Why Is My Dog Trembling?

1 Overview

So today we uncover the truth about why dogs tremble.

Cold

In very cold surroundings a dog’s body shivers on its own – an instinct to keep blood flowing and prevent hypothermia. Small breeds shiver more readily than large ones because they’re more sensitive to temperature.

Excitement

People can tremble when excited, and so can dogs.

Behaviorists see it as an outward sign of strong feeling; many hunting dogs tremble after a successful chase. Comfort the dog when this happens – if you keep ignoring it, the dog may show signs of over-excitement.

Stress, anxiety, fear

These three moods are quite different from excitement; don’t confuse them.

First, remove the source – if it fears thunder, keep the sound away; music helps, and holding it goes without saying.

One thing: don’t let the dog’s stress, anxiety, or fear trigger the same in you. Roundabout, yes – but dogs read human facial expressions to sense mood, so never show those emotions while desensitizing it.

Seeking attention

Right – dogs use this to get your attention.

Usually it got your attention the first few times, and that attention reinforced the behavior. To correct it, just ignore the trembling – give it the cold shoulder.

Illness

Trembling has a medical term: muscle tremor.

What illnesses can cause it? Low blood sugar, Addison’s disease, encephalitis, stomach upset, and more can all trigger tremors.

Get it to the vet for a check-up right away.

Age

Old age brings illness, but it deserves its own note.

Many older dogs develop arthritis and joint strain. Common and not life-threatening, but still a torment for the dog.

Even with great care, muscles weaken with age and tremble. So take good care of it now.

Epilepsy

Like us, dogs get epilepsy, but it’s very different from ordinary trembling.

During a seizure the dog also loses consciousness – it trembles while unconscious.

Rush it to the vet.