My 13 year old, Tano, has recently started doing a very odd, very involuntary-looking twitching when she gets excited. Since it usually happens when she'd normally be drumming her paws on the floor to get my attention I didn't notice it at first but after some observation I've determined it's an involuntary action.

It really looks like a half second seizure. I saw a video about fainting goats and Tano's symptoms look almost the same. I know the goats 'faint' due to hereditary reasons but, aside from the toppling over, it looked so similar. Her legs (front legs…but she's usually sitting) just sort of stiffen up for a second. She also gets a rather startled expression on her face but the whole event happens so quickly and she's back to normal.

It only happens when she's excited in a 'positive' way. Like while I'm preparing her meal or as she is, ever hopeful, watching me eat. If she's negatively stressed she just shakes but there is no tensing up or apparent loss of control. Negative stress pretty much only happens when she's about to be crated (though once she's crated she's perfectly fine) or if I leave the house for a moment to fetch the mail or something (she has always had varying degrees of separation anxiety).

Does this sound like true seizures or am I being hyper-sensitive? Since it's not very consistent it's been very difficult for me to get a bead on the situation well enough to warrant a special trip to the vet. She's due for a physical soon though so I'll bring it up with him then. Any advice before then would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Merriwyth