12 Reasons Why a Dog’s Front Leg Shakes
The 12 common causes of a shaking front leg include:
If your dog’s front leg is hurting from a new or old injury then it’s more than possible this is the cause of the shaking.
In addition to injury, it could be a more serious issue causing the pain in the front leg. Health issues like arthritis, bone fractures, tumors, or even a joint infection can all cause significant pain.
You may witness your dog licking, chewing, limping or protecting the affected front leg.
Canine anxiety is more common than we think, and it can affect our dog’s body’s in many ways.
Typical reactions in dogs dealing with anxiety include:
If your dog is suffering from anxiety it can be challenging to find the cause.
Usually we have to first consider routine and overall lifestyle. Is your dog’s daily routine sufficient? Are they receiving enough exercise, stimulation, attention and training?
If anything is lacking in a dog’s routine then anxiety can be triggered easily.
Another very common cause of anxiety in dogs is being left alone every day for too long. Busy work schedules may result in our dog’s being left home alone for several hours at a time… If this is the case for your dog then it’s important to consider how it’s affecting them.
As the cold winter months set in, puppies and many small dog breeds become suspecitble to hypothermia.
If your dog’s body temperature drops, shivering will be one of the first reactions in order to generate internal heat.
Of course, not all instances of “feeling cold” means a dog is suffering from hypothermia. But if you witness addition symptoms like weakness, an inability to move or very slow breathing then call you veterinarian asap.
If you think your dog is cold then try raising the room temperature, turn the heating on, or provide a warm blanket to lay on.
Addison’s Disease typically affects young and middle-ages female dogs, but can affect all regardless of age and gender.
Addison’s Disease happens when the adrenial glands fail to produce the hormones (aldosterone and cortisol)b that they’re responsible for creating. While the glands produce more hormones than this, these two are the most important.
While this disease can have serious consequences (even fatal) it is usually well-managed so long as it’s diagnosed early on.
Typical symptoms of this disease other than front-leg shaking include:
If you notice any of these symptoms then it’s advised to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. These symptoms are fairly broad and could indicate other health issues too.
Front leg shaking can also be caused when a dog has hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). In addition to muscle tremors and twitching, dogs typically act very tired, lethargic, weak and not themselves.
Diabetic dogs are most vulnerable to this issue. We often see insulin overdoses which will cause the blood sugar to drop dramatically. This can also happen with dogs that have insulin-secreting tumors.
White shaker syndrome is an inherited nervous system disorder that typically affects small white dogs including Shih tzus, Westies, Poodles, and Malteses (although it’s not strictly limited to these breeds).
This disorder typically develops between the age of six months and three years, and the symptoms are “generalized tremors” that worsen with activity or or stress.
The cause of this disease is still completely unknown by experts. However, it’s now been found that steriods can help manage this problem until dogs make a complete recovery.
Salt is extremely important in your dog’s body, and it needs to be at the right level! While this usually isn’t an issue, it can be brought on by excessive vomiting, dehydration, or general salt toxicity.
In addition to shaking/tremors all over the body, it can lead to an upset stomach, dizziness, uncordination, comas, seizures and more.
If you notice any serious symptoms like these, it’s important to call your veterinarian right away.
Muscle tremors can sometimes be caused by central nervous system issues. Bleeding on the brain, infections, seizures, and even brain tumors can all play a part in this.
Of course it’s not easy to know if your dog has a serious issue like this, which is why once again we must always schedule a vet appointment if something doesn’t seem right with your dog.
Any symptoms including:
Why are My Puppy’s Front Legs Shaking While Standing or Sitting?
Here are some common reasons why your puppy’s front legs shake while standing or sitting. The more severe causes like poisoning, seizures, and brain injury require your immediate attention.
Dogs generally like to be in the company of people. They want to play with you, have you give them belly rubs, or simply sit close to you. So when you are away the whole day for work or on deployment overseas, your coming back home is a big event for them.
The mere sight of you walking through the front door can make them extremely happy and excited. And how do dogs show these feelings? By jumping, licking, barking, and shaking. Some dogs may even urinate from excitement.
Puppies tend to be more energetic and excited. It can be a challenge to get a hold of their emotions than full-grown dogs. So when the puppies come to greet you by the door, you might see their front legs shaking while standing.
Puppies getting excited at the sight of their human parents is expected. Even humans jump with joy when meeting their favorite person. The behavior does not explicitly need a treatment. Most puppies may grow out of these traits as they age.
But, if the puppy gets over-excited or you do not want to encourage such behavior, you can train the puppy to calm down. Do not react when the puppy shakes with excitement. When it does not get a reaction from you, it will calm down. And when it does, give the puppy a treat.
If the greeting is a trigger for the puppy, train them to sit at the door before you react. Also, keep the greeting sessions at the door brief.
Dogs tend to remember bad experiences. Anxiety and fear are strong emotions that are associated with such experiences. When they are faced with the trigger, their anxiety kicks in, and they show symptoms like shaking and trembling.
For example, if a puppy has been abused, mistreated, or neglected early on, it will be closed off to new experiences. As a result, its front legs can start shaking out of fear in the presence of new people. Or loud noises like fireworks can make the puppy anxious.
You first need to identify the trigger that causes the puppy to shake. Desensitization to the trigger is the most successful way of easing anxiety or fear.
For example, if meeting new people is a trigger, start introducing the puppy to people one by one. Choose an environment where the puppy feels safe, like your home. Invite one of your friends over.
The presence of a single new person in a comfortable setting will not invoke the same level of anxiety in the puppy. It may even interact with your friend at the end of the day.
You can seek help from professional behaviorists to train your puppy. If behavior modification methods are not effective, your vet may suggest medications. Treatment is necessary; if left unchecked, the disorders can progress.
Have you experienced shivering when the weather outside is too cold? Walking or even standing out in the snow can be teeth-chattering if you are not dressed warmly. The same goes for your puppies.
If the weather is cold outside, or the puppy is wandering in the snowy backyard without any protection, it is bound to shake with cold. Dog breeds with short hair do not tolerate the cold well. They might want to be wrapped in a blanket even indoors.
A few dog breeds that can get cold quickly are Great Dane, Chihuahua, Beagle, French Bulldog, and Greyhound, among others.
If the puppy’s legs shake from the cold, do not let it outside. If you have to go out, ensure it is covered in something warm. A dog’s paws contain a complex network of nerves that keeps it warm, but winter shoes can add an extra layer of protection.
When indoors, keep blankets around the puppy’s bed. Ensure the blanket is not too thick or worn out with threads hanging. Such blankets can turn into a hazard for small puppies. You can explore heated bed options if your puppy gets awfully cold.
Do not let the dog lay on the floor. You can also feed the puppy warm home-cooked foods during winters.
A common cause of shaky legs in puppies is distemper. It is caused by a virus called a paramyxovirus. The condition usually affects puppies that are not fully vaccinated. Once infected, the symptoms may take up to two weeks to show. However, neurological symptoms like muscle twitching may show up months after the infection.
A puppy with distemper can show signs like:
Some neurological signs are:
The virus is highly contagious. Your puppy can get infected after coming into contact with infected urine, blood, saliva, or even respiratory droplets. Most distemper cases are diagnosed during the late fall and winter seasons.
The treatment for this condition is supportive. The vet will prescribe medications to manage the symptoms the puppy is showing. For example, the vet might give the puppy broad-spectrum antibiotics, fever reducers, or IV fluids.
Puppies can recover from distemper, but the condition can turn serious and fatal in some cases. In addition, some puppies may continue to show neurological symptoms later in life, like muscle twitching or seizures, even after recovering.
A puppy can get nauseous for a variety of reasons. It may have scoffed down its food too fast, eaten more than its stomach can handle, or eaten something it should have not, like your facial cream or a plant in the backyard.
Other reasons include motion sickness, exposure to toxins, or even intestinal obstruction.
If the puppy is nauseous, its front legs might shake white standing up or walking. It will feel tired and lethargic and may even refuse to eat.
If you have your eye on the pet’s diet and are sure it has not eaten anything that it should not, then nausea could also indicate kidney or liver disease. If the puppy is showing additional symptoms like vomiting, drooling, or listlessness, do not hesitate to contact your vet.
The solution depends on why your puppy is nauseous. If the symptoms are mild, withholding food for a few hours and giving water can help ease the condition. However, do not try to induce vomiting on your own, as it could worsen the puppy’s situation in some cases.
Giving the puppy easily digestible food like chicken and rice over the next one or two days can give its stomach a chance to heal.
If the cause is motion sickness, limiting the puppy’s food and water intake before the car ride and giving it an anti-nausea medication can help.
If your puppy has ingested any toxins, shaky legs could be a symptom. Food items that are perfectly safe for humans can be toxic for dogs. Thus, it would be best if you avoided sharing human food with your dog.
For example, chocolate does not deserve a place in your puppy’s diet. This is because it contains a chemical known as theobromine. Now, dogs cannot metabolize this chemical as well as humans can.
In mild cases of chocolate poisoning, the puppy could show symptoms like:
In severe cases, the puppy can have muscle tremors and seizures.
Xylitol is a sweetener used in many baked products and desserts. For example, you can find sweeteners in ice cream, pie fillings, and cakes. When a puppy consumes xylitol, it can quickly get absorbed into its bloodstream, resulting in the rapid release of insulin. This can bring down its blood sugar level, and if left untreated, the condition can become life-threatening.
If the puppy has ingested a toxin in the form of chocolates, household cleaning products, or your skincare products, it may require the vet’s immediate attention. The vet might induce vomiting if the toxic was ingested recently.
Supportive treatments in the form of intravenous fluids and medications may be prescribed.
In the case of xylitol poisoning, the puppy will have to be hospitalized so the vet can monitor its blood glucose levels. Again, supportive care will be provided depending on clinical signs.
Puppy Front Leg Shaking When Standing
There are several reasons why your dog’s front leg is shaking when standing. A common reason is that your dog’s bones are growing faster than its tendons. This means its tendons are unable to pull the bones efficiently, resulting in shaking.
Elbow dysplasia and injuries can also lead to uncontrollable shaking in your dog’s front legs when it’s standing. Consult a veterinarian to get a proper checkup for your dog.
How to treat a dogs legs from tremors/shaking/trembling naturally.
The shaking could be a sign of pain in dogs. Large breed dogs are prone to elbow disorders and bone disorders (such as panosteitis), which could potentially causing the shaking. I recommend taking Bruno into your vet for an exam to see if he does potentially have an elbow or bone disorder causing the shaking.