Dog Shivering and Trembling: Common Causes and Treatments
A few of the more common causes of shaking, shivering, trembling, or tremors in dogs include:
Distemper. Caused by a virus, canine distemper most often occurs in puppies and adolescent dogs that havent been fully vaccinated. Its a common cause of tremors in dogs. Other signs of distemper include eye and nose discharge, fever, coughing, and other symptoms.
Treating distemper generally involves supportive care while your dogs immune system fights the virus. Treatment may also include antibiotics, airway dilators, physical therapy, and fluids to help manage dehydration.
Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS). GTS is also called steroid responsive tremor syndrome or white shaker dog syndrome. First noticed in small, white dogs such as Maltese and West Highland white terriers, it can occur in dogs of any size, breed, or color. No one knows what causes GTS.
GTS symptoms usually start between 9 months and 2 years of age. Treatment generally consists of corticosteroids like prednisone. Results can often be seen within a week of starting treatment.
Nausea. Just like people, dogs can get nauseous from motion sickness, medication, eating too much, or eating the wrong thing, such as a toxic plant. They also can get nausea from kidney or liver disease, as well as other diseases. Shaking may be a sign that your dog is nauseous. Other signs include listlessness, lip smacking, swallowing or salivating more than usual, hiding, yawning, and vomiting.
Treatment for nausea depends on whats causing it. Poisoning is one cause of nausea. So, if your dog is suddenly vomiting or appears nauseous and you know what they may have ingested, call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
Old Age and Pain. As dogs get older, some develop tremors in their hind legs. Sometimes, the tremors may be in the front legs, as well. These tremors usually dont affect how your dog moves or walks.
Its easy to assume that symptoms like shaking legs are due to your dog “just getting older.” But trembling can also be a sign of other issues such as pain. So, always talk to your vet if your aging pet develops tremors.
Poisoning. Several toxins or poisons can cause tremors or shaking in dogs. Some of these are harmless to people but toxic to your pet. For instance, items that can be poisonous for dogs include: chocolate, cigarettes(which can cause nicotine poisoning), and xylitol, the sugar substitute found in many chewing gums. Snail baits containing metaldehyde can also cause severe muscle tremors and convulsions.
Symptoms of poisoning can vary. They include tremors, weakness, disorientation, depression, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. If you think your dog has swallowed anything potentially toxic, call your vet right away. Or call the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Seizure Disorders. Epilepsy, a neurological disorder, can affect dogs. Symptoms may include collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. Treatment includes medications to control seizures, such as keppra, phenobarbital or potassium bromide.Â
Excitement. You really dont have to do much to make a dog happy. Just your coming home at night is more than enough to make some dogs shake, bark, even urinate with excitement. While dogs often grow out of some of these traits, you can help your canine companion calm down by keeping your greetings calm and brief. You may want to train them to sit before offering a greeting in return.Â
Shaking can be a sign of a sudden change in blood chemistry. “Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can cause shaking,” according to Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. Toy and small-breed dogs and young puppies are most susceptible to this condition. Keeping your dog on a well-balanced diet and feeding on a routine schedule can help prevent hypoglycemia. However, sometimes shaking is an indication of another underlying condition that should be diagnosed and treated by your dog’s veterinarian.
When it comes to communication, dogs are significantly better at interpreting our body language than we are theirs. Humans rely on verbal language more heavily than body language, whereas dogs are just the opposite.
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If your dog gets hold of some chocolate, cigarette butts, or one of the many human products that contain xylitol such as sugar-free gum, these items are very toxic to dogs and may cause trembling, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and may be fatal. Call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately if you suspect your dog ingested one of these items.
You may have wondered why dogs feel the need to shake when they are wet. That shaking, however, is surprisingly efficient. Wet dogs can shake off 70 percent of the water on their fur in just four seconds. That is far more effective than attempts to towel dry our pups — though not as great for our bathrooms.
Severe Medical Situations Indicated by Shaking
Shaking, especially paired with other alarming symptoms, should result in a trip to the veterinarian. Even if it’s a false alarm, shaking for prolonged periods and in combination with symptoms such as vomiting can be an indicator of a severe medical condition.
Canine distemper is a virus that most often affects puppies and young dogs who have not had a full set of vaccines. It attacks the gastrointestinal, nervous, and respiratory systems. Most often it is fatal.
Shaking and shivering are a common sign of distemper, alongside additional symptoms such as:
Distemper must be treated by a veterinarian. If you suspect your dog may have contracted canine distemper contact your veterinarian immediately.
Nausea is a symptom of a number of other problems. Most notably:
Nausea can be identified by:
Contact your veterinarian if your pet is exhibiting continuous signs of nausea.
Generalized Tremor Syndrome is also known as steroid responsive tremors and shaker syndrome. This is presented as tremors that are rhythmic, repetitive, and involuntary. It may be centralized to one area of the body or may cause the entire body to shake.
The cause of GTS is unknown but is thought to be autoimmune-related. It is a ‘diagnosis of exclusion’, meaning your pet’s veterinarian will rule out all other possibilities.
Some dogs suffer from epilepsy, a neurological disorder that caused collapsing and jerking. This may present itself as a dog falling and paddling with their legs as if swimming.
While seizures themselves are not physically painful to the dog, seizing can cause injury due to the dog falling or knocking objects over and onto themselves.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog begins to have episodes of seizing. This can be treated using medications that control seizures.
While the symptoms of poisoning vary, shaking and seizing are major indicators. Dogs can be poisoned by substances that are not necessarily toxic to humans. Major toxins include cigarettes, xylitol, and chocolate.
If you believe your pet may have ingested a toxic substance contact your veterinarian or take your pet to the nearest emergency vet clinic immediately.
How To Treat Dog Shaking Naturally
It’s the time of year when it’s getting cold. Really cold. Naturally, with cooler temperatures us humans will reach for the biggest jumper we can.
Luckily for our four-legged friends, they’re already covered in a coat of fur (well, our Chinese Crested buddies are excluded from this!), so don’t feel the cold quite the same way us humans do.
It’s often hard to know the difference between shivering (due to the cold) or trembling (for other reasons).
We look at some of the causes for dogs trembling and what you can do if your dog won’t stop shaking.