Why dogs get the ‘zoomies’ and when you should call a vet

Most of the time, your pet getting the ‘zoomies’ is a sign they’re just giddy and overexcited about something, and it isn’t necessarily something to be concerned about.

But now a vet has warned there may come a time when you have to intervene and get them seen to, because it could indicate a problem. The zoomies, also known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), are a completely normal behaviour for your pet to exhibit.

It’s a way for your dog or cat to release their pent-up emotions, excitement, or energy. But as a pet owner, you should pay attention to how often they get the zoomies and why, because changes in their behaviour could indicate something is wrong.

Dr. Ronit Berdugo, veterinary partner at SynergyLabs, explained to Newsweek that zoomies are probably linked to an animal’s fight or flight response. And before they get the zoomies, they likely feel alert, restless, and energised. Their heart rates and blood pressure also increase, giving them the urge to move quickly – but it doesn’t mean they’re distressed.

After the zoomies, they can generally become calmer, and seem more like ‘themselves,’ and this is when it’s completely normal for the animal to get the zoomies.

But Berdugo shared that owners should pay closer attention if the zoomies behaviour suddenly changes, especially if the animal is older.

If your pet is older and their behaviour changes when it comes to what they’ve always done, Berdugo claimed it’s worth getting them examined to see whether anything has changed in their body.

An increase in zoomies, more frequent episodes than usual or difficulty calming down afterwards, could potentially be linked to many issues, including cognitive dysfunction, pain or another underlying medical condition.

It’s also important to see whether the change in zoomies comes with other symptoms as well, such as changes in sleep pattern, confusion, difficulty for them to move, or unusual vocalisations they would never normally do.

But if your pet has the zoomies for mere minutes, this is usually absolutely nothing to worry about, and is actually completely normal behaviour.

Berdugo claimed there’s “no cause for concern” as long as their environment is “safe and secure,” which is fantastic news for most pet owners.

Instead, she suggested that rather than trying to interrupt the zoomies’ behaviour, it’s a good idea to actually make sure that your pet can participate in it safely.

That may mean removing breakable objects, blocking access to sharp corners and avoiding slippery surfaces so they can run around freely and do what they need to, in order to burn off some steam.

So, the next time your pet gets the zoomies, don’t panic in the first instance. Just let them get on with it, and monitor their behaviour generally to see whether it’s worth taking them for a check-up.