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
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.
Muscle weakness, fatigue and old age
If your dog is shaking in a particular area, especially in their legs, it could be a sign of muscle weakness or fatigue. If your dog has been out for a long walk or run, it could be that they’re not used to that amount of exercise and giving them time to rest should help. If your dog’s legs regularly shake, your vet may be able to suggest how to build up the strength in their legs. Leg shaking is particularly common in older dogs and may be a sign of muscle weakness, but can also be a sign that your dog is in pain, or suffers from arthritis or joint ache.
If your dog is repeatedly shaking their head, it may be a sign of an ear problem. It could be that they have an injury, that there is something inside their ear (such as a grass seed), ear mites or they may have an ear infection. Ear infections are common in dogs, particularly those with long ears. Find out more about ear infections.
This condition was first noticed in small, white dogs, but can occur in any dog, regardless of the size, breed or colour. The cause of GTS, also known as steroid responsive tremor or shaker syndrome, is not known, but is believed to be autoimmune in origin. Signs usually appear between 9 months and 2 years and may be local to one part of the body or can be seen all over.
If your puppy is shaking you should always speak to your vet for advice. A number of conditions can cause puppies to shake, including:
6 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Shaking or Shivering
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.
Unfortunately, this often means we are left scratching our heads, wondering what our dogs are trying to tell us. Shaking is one of these potentially confusing behaviors.
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.
Dry dogs shake, too. If your dog gives a whole-body shake for no obvious reason, like a bath or a good roll in the dirt, it could be stress related. Shaking is a classic symptom of stress in dogs. When your dog shakes after hopping off an examination table at the veterinarian’s office or following an encounter with a stranger, he is trying to relieve tension.
Shivering and trembling are also used interchangeably with shaking to describe upset pups. Certain toy and small terrier breeds shiver more than others. This kind of shivering can be a sign of pain. When your dog is nauseous, she may also shake. If your dog has started to shake, and you don’t know why, contact your veterinarian to make sure there isn’t a more serious issue to contend with.
All dog breeds get ear infections. Owners of breeds that are more prone to ear infections, however, such as Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers, should watch out for excessive head shaking. If your dog had a recent bath or a swim and is shaking his head, it’s quite possible that he’s suffering from an ear infection. This shaking can lead to more problems, for example an ear hematoma (when blood accumulates in the flap of the ear). Owners should always dry their dogs’ ears thoroughly after they’ve been in water. If your dog is shaking his head more than normal, gently check your canine companion’s ears to see if they appear red, inflamed, or dirty or have a funky smell and call the veterinarian.
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.
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.
Canine distemper is a virus that may cause shaking and trembling in dogs. Unvaccinated dogs and puppies are most at risk. The virus must run its course and is very contagious, so the infected dog should be separated from other dogs. The veterinarian will treat the symptoms, may prescribe antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, and will suggest keeping the dog hydrated to prevent dehydration.
After an outing and a quick swim on a chilly day, my 13-year-old dog shook for several hours. The veterinarian said this was probably because my old dog’s body was no longer able to regulate his temperature effectively. Warming him up with blankets stopped the shaking. Senior dogs sometimes also develop tremors in their legs, especially the hind ones, as they lose muscle mass.
GTS is also called corticosteroid responsive tremor syndrome or white dog shaker syndrome. Although this condition that manifests as full-body shaking was first noticed in small white dogs, it has been seen in all colors and sizes of dogs. The cause of this syndrome is unknown. The veterinarian usually prescribes corticosteroids like prednisone.
If we see our dog violently shaking, we may fear he’s having a seizure. “Seizures can appear as uncontrollable shaking for several minutes, but they also manifest in other ways – muscle contractions, jerking movements, collapse, and brief loss of consciousness,” says Dr. Klein. If you suspect your dog had a seizure, always notify the vet. There are a variety of causes, the most common of which is idiopathic epilepsy, which is usually treated with anticonvulsant medication.
Every time I open the door to the backyard and tell my dog to “wait,” she trembles in anticipation of running outside. When she sits at the front door and watches for my daughter she trembles. And when we’re out walking and she sees my neighbors, she trembles until I tell her to “go say hi.” Sometimes, shaking can simply be a sign of happy excitement in a dog and will resolve when she is given access to the object of that excitement.
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