Shaking or trembling falls into the category of “it depends.”
It’s one of the things when knowing your breed, your dog, and individual circumstances is essential.
For example, my daughter’s Chi shakes even when she gets excited to see somebody. Indeed, some small dogs shake or tremble at the drop of a hat. Yet, small dogs are also highly susceptible to hypothermia and hypoglycemia, both of which can be deadly.
With very few exceptions, shaking or trembling is a sign of an emergency to me.
For example, some severe causes of shaking or trembling include:
- pain
- hypoglycemia
- poisoning
- kidney failure
- inflammatory brain diseases or seizure disorders
- Addisonian crisis
- Distemper
- neurologic disorder
- neuromuscular diseases (e.g. myasthenia gravis)
- liver disease leading to hepatic encephalopathy
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a medical emergency.
It occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can compensate. Typically, hypothermia sets in due to exposure to fridged weather conditions or cold water. However, even a moderately cold environment can lead to hypothermia over time.
As the body temperature drops, it affects the function of the heart, nervous system, and other vital systems. Eventually, the heart and breathing can fail, leading to death.
A dog is suffering from hypothermia when their body temperature drops to 98˚F-99˚F (37°C).
Symptoms of hypothermia include:
- shivering
- stiffness
- difficulty walking
- lethargy
- confusion
- pale gums
Moreover, with severe hypothermia shivering stops, breathing slows, and your dog might collapse.
Exposure to cold isn’t the only potential cause of hypothermia. Other factors that can lead to hypothermia include:
- surgery/anesthesia
- bleeding
- illness
- kidney disease
- heart failure
- diabetes
- certain poisoning
Further information: Dog hypothermia
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels are lower than normal. Critically low levels of sugar in the blood are life-threatening.
In dogs, the most common cause of hypoglycemia is a side effect of diabetes treatment. However, small dogs, especially puppies, are susceptible to low blood sugar. As a result, their bodies cannot store enough glucose to compensate for times of fasting or stress. Combine that with higher metabolic requirements, and you have a recipe for a potential disaster.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- loss of appetite or increased hunger
- disorientation
- weakness
- lethargy
- restlessness
- tremors/shivering
Further information: Low Blood Sugar in Dogs
Fever
Why would fever, abnormally high body temperature, cause chills? The answer is quite simple: the increased contrast between the body’s temperature and the environment.
Consequently, the muscles are contracting and relaxing to produce more body heat, resulting in shivering.
Fever that is high enough is an emergency in itself. But, further, the underlying infection or toxins can be life-threatening as well.
As a result, symptoms of fever in dogs include:
- shivering
- loss of appetite
- lethargy
- depression
These may combine with symptoms of the underlying cause.
Further information: My Dog Has a Fever: Fever (Pyrexia) in Dogs
Poisoning
Do you believe that the only symptoms of poisoning are vomiting and/or diarrhea? You’d be wrong. Depending on the poison, they can have many different symptoms, including trembling.
Several toxins can lead to tremors or shaking, or tremors in dogs. For example:
- compost
- mycotoxins (moldy food or garbage)
- chocolate
- xylitol
- snail bait
- certain rodenticides
- some prescription medications
Other symptoms might include:
- weakness
- disorientation
- depression
- drooling
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- seizures
Further information: Tremors in Dogs: Could My Dog Be Poisoned?
Bottom line, unless I had an excitable Chihuahua if my dog starts shaking or trembling, I’m calling a vet.
Related articles:
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: Shaking/Trembling
Further reading:
Shaking or Trembling Dog: How to Distinguish Medical Emergencies
Shaking, Shivering, and Trembling in Dogs