Why Does My Dog Shake?
You notice your dog is suddenly shaking.
Maybe it happens after a bath. Perhaps your dog shakes during a thunderstorm. Or maybe you notice trembling while your dog is resting, and you begin to wonder whether something is wrong.
Shaking can have many explanations.
Sometimes it is simply a normal response to being wet, cold, excited, or stressed. Dogs may also shake after an uncomfortable experience as a way of releasing tension.
But shaking can also be associated with pain, weakness, low blood sugar, poisoning, seizures, and other medical conditions.
So rather than asking only, “Why is my dog shaking?”, it is more useful to ask:
“What else is happening when my dog shakes?”
That context can help you decide whether you are simply observing a normal behaviour or whether your dog needs veterinary attention.
Common Reasons Dogs Shake
Your Dog Is Cold
Just like people, dogs can shiver when they become cold.
A wet dog may shake vigorously after coming out of the water or after a bath. This familiar whole-body shake helps remove water from the coat.
If your dog is cold, move them somewhere warm and dry and observe whether the shaking settles.
However, persistent shaking should not automatically be blamed on the temperature, particularly if your dog shows other unusual signs.
Your Dog Is Nervous or Stressed
Shaking can also be part of a dog's emotional response.
A dog may tremble during a thunderstorm, fireworks, a visit to the veterinarian, travel, unfamiliar situations, or other experiences that cause fear or anxiety. Other signs of stress can include pacing, whining, barking, yawning, licking, and attempts to escape or hide.
Look at the whole picture.
If your dog begins shaking when a particular event happens and becomes relaxed once the situation ends, fear or stress may be contributing to the behaviour.
Instead of punishing the dog, try to reduce the source of stress and provide a quiet, secure place where the dog can settle.
Excitement Can Cause Shaking Too
Not all emotional shaking is caused by fear.
Some dogs tremble when they become extremely excited. You might notice it when you pick up the leash, prepare their food, greet them after being away, or get ready for an activity they enjoy.
The important clue is what the rest of the dog's body is communicating.
A dog that is excited but otherwise relaxed and responsive is very different from a dog that is trembling, withdrawn, tense, or showing signs of distress.
Pain Can Cause Shaking
Shaking can sometimes be a sign that a dog is experiencing pain.
Dogs do not always cry or whine when something hurts. Some may instead become quieter, change their posture, move differently, or tremble. Shaking can be one of several physical signs associated with pain.
Pay attention to changes such as:
Reluctance to walk or exercise
Difficulty getting up or lying down
Limping
Unusual posture
Restlessness
Becoming less interested in normal activities
Shaking that appears without an obvious environmental reason
If shaking is new, persistent, or accompanied by other changes, it is worth contacting your veterinarian.
Low Blood Sugar Can Cause Trembling
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can cause trembling in dogs and may also be accompanied by weakness, drowsiness, poor coordination, fainting, or seizures.
This can be particularly concerning when the shaking is accompanied by changes in your dog's behaviour or ability to stand and walk.
Do not assume that giving food at home is always the appropriate solution. If your dog appears weak, confused, collapses, or has other serious symptoms, contact a veterinarian promptly.
Shaking Can Sometimes Be Related to Illness
There are many possible medical causes of tremors.
For example, neurological disorders can cause involuntary shaking or tremors. Some dogs develop conditions such as shaker syndrome, which can produce rhythmic, involuntary tremors involving the head or the whole body. Diagnosis requires a veterinarian to rule out other possible causes.
Other medical problems can also cause weakness or trembling.
This is why it is difficult to determine the cause simply by looking at the shaking itself.
The age of the dog, when the shaking started, how long it lasts, what part of the body is shaking, and what other symptoms are present can all be important information for a veterinarian.
Could Your Dog Have Been Exposed to Something Toxic?
Tremors can occur with certain poisonings.
For example, ingestion of chocolate can cause tremors and, in severe cases, seizures or collapse. Xylitol exposure can also cause low blood sugar accompanied by weakness and tremors.
If you think your dog may have eaten something potentially toxic, do not wait for the shaking to become severe.
Contact a veterinarian or an appropriate animal poison service immediately and tell them what your dog may have consumed, approximately how much, and when it happened.
Do not give human medication or attempt a home treatment unless a veterinarian specifically tells you to do so.
Is It Shaking or a Seizure?
This distinction can be difficult for owners to make.
A seizure can involve shaking, tremors, spasms or other abnormal movements. Some dogs may become unresponsive, lose coordination, paddle their legs, or lose control of their bladder or bowels during an episode.
If your dog appears to be having a seizure, do not try to restrain them and keep your hands away from their mouth. Move nearby objects that could cause injury and contact a veterinarian.
If possible, recording a video of an unusual episode can also provide useful information for your veterinarian.
When Should You Be Concerned?
A brief shake after a bath or an exciting event is usually very different from unexplained shaking that continues or repeatedly returns.
Contact your veterinarian if:
The shaking is new or unexplained
It happens repeatedly
Your dog appears to be in pain
Your dog is weak or having difficulty standing
Your dog seems confused or unusually unresponsive
Your dog has trouble walking or balancing
The shaking occurs together with vomiting or other concerning symptoms
You suspect your dog has eaten something toxic
You notice seizure-like activity
Seek urgent veterinary care when shaking is accompanied by collapse, severe weakness, difficulty breathing, seizures, loss of consciousness or other signs of a serious emergency.
What Should You Do When Your Dog Starts Shaking?
The first step is not to panic.
Instead, observe.
Ask yourself:
What was happening just before the shaking started?
Was your dog wet? Cold? Excited? Frightened?
Or did the shaking begin while your dog was resting for no obvious reason?
Then look at the rest of the dog.
Is your dog alert and responsive?
Can they walk normally?
Are they eating and drinking normally?
Do they seem painful, weak, confused or unusually quiet?
These details can be much more useful than the shaking alone.
If the episode is unusual or difficult to describe, make a short video if it is safe to do so. A video can help your veterinarian understand what you observed.
The Pattern Is the Clue
Shaking is not a diagnosis.
It is a behaviour or physical sign that can have many different causes.
A dog shaking after a bath is not necessarily experiencing the same thing as a dog trembling during a thunderstorm. And a dog suddenly shaking while also showing weakness or neurological changes requires a very different response.
So don't focus only on the movement.
Look at the pattern around it.
When did it start?
What happened immediately beforehand?
How long did it last?
How often does it happen?
What was your dog doing afterwards?
And most importantly:
Did your dog otherwise seem like themselves?
Those observations can help you decide whether you are simply seeing a normal response or something that deserves professional attention.
When in doubt, especially when the shaking is new, persistent or accompanied by other unusual signs, it is safer to speak with your veterinarian.
Comments
Post a Comment