There are many reasons that can answer the question Why does my dog tremble, from simple natural reactions to vivid sensations and feelings to mild or serious illnesses. For this reason, it is essential that you pay attention to your dog's behavior, his attitude and his movements to notice any anomaly as soon as possible.
In this article on our site we expose the main causes that can cause tremors in dogs, keep reading and find the one that may be affecting your faithful companion.
Differences between spasms, convulsions and tremors in dogs
Both seizures and spasms and tremors refer to the involuntary contraction of muscles The difference between the three disorders lies in the cause that provokes them and in the state in which the dog is when they occur. In this way, seizures in dogs usually occur as a result of some pathology, such as epilepsy, and occur when the animal is unconscious or semi-conscious. In tremors, on the other hand, the dog is fully conscious and awake and they are associated more with emotional causes than with illnesses. Finally, spasms tend to appear as a reflex mechanism of the body.
Although the three acts differ from each other, they can appear at the same time in certain situations, especially convulsions and tremors, as we will see in the following sections.
Emotional causes of tremors in dogs
Emotional causes are often the main reasons for tremor in dogs. So, if your dog has just had a good behavior or has internalized an order, you have congratulated him for it and immediately afterward he has started to tremble, with total probability it is a natural reaction generated by the state of excitement, joy and enthusiasm you are experiencing. Analyze its posture and general behavior, possibly the tremor is accompanied by energetic movements of its tail and even a slight cry.
If, on the other hand, he has adopted a negative attitude, you have scolded him for it and you have noticed that he shrinks and trembles, it is a response to fearyou feel at that moment. On the other hand, if fear is accompanied by stress or anxiety , tremors are more than guaranteed. In this sense, they can not only occur in response to punishment, but also because they have spent long hours alone, and can be a symptom of separation anxiety, because they have a phobia of very loud sounds and noises, such as an ambulance siren, thunder or fireworks, or other types of phobias. In any of these cases, you should go to the vet to tell you what is the best treatment to follow. Keep in mind that a stressed or anxious dog is an unhappy dog. For this same reason, we do not recommend resorting to punishment, much less violence to indicate to the dog that it has done something wrong. In these cases, it is best to ignore and reinforce good behavior.
Tremors in dogs as a symptom
In addition to the above causes, tremor in dogs can be a symptom of disease or other he alth problems, the most common being following the most common:
- Hypoglycemia In particular, small or miniature breed dogs can experience a low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, due to your body mass. In general, when this is the reason, the tremors are usually accompanied by lack of appetite and decay. If you suspect that this is the cause that causes your dog to tremble so much, do not hesitate to go to the vet to increase his blood glucose levels as soon as possible.
- Arthritis Is your dog's tremor localized? In other words, if, for example, your dog has a tremor in its legs or hips, it is possible that the reason is the appearance of arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. This cause is common in older dogs.
- Distemper If your dog is less than a year old and has tremors accompanied by convulsions, tics in the muscles of the head and legs, fever and loss of appetite, do not wait for the symptoms to worsen and take him to the vet because it could be this serious disease.
- Intoxication or poisoningThere are toxic substances and foods for dogs that can produce tremors in our dog as a result of the same intoxication. In general, this symptom is usually accompanied by vomiting, drooling, listlessness, diarrhoea, etc.
- Excessive exercise Yes, in the same way that in us a poorly performed physical activity or excessive exercise can cause muscle damage or other injuries, in our dog too, resulting in tremor in the affected area. Check our article on the recommended exercise for dogs and find out if the intensity and time you dedicate to it are adequate.
- Consumption of medications If your dog is following any type of pharmacological treatment stipulated by the veterinarian, check the package insert in case one of the side effects of it is the presence of tremors. If so, do not discontinue treatment without veterinary supervision.
Tremors in dogs can also be caused by the pain they feel, either by the development of any of the above conditions or by a traumatismHas your dog recently had a blow or suffered a fall? Another of the most common reasons for tremor in dogs is sharp pain The best way to know if this is the cause is by carefully palpating the tremor areas and observing the reaction of your dog.
If you suspect that the reason that answers the question why your dog trembles is the appearance of some pathology or other physical problem, don't hesitate to go to the vetsooner. Keep in mind that some of the above diseases are fatal or degenerative.
Dog tremors due to cold
In the same way that our bodies shiver in response to low temperatures, dogs do too. Especially small and miniature breed dogs and dogs with very short hair are not prepared to withstand very cold climates and, therefore, when they are exposed to it, their body begins to tremble. It is a natural reflex reaction that we can avoid by acquiring suitable clothing for him.
It is very important to pay attention to this point to prevent our dog from suffering hypothermia.
Shaker syndrome
Also called white dog syndrome, it usually affects small breeds of young age (less than two years old) of the bichon type, poodles or westies, all of them with long white hair. Although the chances are lower, this disorder can also be contracted by any other race.
The main symptom of this condition is tremor throughout the dog's body, caused by inflammation of the cerebellum. This syndrome is associated with the central nervous system but, even today, the exact causes that cause it are unknown. Thus, in addition to tremors, the affected dog may present weakness in the legs and seizures.
Tremors in dogs due to breed or age
Finally, there are breeds with a tendency to tremor Both the chihuahua and the yorkshire terrier are prone to tremors for almost any reason, such as enthusiasm for a congratulations, happiness to go for a walk or, simply, to spend time with you.
On the other hand, age matters Older dogs can tremble as a result of aging and physical deterioration. If they do not have any disease, the tremors will usually occur while sleeping or resting, not while moving. When the can trembles without being at rest and, in addition, the tremor is localized, remember section 3: it is possible that he suffers from arthritis or another inflammatory disease.
Whenever the reason could negatively affect your dog's he alth, you should go to the vet as soon as possible to determine the real cause that explains why your dog trembles and start the best treatment.
My dog shakes and vomits, what's wrong?
Vomiting and tremors in dogs are usually associated with he alth problems such as distemper, intoxication or poisoning Both in intoxication and in poisoning the vomits are usually white foam, so if your dog shows this symptom do not hesitate to visit the vet immediately.
On the other hand, the consumption of medications can also cause these symptoms if the dog is not ingesting any gastric protector. Likewise, eating spoiled food or eating too quickly can cause the dog to not digest the food well, its stomach hurts, it trembles from that pain and vomits to expel the contents of the stomach.
Why does my dog shake when he sleeps?
Normally, dogs shake when they sleep because they are dreaming Yes, dogs dream too because they experience REM during sleep, just like we do. It is not necessary to wake him up unless you consider that the dog is not dreaming something positive and you prefer to prevent him from continuing to "suffer".
On the other hand, shaking while sleeping can also be indicative of pain, especially when the tremor is localized. In this sense, elderly dogs with degenerative diseases such as arthritis often tremble even when sleeping.
