Unraveling the Mystery of Dog Shaking
Jan 14,2025 | puaintapets
If you've ever seen your dog shaking or trembling, you may have wondered what’s causing it. While it can be a natural response to certain situations, shaking in dogs can also indicate a health issue that requires attention. Understanding why your dog is shaking is crucial for providing the right care and ensuring their well-being.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various reasons why dogs shake, from anxiety and excitement to medical conditions. We’ll also discuss how to differentiate between harmless trembling and signs of something more serious. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of your dog’s shaking and how to address it appropriately.
What is Dog Shaking?
Shaking or trembling in dogs refers to a noticeable involuntary movement of the body, often involving the limbs, head, or entire body. Dogs can shake for a variety of reasons, some of which are completely normal, while others may signal a health problem.
a. Types of Shaking in Dogs:
- Localized Shaking: Affects only one part of the body, such as the legs, head, or ears.
- Whole Body Trembling: Involves the entire body and can be a sign of severe distress or discomfort.
- Occasional Shaking: Happens sporadically and may be tied to specific triggers, such as cold weather or excitement.
Why Is My Dog Shaking?
Dogs communicate in many ways, and shaking is one behavior that can have multiple underlying causes. Understanding why your dog is shaking is crucial for ensuring their well - being.
I. Medical Reasons
- Illness or Infection
- One of the most common medical reasons for a dog to shake is an underlying illness or infection. For example, a fever can cause shaking as the body tries to regulate its temperature. When a dog has an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, the body's immune response may lead to shivering. Infections can also cause inflammation in the body, which can disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system and result in shaking.
- Diseases like distemper, parvovirus, or Lyme disease can also be associated with shaking. Distemper affects the dog's nervous system, leading to involuntary tremors. Parvovirus can cause dehydration and weakness, which may manifest as shaking. Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, can cause joint pain and neurological symptoms, including shaking.
- Pain
- If your dog is in pain, it may shake. This could be due to an injury, such as a broken bone, a sprain, or a cut. The pain signals sent to the brain can trigger a shaking response. For instance, if a dog has a dental problem like an abscessed tooth, the pain in its mouth can cause it to shake its head or tremble.
- Arthritis, which is common in older dogs, can also cause pain - related shaking. The inflammation in the joints makes movement painful, and the dog may shake as it tries to adjust to the discomfort.
Also Read: What Can I Give My Dog for Pain
- Metabolic Disorders
- Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a metabolic disorder that can cause shaking in dogs. Puppies are especially vulnerable to hypoglycemia. If a puppy has not eaten for an extended period or has a problem with its pancreas, its blood sugar levels can drop, leading to weakness, lethargy, and shaking.
- Thyroid problems can also affect a dog's metabolism. Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, can cause a variety of symptoms, including shivering. The thyroid hormones play a crucial role in regulating the body's metabolism, and when they are lacking, the body's functions can be disrupted.
II. Environmental Factors
- Cold Temperature
- Just like humans, dogs shiver when they are cold. Dogs with short coats, small body sizes, or those that are elderly or sick are more sensitive to cold. If your dog has been outside in cold weather without proper protection, it will start to shake as its body tries to generate heat. This is a natural physiological response to maintain body temperature.
- Even in a seemingly warm house, if there are drafts or if the dog is lying on a cold floor, it may shake. Some dogs may also be more sensitive to cold due to their breed characteristics. For example, Greyhounds have a thin coat and low body fat, making them more likely to feel cold and shake.
- Anxiety or Stress
- A new environment, loud noises (such as thunderstorms or fireworks), or separation from their owners can cause anxiety or stress in dogs, leading to shaking. When a dog is in a stressful situation, its body releases stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones can cause the dog's muscles to tense up, resulting in shaking.
- For example, if you have recently moved to a new home or if there are construction noises nearby, your dog may become anxious and start to shake. Similarly, if you leave your dog alone for an extended period, it may experience separation anxiety, which can be manifested by shaking, pacing, and whining.
III. Behavioral Reasons
- Excitement
- Dogs may shake when they are excited. This is often seen when they are about to go for a walk, see their favorite toy, or greet their owners after a period of separation. The shaking in this case is usually a sign of anticipation and eagerness. It is a normal behavior and is not a cause for concern as long as it is not accompanied by other abnormal symptoms.
- For example, when you pick up your dog's leash, it may start to shake with excitement, its tail wagging vigorously at the same time.
- Habit or Nervous Tic
- Some dogs may develop a habit of shaking for no apparent medical or environmental reason. It could be a form of a nervous tic, similar to how humans may have involuntary habits like twitching. This type of shaking is usually mild and consistent, and may not be associated with any specific triggers. However, if the shaking suddenly changes in intensity or frequency, it is advisable to have the dog checked by a veterinarian to rule out any underlying problems.
Medical Conditions That Can Cause Shaking
1. Nervous system diseases
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Neuritis
Neuritis in dogs can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as infection, poisoning, and nutritional deficiencies. For example, neuritis may be triggered in some dogs after a traumatic injury or infection, causing symptoms of tremors in one part of the body or throughout the body.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is usually caused by abnormal discharges of neurons in the brain. Dogs with epileptic seizures may experience symptoms such as body convulsions, trembling, and loss of consciousness. Seizures may be intermittent or persistent and require prompt treatment.
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Brain Injury
Injuries to the dog's brain, such as impacts, falls, and brain infections, may lead to neurological dysfunction and cause body tremors. Symptoms of trembling may vary depending on the degree of brain injury, and severe brain injuries may lead to coma, seizures, and other symptoms in dogs.
2.Metabolic Diseases
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Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is more prevalent in young dogs, especially small dogs like teacups. If the dog does not eat on time, hypoglycemia is likely to occur, leading to hypothermia, which can lead to shivering and heat production, and in some cases, the dog may also experience shock after a short period of shivering.
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Low blood calcium
Calcium is essential for the development of bones and muscles in dogs, and when there is a calcium deficiency, the muscles may contract at an abnormal rate, and shivering is one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia. Some dogs with postnatal calcium deficiencies and those who do not take regular calcium supplements may also experience shivering.
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Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disorder that causes dogs to overproduce thyroid hormones, causing symptoms such as increased metabolic rate, rapid heartbeat, and weight loss, as well as potentially causing shivering.
3.Infectious diseases
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Canine distemper
Canine distemper is a highly contagious contact infection caused by the canine distemper virus. It is highly contagious and most often occurs in puppies or under-vaccinated adolescent dogs. Dogs with distemper may show neurological symptoms in the later stages of the disease, foaming at the mouth and shaking with convulsions, which are more difficult to treat, but mainly depend on the care methods.
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Rabies
Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus that affects the dog's nervous system, leading to abnormal behavior, convulsions, and shaking. Rabies is a fatal disease, and as soon as you notice your dog showing signs of suspected rabies, isolate it and contact your veterinarian.
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Other Infections
Dogs infected with other viruses, bacteria, or parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptococcus, may also cause body tremors. These infections may affect your dog's nervous system or other organ functions, causing discomfort and tremors.
Related: Unveiling the Invisible Threat: Signs of Parasites in Dogs
4. Other Diseases
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Arthritis
Arthritis in dogs can cause pain and inflammation in the joints, making it uncomfortable for the dog to walk or move around, which can cause body tremors.
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Kidney Disease
Kidney Disease: Dogs suffering from kidney disease, pancreatitis or other painful diseases can cause uncontrollable trembling, which may be accompanied by a lack of energy, loss of appetite, reduced activity, increased sleep and even diarrhea.
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Poisoning
Dogs that accidentally eat toxic substances, such as chocolate, grapes, macadamia nuts, insecticides, etc., may show symptoms of poisoning, including trembling, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea and so on. If you find that your dog has accidentally eaten a toxic substance, you should take it to the hospital immediately for treatment.
How to Treat Dog Shaking at Home?
I. For cold-induced shivering
- Measures to keep warm
Add more clothing: If your dog has short hair or is a small dog, you can dress your dog in appropriate pet clothing. For example, in cold weather, put a warm sweater on your teddy.
Improve the kennel: make sure the kennel is warm and cozy by putting thick blankets or mats inside the kennel. If it's winter, you can also use a heating pad, but be careful with the temperature settings to avoid burning your dog. You can also place the kennel in a warm and wind-sheltered place, such as an indoor corner near a heater.
II. For shivering caused by low blood sugar (for puppies or weak dogs)
- Sugar supplementation
You can feed your dog a small amount of glucose water. Dissolve the right amount of glucose powder in warm water and then feed it to your dog slowly with a syringe or small spoon. You can usually give 1 - 2 ml of glucose water per kg of body weight, but be careful not to feed too much at once as this may cause vomiting.
If there is no glucose, you can also feed your dog a little honey water, but be careful not to overdo the amount of honey, and you can't feed honey to puppies under 1 year old to prevent botulism.
III. For shivering caused by calcium deficiency
- Adjust the diet
Increase the intake of calcium-rich foods. If the dog is shivering because of calcium deficiency, you can feed your dog some dairy products, such as unsweetened yogurt (pay attention to choose xylitol-free, xylitol is toxic to dogs), and you can also feed your dog some cooked bones (avoid sharp bones, such as chicken bones, to prevent scratching the intestinal tract), such as pork big bones.
For calcium supplements, choose a pet-specific calcium supplement and feed your dog the dosage according to the instructions. At the same time, make sure your dog has enough vitamin D intake, as vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium. You can take your dog to sunbathe properly to promote vitamin D synthesis.
IV. For shivering caused by nervousness or excitement
- Soothe the emotions
Physical contact: gently caress the dog's head, back and other parts of the dog, use a gentle voice and talk to the dog, let the dog feel the owner's care and comfort.
Provide a quiet environment: Bring your dog to a quiet, familiar environment to minimize outside interference. If your dog is shaking because of noise, close the windows and curtains to minimize the effects of noise and glare.
When to Seek Veterinary Care
While mild shaking may be harmless, there are instances where it’s important to consult a vet. You should seek professional help if:
- The shaking persists or gets worse over time.
- Your dog is displaying other concerning symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite.
- The shaking is accompanied by seizures or loss of consciousness.
- Your dog has ingested something toxic or is showing signs of poisoning.
- Your dog appears to be in pain or distress.
FAQs
When should I be concerned about my dog acting weird?
A normal dog eats relatively consistently. When a dog suddenly refuses to eat, or eats significantly less for several days in a row, be concerned about oral problems (e.g., mouth ulcers, tooth pain), gastrointestinal problems, or other systemic illnesses.
It is also not normal if the dog appears to be overeating. This may be a result of malabsorption of nutrients due to some endocrine disease or a high parasite load, and the dog is trying to replenish the nutrients his body needs by eating more.
Do dogs shiver when they are sick?
Conclusion
Shaking in dogs can be a normal reaction to stress, cold, or excitement, but it can also signal an underlying medical condition. By identifying the cause of your dog’s shaking, you can take the appropriate steps to help them feel better and ensure they are healthy. If you’re unsure about the cause of your dog’s trembling or if it persists, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian for advice and treatment.