You might have noticed your dog or pup shaking off water after a bath or a walk in the rain.There are several other reasons for shivering, trembling, and shaking in dogs. A dog shaking, shivering, and trembling can mean a lot of different things.Usual butt-shaking and wagging of the tail is a sign of your dog’s happiness, however, there might be some uncontrolled shivering which can signal the presence of underlying diseases, severe anxiety, or other illnesses. It is adorable how dogs and pups wag their tails when happy, but, if the dog is shaking other parts of the body or the whole body, it might be a reason to worry. It might be a cold or some severe disease, the sign of which only a veterinarian in a veterinary clinic can find. There can be many reasons for this tremble and here we will help you determine the meaning of each of these causes and tremors. We will discuss more on what a dog’s body shake could mean.Stress might be a very good reason for this happening as you will notice a strong full-body shake from a pup. Dogs actually shake their body to get rid of all the built-up tension during stressful experiences. It can happen anytime from a fight with a dog in the nearby park to a visit to see a vet. If this happens, giving the dog some space is the best option. A small dog shakes its body when it feels cold, which happens quite easily. If you see a constant shake or tremble, you can assume it is because the dog is freezing. The most common reason is a dog trying to dry off by shaking. A dog’s shaking and trembling can also be associated with fear, attention-seeking, or some diseases that need urgent treatment.If you enjoy this article, why not also read about why do dogs shake off and why do dogs pant so much here on Kidadl?What causes shakes, shivers and trembles in dogs?There can be many reasons for a dog shaking its body and some reasons can be really worrying.Let’s discuss a few reasons for this phenomenon in dogs. Dogs shaking their body can be associated with drying after a good shower or just after a walk in the rain. You must have noticed your pet shaking off extra water and this is actually to prevent hypothermia as the excess water can stay in the fur and make a dog cold.Dogs also tremble or shiver in excitement in the middle of something fun. It is a way to get rid of the extra energy in their body. Dogs are also known for shaking when they need extra attention. This behavior is due to their intelligence. They know that the moment they start shivering, all the attention will be directed towards them. Clever behavior from our furry friends, isn’t it?Dogs also shiver in fear, stress, and anxiety and the best thing you can do for your pet in these conditions is to leave them alone. Symptoms are easy to find as you will see signs of the pet having tremors. Riding a car, alarms, and signs of the dog visiting a vet in the veterinary clinic can bring about these symptoms and, as a result, the tremors.Cold temperatures might make a dog shiver. This unintentional behavior can be stopped by putting a coat or sweater on a dog. Do this fast as it may cause other diseases. The dog might need medical attention and treatment soon from a veterinarian. If a dog is suffering from some kind of disease, the pain might make the dog tremble with fever or cold. Distemper, generalized tremor syndrome, Addison’s disease, kidney disease, ear diseases, ear infection, poisoning, nausea, inflammatory brain diseases, and seizure disorders can make a dog feel tremors.Generalized tremor syndrome (GTS) is also known by the name of white dog shaker syndrome or responsive tremor syndrome. The size of the dog does not matter and this syndrome has symptoms that cause tremors in young dogs. Kidney disease can cause shivers, but can also make a dog urinate frequently. It is common in dogs of old age. Treatment by a veterinarian and constant medical attention is required for this condition. Pain can cause a lot of discomfort for our friends. Distemper, a viral disease, can cause a lot of pain and tremors in dogs. These illnesses can also cause seizure episodes.There are plenty of toxins and poisons that cause dogs to shiver and have muscle tremors. Muscle tremors in a healthy dog can be caused by anything from poisonous plants, onions, pesticides, and xylitol. Dogs also develop these tremors in their legs in old age. This is actually a sign of growing old in a dog’s life. It can cause a lot of discomfort and pain to the old dog’s life.Why do dogs shake in their sleep and when they get up?Dogs are known to twitch in their sleep and this can be a result of dreaming.Dogs, similar to humans, dream a lot. It is healthy to dream and can bring a lot of excitement to the life of your dog. Sometimes dogs can have nightmares and this might cause brief twitching, paddling, or kicks in their sleep. This is not a cause for concern and does not require a visit to a vet. However, dogs might have seizures in their sleep too. During these episodes, their limbs become stiff and rigid, and their movements will be violent. You should consult your vet as soon as possible for the best course of medication and treatment.How does the dog’s size affect this phenomenon?Tremors can be seen in dogs of all sizes and all ages. It can affect a certain part of the body or even the whole body and mean a visit to a vet is imminent.There is no difference as smaller dogs might shake a lot as well as larger dogs. In excitement or stress, all dogs behave the same way and can shake a lot. Sicknesses have no bias among sizes and are seen affecting many different breeds. In these situations, only a vet can help and medication can be used for treating doggy patients.How do you stop a dog from shaking?There are many ways that you can stop your dog from shaking.Help your dog dry by rubbing its body with a towel so that the cold cannot affect the dog’s fur. This will reduce the shaking quite a bit. If your dog gets too excited, the best thing you can do is teach the dog to become calm. The extra energy will die off automatically and the dog will not need to shake it off. A coat or sweater in the winter can help the dog be warm and reduce shivering. Boots will help the paws too. Other than these, you can make it comfortable for the dog and visit the vet if none of these options work.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Why do dogs shake?’ then why not take a look at ‘Why do dogs hump?’ or ‘What are non-alphanumeric characters?’.
You might have noticed your dog or pup shaking off water after a bath or a walk in the rain.
