Dog Is Shaking : 7 Main Reasons, Signs and How-to-do

“ My dog is shaking and not eating.” “ My dog is shaking and vomiting.” We heard of lots of dog-shaking cases from their worried owner who seeks help online. Actually, it is a common problem if we handle it in a good way. So, in this blog, we summarize the top 7 main reasons of dog-shaking as well as offer easy solutions for each pet family. Photos are included for helping your easy identification. And we also share lots of real experiences to inspire you. Ok, now let’s dive into it.

1. Fear and Anxiety

People in the Chinese countryside are used to playing fireworks during the Spring Festival. This year was no exception. It was the Eve of this New Year in my hometown, and Xiao Huang, a playful golden retriever, had been eagerly awaiting the evening’s festivities. His tail wagged with excitement as his owners prepared for the big family reunion. Little did they know, the upcoming fireworks display would leave Xiao Huang in a state of panic.

As the clock struck midnight, the first firework exploded in the sky. His ears perked up, and his once-relaxed body went stiff. The booms and flashes outside were too much for him. His shaking began—first a slight tremor, then full-body shivers. So his owner, my neighbourhood Peng, took him indoors.

He wasn’t alone—many dogs experience similar fear under loud noises, unfamiliar situations or thunderstorms. And, their common signs are shaking combined with cowering, hiding, or trying to escape.

Peng took him into house and let him against a corner of the kitchen, with two handmade tissue ear plug in his ears. I don’t know whether the tissue earplug is professional, but it is so amusing that I can’t help laughing. (I had to say sorry to Xiao Huang because I laughed during his anxiety.)

In addition to the above funny solution, we can take our dogs to their bed and blankets. In a word, a familiar and quiet place can help reduce anxiety, especially if it’s away from the chaos.

Second, offering a distracting activity can help. Puzzle toys, long-lasting chews, or playing interactive games can keep their mind occupied and divert their attention away from the source of fear.

2. Cold or Low Body Temperature

“A dog’s shaking caused by low body temperature is usually a reaction to cold weather or prolonged exposure to cold environments.” The dog uses this kind of shivering as a natural means of producing warmth. Dr. Lisa Freeman, a veterinary professor at Tufts University, attest to this.

The Golden Retriever in the above photo is shaking, just like human shivering. It contracts and relaxes the muscles in order to generate heat. If a dog is not used to the cold or has short fur, this reaction may be more noticeable. For example, Beagle, Doberman Pinscher, French Bulldog are short fur dogs. If the temperature drops below 7°C, we recommend putting on well-insulated coat. If it is windy, rainy or snowy in winter, wearing waterproof and fleece-lined coats is a good idea.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) states that instant warmth is crucial in these circumstances. Normal body temperature can be restored by moving the dog to a warmer location, covering them with a blanket, or using a heating pad on a low setting (never directly on the skin).

3. Pain or Injury

This type of shaking is often accompanied by limping, avoiding putting weight on a particular leg, or whining when touched in a specific area. The dog in photo suffers arthritis so it lift the leg to avoid force.

In this circumstance, we can find a comfortable spot for them to lie down. Then, it is best to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible, especially if the pain persists or you can’t pinpoint the cause of the injury.

4. Medical Conditions (Seizures, Neurological Issues)

The dog in the photo is shaking due to medical conditions like seizures or neurological issues. As what we can see in the photo, signs of seizures or neurological issues in dogs include uncontrolled shaking or twitching, often involving the entire body.

Though the situation is shocking, we should keep calm and do something to protect our dogs.

• Move away any sharp objects or furniture they might hit during the episode.
• Do not try to restrain their movements.
• Stay calm and time the seizure if possible, as it helps the vet understand the severity and duration. The owner of the above dog did a good job by recording the whole process by camera, with time and visual signs.

5. Poisoning or Toxic Ingestion

As the photo shows, the dog trembled and vomited uncontrollably. Since it takes time to pick them to vet, the first handling by owners is very essential. If possible, try to figure out what your dog ingested. Look around the house or yard for any substances that might be harmful, such as plants, chemicals, or food (like chocolate or grapes) that are toxic to dogs. If you know what the toxin is, it will help the vet administer the right treatment.

6. Age-Related Issues

Older dogs typically over 7-8 years often experience muscle weakness, joint pain, and a decline in their overall ability to adapt to environmental changes. This leads to Tremors or shaking in older dogs, possibly with signs of stiffness or slower movement.

The other problem brought by the aged is low body temperature. As mentioned by Dr. Lisa Freeman, a veterinary professor at Tufts University, older dogs may struggle more to regulate their body temperature, and even a mild drop in temperature can lead to shivering or trembling.

But Don’t worry. It is not hard to handle. To keep warm, it is a good idea to use heated dog beds or blankets. For old short-haired breeds, using dog coat can help.

To manage their joint pain, we can add joint supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. These can help support joint health and reduce discomfort associated with arthritis or other degenerative conditions. Last but not least, keeping an older dog at a healthy weight can reduce the strain on their joints. To maintain healthy weight, we equip our Teki with smart feeder to manage feeding as well as dog tracker to monitor their sport. Because we think daily precaution is very important, so we made a healthy plan for it.

(Teki’s Health Plan 2025, also for your reference)

7. Excitement or Overstimulation

Excitement or overstimulation might happen when you come home after being away, during a fun game, or when they are around new people or other animals. And, shaking is a natural reaction for our dog’s body to process all the excitement. It’s often accompanied by other signs like wagging their tail rapidly, jumping, barking, or even running in circles.

This shaking is usually harmless, but it’s important to keep an eye on your dog and make sure they don’t get overwhelmed.

Takeaway

Shaking of dogs attributes to fear and anxiety, cold, pain, medical conditions, poisoning, aged-related issues excitement or overstimulation. Some are highly risky, some are not. For highly risky cases, it is necessary to take dogs to vets. For the others, just take it easy. At last, we share a risk classification chart to help you make proper decisions. Wish you and your dog a healthy life.

• High Risk: Poisoning, Medical conditions, Pain
• Medium Risk: Age-related issues – Older dogs may develop tremors due to arthritis, muscle weakness, or neurological decline.
• Low Risk: Fear and anxiety, Cold, Excitement or overstimulation