How cold does it have to be for a dog to shiver? Surprising Answer

They’ve Eaten Something They Shouldn’t Have

Shaking in your pet can also be a sign that they’ve ingested a toxin or a poison. If your dog is shaking and has other symptoms like lethargy and vomiting, you should consider this a medical emergency and head to your vet immediately. If you have a good guess as to what your dog may have ingested, be sure to bring it with you to the vet so they can treat your pup accordingly.

If your dog shakes frequently and there are no obvious outside factors making them cold or stressed, your pup may have an underlying medical condition. There are several medical conditions that can cause shaking, some of which are quite serious and require immediate vet attention. Billings Animal Family Hospital lists several major ones, including:

Low Blood Sugar, which is often found in smaller breeds and in dogs who are diabetic.

Low Calcium Levels, which is usually found in nursing dogs who have their calcium stores sent to their milk, which leaves the rest of their body depleted. If you have a nursing dog who also shows signs of panting, stiffness, and neglect of her puppies, you should consider this a medical emergency and head to a vet ER immediately.

Addison’s Syndrome, which is a disease that impacts a dog’s adrenal glands. Dogs with Addison’s disease have less cortisol in their blood and also may have abnormal levels of electrolytes in their system. These imbalances can cause shaking as well as other symptoms, like lethargy, diarrhea, and trouble gaining weight.

Seizures, which can happen if your dog has low blood sugar. Extreme seizures are also accompanied by chopping of the teeth, urination, or defecation. If you dog has what you believe to be a seizure, you should make a vet appointment immediately.

Ask a vet about it 24/7 — for free.

Should I be worried if my dog is shaking?

Because shaking can be a sign of a severe medical problem if your dog is shaking for extended periods of time or combined with other concerning symptoms contact your vet immediately. Contact us if you are concerned with your pet’s symptoms.

Generalized Tremor Syndrome

Some small dogs “just tremble.” Anyone who’s been around a few Chihuahuas or Miniature Pinschers will agree that many of these little dogs tremble a lot. Experts haven’t been able to nail down exactly why, but it could be that small dogs are cold more often, they’re more anxious, or another unknown reason.

Be concerned if the trembling is a new behavior or if it accompanies other changes in your dog’s behavior. If your small dog trembles a lot, especially if it worsens with stress or hinders normal activity, ask your vet about it.

Your vet can assess muscle tone and check for other reasons your dog might be trembling. She may diagnose your dog with Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS), which can be treated with corticosteroids.

6 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Shaking or Shivering