Pet owners often feel alarmed by their dog’s sudden shaking. Dogs that start shaking and behaving strangely might indicate underlying health or environmental problems. These animals can demonstrate anxiety and stress through shaking or unusual behavior. Several dog breeds naturally tend to shiver more than others, which creates confusion among their owners about this trembling behavior.
Multiple factors contribute to a dog’s shaking and trembling episodes. The tremors may signal pain or discomfort from physical injuries, arthritis, or internal conditions like pancreatitis. Small breed dogs particularly experience weakness, confusion, and shaking due to low blood sugar levels. The situation becomes more serious with poisoning cases that cause tremors, weakness, and disorientation among other symptoms. Unvaccinated dogs face additional risks from canine distemper, a highly contagious virus that triggers trembling. A proper understanding of your dog’s shaking, panting, or unusual behavior is vital to ensure their health and safety.
Common Behavioral Reasons Dogs Shake
Dogs shake their bodies for many behavioral reasons that come from their emotional state. This type of shaking is different from medical shaking because it stops once the trigger goes away. Pet owners who understand these common triggers can better tell if their dog’s shaking comes from behavior rather than illness.
Excitement or overstimulation
Dogs often tremble with excitement during happy moments. Their bodies naturally react this way when they feel overwhelmed by what’s happening around them and need to release extra energy. Young pups show this behavior a lot when they play with their owners, spot something exciting on walks, or see family members come home.
Your dog might get overwhelmed by too many sounds, lights, and smells at once, which leads to shaking. Noisy places, crowds, or certain interactions can make it hard for dogs to stay calm.
Your dog’s shaking probably comes from excitement if you notice:
- Trembling before something fun (like going outside)
- Shaking that ends once they get what they want
- Happy body language even while trembling
On top of that, it’s common to see dogs become restless and shake when they’re overstimulated, especially in busy environments. These reactions usually stop on their own once your dog calms down or gets used to what’s happening.
Fear, stress, or anxiety triggers
Dogs feel anxiety just like we do—it’s normal and healthy, though each breed shows it differently. Scared dogs release adrenaline that gets their bodies ready to fight or run away, which often makes them shake.
Things that make dogs anxious include loud noises (like thunderstorms and fireworks), new people or animals, strange places, vet visits, and even walking on different surfaces like grass or wood floors. Some dogs might only react briefly to these things, but anxious dogs tend to feel much more upset by them.
Stressed dogs show other signs too. Their pupils get bigger, their hearts beat faster, they pant more, stay extra alert, and might drool a lot. You might see them hide behind things or people, lick their lips more than usual, yawn when they’re not tired, or have trouble controlling themselves.
Separation anxiety and routine changes
About 14% of dogs have separation anxiety, which means they can’t relax when left alone or away from their family. These dogs often shake and tremble, especially right before their owners leave.
Dogs with separation anxiety usually become clingy, less active, and lose their appetite while shaking. They might also destroy things around the house, bark too much, and have accidents inside.
Big changes in daily life can make dogs more sensitive because they feel less secure. Moving to a new home, welcoming new family members, or changing work schedules might cause anxiety-related shaking. Older dogs struggle more with these changes and tend to develop separation anxiety more easily.
A regular daily schedule helps dogs with separation anxiety because they know what to expect. Teaching them slowly not to worry about leaving signals (like grabbing keys or putting on shoes) can help reduce the trembling they show before you go.
Environmental and Physical Triggers
Dogs shake for many reasons beyond just behavior. Physical and environmental triggers play a big role too. These outside factors range from simple temperature changes to normal body processes that make dogs suddenly start trembling.
Cold weather or wet coat
Dogs shake to create body heat through muscle movement, just like humans shiver when they’re cold. Their bodies do this automatically to stay warm and prevent hypothermia. Small breeds like Chihuahuas and thin-coated dogs such as Dobermans get cold faster because they don’t have much body mass or fur to keep them warm.
A dog that starts shaking out of nowhere is probably just cold. You’ll know this is true if they stop trembling once they get somewhere warmer. Dogs with short fur or lean builds tend to shiver more during winter months.
Dogs of all breeds shake hard after getting wet. This quick drying trick lets them throw off up to 70% of water from their fur in seconds. Their muscles and skin contract fast to shake off moisture and get blood flowing, which helps them stay warm.
To help a cold or wet dog:
- Give them a warm blanket or bed near a heating vent
- Think about getting dog sweaters or coats for cold-weather walks
- Keep them away from really cold temperatures, especially if they’re a sensitive breed
- Make sure they’re completely dry after baths or walks in the rain
Shaking after sleep or dreaming
Dogs sleep in cycles like we do. They experience light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Their brains get really active during REM sleep and that’s when they dream. Dogs that are dreaming might twitch, shake, and even make soft noises.
Baby dogs and older ones move around more in their sleep. Puppies do this because their nervous systems are developing, while older dogs might shake because of age-related changes. The size and energy level of the breed matters too – smaller, high-energy dogs are more likely to move around while dreaming than bigger breeds.
A shaking dog during sleep usually means they’re having a vivid dream. But if they keep shaking and can’t get comfortable, they might be in pain instead of dreaming.
Attention-seeking behavior
Dogs are fluent in figuring out what makes their owners pay attention to them. They learn through trial and error that shaking can be a great way to get noticed. A dog that learns trembling gets them comfort, treats, or just attention might start using this trick more often.
Dr. Denenberg says dogs try different things and learn which actions work best to get human attention. To cite an instance, see how a dog quickly learns that shaking gets them comfort or treats from their owner.
Then dogs might think over shaking as a way to control their environment and get what they want from their owners. This planned behavior shows up more in dogs that got sympathy or treats when they trembled before.
To deal with attention-seeking shaking:
- Don’t rush to comfort a shaking dog (unless you suspect health issues)
- Keep your responses the same each time
- Give treats for calm behavior instead of attention-seeking
- Make sure they get enough exercise and mental challenges
Note that telling the difference between attention-seeking and real anxiety isn’t easy. Anxiety-related shaking doesn’t stop even after getting attention and usually has specific triggers.
Medical Conditions That Cause Shaking
Dogs shake for many reasons beyond simple behavioral responses. Their trembling becomes more concerning when medical problems emerge. Several health conditions make dogs tremble – from mild discomfort to serious neurological issues that need immediate veterinary care.
Pain or injury
Dogs shake when they feel pain, though owners might not notice the actual injury. Their trembling often stems from internal discomfort caused by conditions like pancreatitis, kidney stones, or abdominal trauma. Dogs with spine or joint injuries might shake among other symptoms. A dog experiencing pain typically shows other signs. These include limping, whining, avoiding touch, or changes in their normal posture.
Arthritis and age-related tremors
Older dogs often develop tremors in their hind legs because their muscles weaken. These tremors don’t usually affect how they move or walk. Arthritis affects many senior dogs and causes joint inflammation. The cartilage breaks down and creates pain that makes them tremble. Senior dogs have trouble regulating their temperature and shake longer after getting cold.
Fever or infection
The body’s fight against illness makes dogs shake as they try to control their temperature. Their normal temperature ranges from 100-102.5°F, but fever can spike it to 103-106°F. Dogs with fever show other symptoms too. Look for lethargy, warm ears, dry nose, poor appetite, coughing, or vomiting. Young or unvaccinated dogs with serious infections like parvovirus, leptospirosis, or bacterial gastroenteritis might vomit and tremble.
Neurological disorders like seizures
Seizures differ from normal shaking – they’re sudden neurological events causing involuntary muscle movements. Dogs might collapse, jerk, contract muscles, and briefly lose consciousness during seizures. You might notice drooling, stiffness, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Seizures happen in three phases: pre-ictal (behavior changes), ictal (actual seizure), and post-ictal (confusion, disorientation). Dogs don’t feel pain during seizures despite how dramatic they look.
Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS)
GTS makes dogs shake all over, and stress or excitement makes it worse. People used to call it “white shaker dog syndrome” or “steroid-responsive tremor syndrome.” Small white dogs like Maltese and West Highland White Terriers showed it first, but now we know dogs of any size, breed, or color can get it. Symptoms usually start between 9 months and 2 years. The cerebellum shows mild inflammation, and neurotransmitters might be unbalanced. Corticosteroids like prednisone help treat it, and dogs often improve within a week. Most dogs recover fully with long-term low doses of prednisone.
Toxic and Emergency Causes
Dogs can experience severe shaking from life-threatening conditions that need quick medical care. This isn’t like the mild trembling from fear or anxiety – shaking from toxic exposure or medical emergencies just needs immediate veterinary attention to prevent death or serious complications.
Poisoning from household items
Dogs often get into toxic substances around homes and yards. Common dangers include chocolate, cigarettes, and xylitol (found in sugar-free gum and many baked goods). A small amount of xylitol can make dogs shake badly and cause dangerous drops in blood sugar.
These poisoning signs show up within minutes to hours based on the toxin:
- Muscle tremors or seizures
- Weakness and disorientation
- Drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Breathing problems or collapse
Household cleaners, rat poisons, snail baits, and antifreeze can be deadly. Slug pellets with metaldehyde are among the most dangerous toxins – dogs can quickly go from twitching to violent convulsions and possible breathing failure. Pesticides and some flea/tick products can also cause full-body tremors that need emergency treatment.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Blood glucose levels below 3.3 mmol/L (60 mg/dL) cause hypoglycemia, but signs usually appear when levels drop under 2.2-2.8 mmol/L (40-50 mg/dL). Small breeds, puppies, and hunting dogs face higher risks because they have limited energy stores.
Hypoglycemia signs can range from mild changes to life-threatening emergencies. Dogs might seem weak, confused, or unsteady at first. Their shaking gets worse as blood sugar drops, and they might have seizures or collapse. The brain just needs lots of glucose to work properly, so low energy levels can cause lasting nerve damage.
Canine distemper and other infections
Unvaccinated dogs can catch canine distemper virus (CDV), which spreads through breathing in respiratory droplets. The virus attacks immune cells first before moving through breathing, digestive, and nerve systems.
The first signs look like a mild cold – watery eyes and nose, fever, coughing, and tiredness. As the infection gets worse, dogs start twitching, shaking, and having “chewing gum fits” where their jaw muscles spasm on their own. About half of infected dogs die, and survivors often have permanent brain damage.
You should contact your vet or emergency animal hospital right away if you notice shaking with signs of poisoning, low blood sugar, or infection. Quick treatment gives your dog the best chance of recovery from these life-threatening conditions.
When to Call the Vet
Your dog’s life could depend on knowing the difference between normal shaking and signs of serious health issues. Some combinations of symptoms with trembling need immediate vet care.
Shaking with vomiting or diarrhea
Trembling that occurs with digestive problems often signals something more serious than nervousness. Dogs with stomach issues usually have multiple bouts of large-volume diarrhea daily. They might vomit yellowish bile after their stomach empties. These symptoms together could point to poisoning, infection, or organ problems.
Your dog needs immediate vet care if trembling comes with non-stop vomiting, bloody stools, or extreme tiredness. Small dogs can get dehydrated quickly from vomiting, which affects their energy, blood flow, and mineral balance.
Shaking and not eating or drinking
Dogs that shake while refusing food and water need quick vet evaluation. This combination usually points to serious issues like pain, nausea, or system-wide illness. The situation becomes life-threatening within hours if your dog can’t keep water down because dehydration sets in fast.
Persistent or worsening symptoms
Shaking that lasts more than a few minutes or keeps coming back needs vet attention. Vet experts say constant tremors might show pain, nerve problems, or poison exposure that needs professional help. The situation becomes more serious if shaking intensifies over time.
Sudden behavior changes
Quick changes in behavior with shaking often mean your dog is in distress. Look for signs like aggression, confusion, withdrawal, or walking problems. Your friendly dog suddenly turning aggressive or unusually quiet while shaking might indicate pain or nerve issues.
Your dog needs immediate vet care if shaking comes with pale gums, collapse, or confusion. Watch for extra symptoms like heavy panting, drooling, or unusual noises to help your vet find the root cause.
Quick action improves outcomes faster, especially in cases with toxins or infections. A vet visit brings peace of mind and potentially saves your dog’s life if you’re unsure about the shaking.
Summing it all up
Your dog’s shaking patterns need careful observation and a good understanding of their usual behavior. Cold weather or excitement are common triggers that usually resolve quickly. But continuous trembling with other symptoms might point to something more serious.
Pet owners should always trust their gut when their dog shakes unusually. Dogs might tremble for harmless reasons now and then. But if you notice shaking along with vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, or odd behavior changes, you just need to see a vet right away. Small breeds, puppies, and older dogs need extra attention since they’re at higher risk for conditions like hypoglycemia and arthritis.
Quick action makes the most important difference in cases with toxin exposure, infections, or neurological issues. Many serious conditions that cause trembling respond well to early treatment. Waiting too long can lead to complications or lasting damage.
Nobody knows your dog better than you do. Knowing how to spot unusual shaking patterns is vital to protect their health. With the right knowledge and swift action, you can give your trembling friend the care they need – whether it’s just a warm blanket or immediate medical help.
Here are some FAQs about when my dog is shaking and acting weird all of a sudden:
What can I do if my dog is shaking and acting weird all of a sudden?
If your dog is shaking and acting weird suddenly, first ensure they’re in a safe environment away from potential toxins or hazards. Check for other symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea that might explain why your dog is shaking and acting weird. When my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating, I immediately contact my veterinarian as this could indicate serious illness or poisoning requiring prompt attention.
How can you tell if your dog is unwell?
Signs your dog is unwell include behavioral changes like when my dog is acting weird and shaking, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy. Physical symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing accompanying why my dog is shaking and acting weird episodes are clear red flags. Trust your instincts – if my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating normally, it’s time for professional veterinary advice.
How can I soothe my dog shaking?
To comfort my dog is shaking and acting weird, create a quiet space with familiar blankets and minimize environmental stressors. Gentle petting and speaking softly can help when my dog is shaking and acting weird from anxiety or fear. However, if why is my dog shaking and acting weird isn’t clearly stress-related or persists, veterinary consultation is crucial rather than just home soothing methods.
When should I worry about my dog trembling?
Worry about trembling when my dog is shaking and acting weird combines with other concerning symptoms like weakness, confusion, or loss of coordination. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating for more than 12 hours, this warrants urgent veterinary attention. Emergency signs include seizures, difficulty breathing, or exposure to toxins preceding why my dog is shaking and acting weird behavior.
When should I be concerned about my dog acting weird?
Be concerned when my dog is acting weird and shaking represents a dramatic behavioral change lasting over an hour without obvious cause. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not responding normally to their environment or showing disorientation, professional evaluation is needed. Sudden onset of why is my dog shaking and acting weird behavior with no explainable trigger typically requires faster action than gradual changes.
What are the signs of parvo in a dog?
Parvo symptoms include severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and extreme lethargy – which might initially appear as my dog is shaking and acting weird. Unlike temporary anxiety, parvo causes my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating with rapid physical deterioration. If why is my dog shaking and acting weird includes these grave symptoms in an unvaccinated puppy, seek emergency veterinary care immediately as parvo can be fatal.
What to give a dog when they are not feeling well?
When my dog is shaking and acting weird, offer small amounts of water and bland food like boiled chicken if they’ll accept it, but never force feeding. For my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating, consult your vet before giving any medications as many human drugs are dangerous for pets. The solution to why is my dog shaking and acting weird often requires professional diagnosis rather than home remedies.
When should I be worried about my dog?
Worry when my dog is acting weird and shaking combines with symptoms like pale gums, labored breathing, or inability to stand. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating for over 24 hours, this indicates a serious problem needing veterinary intervention. Always trust your judgment – you know your pet’s normal behavior best when evaluating why is my dog shaking and acting weird.
