Understanding Leg Tremors in Dogs
As a loving dog owner, you may feel understandably worried, confused, or alarmed by the sight of tremors in your dog’s rear legs. This problem, which may stem from any number of causes, can make getting around a serious challenge for your beloved canine companion. Your dog may have trouble walking, standing still, or standing up after lying down. If this problem goes unaddressed, your pet might have to give up all his favorite activities.
Fortunately, you can help your best friend regain or optimize his mobility through the right combination of therapies, lifestyle changes, and assistive devices. Let’s take a closer look at the problem of rear leg tremors in dogs, from the reasons for these abnormalities to the many potential remedies available to pet owners.
Why is my old dog shaking?
Lately, my 13-year-old Dachshund, Bailey, has been jumping onto my lap and shaking more often than usual. Since developing arthritis a few years ago, he’d adopted this routine as his way of saying, “Please let me go out to potty, or I’m going to burst!” However, now he was routinely hopping onto my lap and shaking, even if he’d just gone to the bathroom a few minutes prior.
I looked into my beloved companion’s eyes and wondered, “What is he telling me? Why is my little old dog shaking?” As a veterinarian, I knew that diagnosing the cause of shaking in an older dog can be tricky. I’d need to give Bailey a thorough exam and rule out many conditions so that I could help him. I’d start with the most common reasons senior dogs shake.
Other Causes of Shivering and Trembling in Dogs
There are other less common reasons for shivering, shaking, trembling, or tremors in dogs.
Chronic kidney failure can lead to tremors. So can neurological problems that may include inflammatory brain diseases. An Addisonian crisis, a condition related to an underactive adrenal gland, and demyelinating disorders may also lead to shaking in dogs. Dogs may shake when their anal sacs are full.
If you have questions about your dogs shivering or trembling — or about any canine health and wellness issue, talk to your vet.