Understanding Why Dogs Shake: Causes and What to Watch For
Dogs are expressive creatures. When they shake—whether it’s a full-body tremble or a quick shiver—it can mean anything from pure joy to a sign of distress. Let’s explore the many reasons behind this behavior and how you can tell when it’s time to worry.
Normal Reasons Dogs Shake
Not every shake is a cause for concern. In fact, many are just part of being a dog:
- Excitement: Greeting you at the door, anticipating dinner, or gearing up for play can all trigger a wiggly, shaking dog. You might also notice tail wagging, bright eyes, or playful bounces accompanying the shakes.
- Anxiety or Fear: Thunderstorms, fireworks, vet visits, or even brief separations can make dogs tremble. Signs like panting, tucked tails, wide or squinty eyes, and hiding often go hand-in-hand with shaking.
- Cold: Shivering helps dogs warm up when temperatures drop. Small breeds, thin-coated dogs, puppies, and seniors are especially prone to cold-induced trembling. Offering warmth and limiting exposure to chilly environments usually helps.
- Drying Off: After a bath or romp in the rain, dogs perform that classic vigorous shake—an instinctive move that can fling off up to 70% of water in seconds. It’s efficient and hardwired into their nervous system.
- Releasing Tension: Sometimes after napping or stressful events (like meeting new people), dogs will give themselves a good shake as if pressing a reset button on their mood and muscles.
Medical Causes of Shaking
While many shakes are harmless, some signal health issues that need your attention:
- Pain or Discomfort: Arthritis, muscle strains, back problems, sprains, ear infections (especially in floppy-eared breeds), dental disease, skin infections—or recovering from surgery—can all make a dog tremble.
- Nausea: Dogs may shiver when they feel sick. Look for drooling, lip licking, excessive swallowing, hiding away from people or activity, yawning repeatedly, listlessness—or vomiting. Causes range from motion sickness and overeating to kidney/liver disease or ingesting something toxic.
- Infections & Diseases: Conditions like canine distemper (especially in unvaccinated puppies), rabies and other viral/bacterial illnesses may cause shaking along with fever, coughing or appetite loss.
- Poisons & Toxins: Chocolate; xylitol (in sugar-free gum); certain plants; rodenticides; snail baits; nicotine; coffee; macadamia nuts—and some medications—can all trigger tremors. If you suspect poisoning (with signs like vomiting/diarrhea/seizures/confusion), seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
- Seizures/Epilepsy: Seizures might look like violent shaking/twitching/collapsing/stiffness/foaming at the mouth. These episodes often require lifelong medication management.
- Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS): Also called shaker syndrome—most common in small breeds but possible in any dog—starts between nine months and two years old. The cause isn’t fully understood but is likely immune-related; corticosteroids often help.
- Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low calcium (hypocalcemia), Addison’s disease and kidney failure can all cause shaking—especially in puppies/small breeds.
- Aging: Senior dogs sometimes develop tremors due to muscle weakness or neurological changes (including canine cognitive dysfunction).
- Tired Muscles/Fatigue: Localized shaking after exercise may simply mean tiredness—more common in older dogs or those unused to strenuous activity.
Puppy-Specific Shaking
Puppies might shake due to certain developmental brain/nerve conditions such as cerebellar hypoplasia or hypomyelination (shaking puppy syndrome). These disorders usually show up as trouble walking/balancing/coordinating movements rather than just trembling alone.
The Wet Dog Shake: Nature’s Dryer
This iconic move isn’t just adorable—it’s efficient! Triggered by specialized skin receptors and neural pathways involving the spinal cord and brainstem, the wet dog shake helps animals dry off quickly with minimal effort—a marvel of evolution you’ll see across many furry mammals.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Is Shaking?
- If you know your pup is cold/anxious/excited/wet: Remove the trigger if possible; provide warmth; offer reassurance with gentle touch; keep routines predictable; use toys/treats for distraction.
- If shaking is new/worsening/persistent—or comes with collapse/vomiting/diarrhea/confusion/breathing trouble/seizures: See your veterinarian right away.
If you’re unsure why your dog is shaking—or if it happens alongside other symptoms—don’t wait: professional evaluation is always safest.
The Takeaway
- A little shake could be harmless fun—or something more serious.
- If you spot other worrying signs (or the cause isn’t clear), consulting your vet ensures your furry friend stays healthy and happy.
