 RecommendationsThank you for your question, I'm sorry your puppy is not feeling well. Chihuahuas can have problems where they build up fluid on their brain, and she may have a neurological problem that needs attention. It would be best to have her seen by a veterinarian, as they can assess her health, and let you know what sort of treatment she may need.Jan. 11, 2021Was this question and answer helpful?

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MuttThree Years

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My pet has the following symptoms:Circling, AnxietyFast, clockwise circling has been present in my boyfriend’s pup since he got her (about 2 years ago). She does this when she appears anxious (e.g. leaving the house; anytime we aren’t sitting or laying down), and when she appears excited (e.g. going outside, playing with toys, other dogs, and people). When we leave the house, we now have to keep her in the basement to prevent her from chewing on furniture or rolling on her own feces or urine in a kennel. She was on a anti anxiety med at one point but did not seek to help and gave her terrible diarrhea.Dec. 31, 2020Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM9 RecommendationsHello anxiety can be very hard to deal with some days. There are many different medication and supplements you can try. I like calming bites. If this continues try looking for a trainer to help.Jan. 1, 2021Was this question and answer helpful?

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