Why Is My Dog Shaking So Much? Discover Common Causes and Solutions

Dogs shake from cold, fear, excitement, pain, or illness. See a vet if it is persistent.

Common reasons

• Cold.
• Fear or anxiety.
• Excitement.
• Pain.
• Nausea.
• Poisoning.
• Generalized tremor syndrome (white dog shaker syndrome).
• Old age and weakness.

Normal

Shaking after a bath or on waking.

See a vet

If it is persistent, with vomiting or lethargy, or you suspect poisoning.

Dog shaking by body part and trigger

Shaking that involves the whole body, such as a wet-dog shake, is a normal reflex that clears water, dirt or stress. Trembling that continues without a clear trigger is different. Generalized tremor syndrome, once called “white shaker dog syndrome,” can affect dogs of any coat color and usually appears in young to middle-aged dogs. It is treated with corticosteroids and often responds within days to weeks.

• Shaking with panting, pacing or hiding often points to fear, pain or anxiety, for example during thunderstorms or fireworks.
• Shaking after eating chocolate, xylitol, grapes, mushrooms or rodent poison is an emergency. Toxins such as methylxanthines in chocolate can cause tremors within 1 to 4 hours.
• Shaking of the hind legs when standing, especially in older dogs, can be a sign of muscle weakness or arthritis pain.
• Small breeds such as Chihuahuas lose heat quickly and shiver below roughly 45 F (7 C) without a coat.

What a vet may check

A vet usually examines pain points, temperature, heart rate and neurologic reflexes. Blood tests can look for low blood sugar, low calcium, kidney disease and electrolyte imbalance, all of which can cause tremors. Puppies of toy breeds can develop hypoglycemia within hours of missed meals, which shows as trembling and weakness and needs prompt treatment. Seizures differ from tremors because the dog is usually unaware and unresponsive during a seizure, while a dog with a tremor stays alert.

Shaking by trigger

Dogs shake from cold, excitement, fear, pain, nausea, old age muscle weakness, or conditions like generalized tremor syndrome, which affects small white dogs such as Maltese and West Highland White Terriers. Poisoning from chocolate, xylitol or some pesticides can cause tremors and is an emergency.

Vet check

Call the vet for continued tremors, with vomiting, collapse or stiffness. A vet may do blood tests, neurologic examination and imaging. Treatment of generalized tremor syndrome often uses corticosteroids. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is (888) 426-4435.

Based on data from the American Kennel Club and the ASPCA