Why Is My Dog Shaking? Causes and When It's an Emergency

Normal Reasons Dogs Shake

• Being wet: the whole-body shake after a bath or swim removes water quickly.^1,21
• Cold: a dog that is cold or wet may shiver until warm and dry, and older dogs can have more trouble keeping warm.¹
• Excitement: some dogs tremble with anticipation, for example before a walk, and stop once they get what they're waiting for.¹
• Dreaming: brief twitches during sleep are normal. A dreaming dog wakes easily; a dog having a seizure is often stiff and can't be woken.²

Some toy breeds and small terriers seem to shiver more than other dogs.¹

Medical and Emotional Causes

Fear, anxiety and stress

Stress commonly causes shaking, for example at the vet or around strangers, thunder or fireworks. Frightened dogs may also pant, pace or hide.^1,18 Don't punish a frightened dog. Offer a quiet, safe space, and ask your vet about help for severe fear.¹⁸

Pain

Trembling, especially in the back legs, can be a sign of pain, along with panting at rest, a hunched back, reluctance to move or a poor appetite.^3,22 Neck and back problems such as a slipped disc can cause pain, stiffness and muscle spasms, particularly in breeds like Dachshunds. A dog that suddenly can't walk normally needs a vet right away.²³

Nausea

Dogs that feel sick to their stomach may shake.¹ See dog throwing up yellow.

Poisoning

• Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters and other products, causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar, often within 10 to 60 minutes, though some gums can delay signs for up to 12 to 18 hours. Even small amounts can be dangerous for a small dog.^7,24
• Chocolate causes restlessness, then tremors and sometimes seizures, usually starting 6 to 12 hours after it's eaten. Cocoa powder, baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the most dangerous; white chocolate contains very little of the toxic compounds.⁸
• Moldy food and compost can contain toxins that cause tremors and seizures, within 1 to 2 hours or sometimes several.^9,25
• Snail and slug bait can cause severe tremors and a dangerously high temperature within 30 minutes to 6 hours.¹⁰
• Cannabis, especially edibles, can cause wobbliness, tremors and urine dribbling, usually within 1 to 2 hours (up to 4 on an empty stomach).¹¹

Some flea and tick spot-ons made for dogs can be deadly to cats, causing tremors and seizures. Never use a dog product on a cat, and keep cats away from a freshly treated dog.²⁶

Low blood sugar

Toy-breed puppies that miss meals, diabetic dogs given too much of their diabetes medication, and dogs that eat xylitol can develop low blood sugar, causing weakness, trembling, confusion and seizures.^5,27,12 This is an emergency. If your vet has advised it and your dog is conscious, rub a little corn syrup on the gums on the way to the vet. Never pour liquid into the mouth of a weak dog.¹²

Fever and illness

Shivering can be a sign of fever. A dog's normal temperature is about 101 to 102.5°F, a temperature over 103°F with lethargy or shivering needs a vet promptly, and over 105°F is an emergency.¹⁴ Shaking can also occur with Addison's disease, advanced kidney failure and distemper.^28,29,30 See Addison's disease in dogs and kidney disease in dogs.

Shaker syndrome

Generalized tremor syndrome, also called shaker syndrome or steroid-responsive tremor syndrome, causes whole-body tremors in young adult dogs, usually starting at 1 to 2 years old. It was first described in small white breeds, but any dog can be affected. The tremors get worse with excitement and ease with rest. It usually improves within 1 to 2 weeks of treatment, and the outlook is usually excellent, though some dogs relapse.^31,32,19

Older dogs

Senior dogs may develop trembling in the back legs as they lose muscle, but pain and illness should be ruled out first.^1,3

Shaking or a Seizure?

• Tremors: your dog stays awake, alert and responsive to you.⁴
• Seizures: during a generalized seizure, a dog usually loses consciousness, falls, paddles its legs, and may drool, urinate or defecate. Seizures usually last 1 to 2 minutes and are often followed by confusion.⁶

If you can, film the episode safely for your vet. Never put your hand in a seizing dog's mouth; dogs don't swallow their tongues.^6,2 See seizures in dogs.

Shaking and Panting

Shaking with panting is often caused by fear or pain, but it can also mean heatstroke or poisoning.^18,3,13,10 If your dog may have overheated, move them somewhere cool, pour cool (not cold) water over the head, belly, armpits and feet, don't cover them with wet towels or use ice, and go to a vet straight away.¹³ See dog panting.

What to Do

• If your dog is cold or wet, dry them and keep them warm.¹
• If your dog is frightened, move them somewhere quiet and stay calm.¹⁸
• If your dog might have eaten something toxic, call your vet or a poison hotline right away.¹⁵
• Note when the shaking started, how long it lasts and anything else you notice, and take a video.^2,6
• Don't give human medicines.¹⁴
• Call your vet about any shaking you can't explain, or shaking that keeps coming back.¹

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my dog shaking and acting weird all of a sudden?

Sudden shaking with odd behavior can mean pain, fear, poisoning, low blood sugar or a seizure. If you think your dog may have eaten something toxic, or they collapse, overheat or have a seizure, go to an emergency vet now. Otherwise, call your vet if it doesn't settle quickly.

Should I be worried if my dog is trembling?

Not if it's from cold or excitement and stops quickly. Worry if it's unexplained, keeps happening, or comes with other signs.

Why is my dog shaking and panting?

Often fear or pain, but heatstroke and poisoning are also possible. If your dog may have overheated or eaten something toxic, go to a vet straight away; otherwise see a vet if it doesn't stop soon.

Is it normal for a dog to shake in its sleep?

Brief twitches while dreaming are normal. A dog that is stiff and can't be woken may be having a seizure.

Do dogs shiver when they're sick?

Yes. Fever, nausea and pain can all cause shivering.

How can I calm a trembling dog?

Offer a quiet, safe space and stay calm. Don't punish fear. Ask your vet if anxiety is frequent or severe.