Why Is My Dog Shaking and Trembling?

Dogs shake and tremble for many reasons — from cold and excitement to pain, toxin ingestion, and neurological conditions. The key is distinguishing normal situational shaking from trembling that signals something serious.

## Most Common Causes of Shaking in Dogs

Cold or Wet
Small breeds and short-coated dogs lose body heat quickly. Shivering is a normal thermogenic response. Warm your dog and the shaking should stop within minutes.

Excitement or Anxiety
Many dogs tremble when excited, fearful, or anxious — during thunderstorms, fireworks, or vet visits. This is behavioural and resolves when the trigger is removed.

Pain
A dog in pain often trembles or tenses the muscles around the affected area. Back pain (intervertebral disc disease) and abdominal pain commonly cause shaking. Look for other signs: whimpering when touched, hunching, reluctance to move.

Toxin Ingestion
Xylitol (sugar-free gum), chocolate, macadamia nuts, and many medications cause muscle tremors. Trembling that starts suddenly after the dog may have eaten something unknown is a medical emergency.

Hypoglycaemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Common in small breed puppies and diabetic dogs on insulin. Trembling is accompanied by weakness, confusion, and in severe cases seizure-like activity.

Generalised Tremor Syndrome (White Shaker Disease)
More common in small white-coated breeds (Maltese, West Highland Terrier). Whole-body tremors that respond well to corticosteroid treatment.

Kidney Disease or Addison's Disease
Systemic illness can cause generalised weakness and trembling. If accompanied by vomiting, lethargy, or increased thirst, these are serious suspects.

Old Age Muscle Tremors
Mild tremors in the hind legs of elderly dogs are often due to muscle weakness or early arthritis rather than a serious neurological event.

## What to Do at Home

If your dog is cold, warm them gently. If excited, remove the trigger and allow them to settle. If the shaking is new, unexplained, and persists beyond a few minutes — especially alongside other symptoms — contact your vet.

Track when the shaking occurs, how long it lasts, and what your dog was doing beforehand using the Flovvi app. This pattern data is invaluable for your vet.