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Why is my dog snapping at the air like catching invisible flies?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 6 years and 10 months old | 11 lbs

Hi, I need an urgent vet to talk to. I have a dog with the fly snapping sydnrome and here in Malta no one has ever heard about it. Can any one help me cause she has gotten worse?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Daniela Jessen, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 4th, 2019

Hi, fly biting behavior (snapping at the air as if trying to catch a nonexistent fly) is an obsessive-compulsive behavior, caused by an array of issues that range from eye problems to a form of a focal seizure . This needs to be investigated by a neurologist. If confirms then managed with anti-epileptic medications that are used for generalized seizures. There is research that presented data indicating that some fly biting may be caused by an underlying medical disorder, GI disease being the most common. At home, these dogs consistently presented more fly biting following feeding, suggesting potential postprandial [after eating] discomfort. In these fly biting dogs, the jaw snapping was preceded by head raising and neck extension. When these dogs received treatment for their GI disease, the fly biting completely resolved in most cases in this research group. If your dog is fly biting, make sure your vet performs also a complete work-up for gastrointestinal disease. There is a chance you’ll find something that responds to treatment. Hope this helps but the best thing would be to try and find a specialist preferably a neurologist.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Summer Walker, DVM, MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 17th, 2017

    Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! How often do these episodes happen and are there any triggers to an episode? There are types of seizures known as "fly-biting seizures" that resemble a dog biting at an imaginary fly. These episodes may require treatment with anti-seizure medications if they become very frequent or progress to more generalized seizure activity. It is also possible that this is behavioral, but in order to say this you would need to rule-out potential fly-biting seizures. A thorough examination by Faith's veterinarian may aid in determining if treatment is needed. If you are able to obtain a video of the episodes this will aid the veterinarian in trying to determine an underlying cause (if any).

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    Answered By Mirissa Duncil, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 2nd, 2017

    Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Fly biting is something we often hear when people first start noticing seizure-like activity in their animals. It is good that you are so observant-you are noticing things that are just not quite right with your pet. Many dogs never progress from this to full tonic-clonic seizures. Just to be on the safe side-I'd recommend taking Sam in to see his vet-especially if he hasn't had his yearly exam and bloodwork yet. Glad you are such a good fur parent! I hope this helps.

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