This is Ruger and he is a blind, epileptic dog. Dogs like him often live with altered autonomic tone, which means their nervous system has a harder time maintaining baseline regulation. Their world is unpredictable. They can’t visually map their environment. Their sensory system is constantly recalibrating for safety. So you may notice: • quick head movements • startle responses • jerky orientation shifts These aren’t behavioral issues. They’re nervous system survival strategies he has developed