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Reasons a dog might shake
8th February 2023
A dog might shake because they are cold or unwell, or even when they’re happy! With this in mind, how do you determine if your dog’s shaking is cause for concern?
Happy shaking
Firstly, you need to determine how often your dog shakes and whether it’s just part of their personality. They might shake with excitement when you greet them or when they see other dogs they like. If they appear happy, then their shaking is probably nothing to worry about. However, if you are ever worried about your dog’s shaking, even if they appear happy, take them to the vet to get checked out.
Animo – activity and behaviour monitor
Animo can help you to understand your dog’s shaking habits. Animo is an activity and behaviour monitor which will learn your dog’s normal levels of shaking and alert you if there is a significant increase in your dog’s shaking. This is ideal if you are separate from your dog for much of the day and unable to monitor them closely.
If increased levels of shaking are detected, this could be down to an illness so it’s a good idea to get your dog checked out by a vet.
Night-time shakes
If shaking occurs more regularly at night, this could be an indication that your dog is cold, so you might want to invest in a warmer bed or blanket for your dog or move them to a warmer room in the house. As well as monitoring shaking, Animo will also monitor your dog’s sleep quality to help you further determine if there is anything upsetting your dog at night.
White Dog Shaker Syndrome
First recognised in white breeds, shaking could be a sign of White Dog Shaker Syndrome, though the condition can affect all breeds of dog. The main symptom is body tremors, but your dog might also have poor coordination or trouble walking. Take your dog to the vet to confirm if they are suffering from White Dog Shaker Syndrome. Depending on the severity, your dog’s vet might prescribe steroids to treat the condition.
Shaking in small dogs
Some very small dogs will shake much more than larger dogs, sometimes for no known reason. Small dogs are more likely to get cold so make sure that they are kept warm in the colder months. If they are happy to, dress them in a dog coat when you take them out for a walk and make sure your home is warm enough for them.
