You look over at your dog and notice their body trembling. Maybe it is a faint shiver through their legs, a sudden shake that comes and goes, or a stronger tremor you have never seen before.
It is an unsettling thing to watch because shaking can mean so many different things.
Dogs may shake because they are cold, frightened or excited. They can also shake because they are in pain, feeling nauseous, reacting to a toxin or experiencing a neurological emergency.
The movement alone does not always reveal the cause. What matters is what was happening beforehand, whether your dog is responsive, and whether any other symptoms appear alongside it.
Why Is My Dog Shaking?
Common reasons a dog may shake include:
- feeling cold
- fear, anxiety or stress
- excitement or anticipation
- pain or discomfort
- nausea
- fever or illness
- low blood sugar
- poisoning
- neurological disease or seizures
- age-related weakness or cognitive changes
Some causes settle once the trigger passes. Others require urgent veterinary treatment.
If the shaking is new, persistent, severe or accompanied by other changes, it is safest to contact your veterinarian.
Is Your Dog Cold?
Shivering is one way the body generates heat.
Small dogs, short-coated breeds, puppies, senior dogs and dogs that are wet may become cold more quickly. A dog may also shiver after swimming, during cold weather or when resting in an air-conditioned room.
Move them somewhere warm and dry, gently towel them off if needed, and observe whether the trembling settles. Avoid placing intense heat directly against their skin.
If your dog remains cold, becomes unusually sleepy, seems weak, has pale gums or is difficult to rouse, seek veterinary advice. Significant hypothermia requires more than a warm blanket at home.
Fear, Anxiety and Excitement
Dogs sometimes tremble during thunderstorms, fireworks, car travel, veterinary visits or unfamiliar situations. Others shake with excitement when someone arrives home or when they expect a walk or meal.
Look at the whole dog rather than the shaking alone.
Signs of fear or anxiety may include:
- a tucked tail
- ears held back
- panting when it is not hot
- pacing or hiding
- lip licking or yawning
- refusing food
- trying to escape
Move your dog away from the trigger where possible and provide a quiet, familiar place to settle. If anxiety-related shaking happens regularly or affects your dog’s quality of life, speak with your veterinarian or a qualified force-free behaviour professional.
Do not assume shaking is behavioural if it is unusual for your dog or accompanied by physical symptoms.
Pain Can Cause Shaking
A dog in pain may tremble even when there is no obvious injury.
Pain could come from a strained muscle, sore joint, back or neck problem, abdominal discomfort, dental disease or an injury hidden beneath the coat.
Other signs of pain can include:
- reluctance to move, jump or climb stairs
- limping or stiffness
- a hunched or guarded posture
- panting at rest
- restlessness or difficulty getting comfortable
- flinching or reacting when touched
- hiding or behaving unusually
- loss of appetite
Avoid repeatedly pressing or manipulating the painful area. Even a gentle dog may bite when frightened or hurting.
Never give human pain medication unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so. Common household medications, including ibuprofen, can be dangerous to dogs.
Nausea, Fever and Other Illness
Shaking can also occur when a dog feels nauseous or generally unwell.
Watch for drooling, repeated swallowing, lip licking, vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite or a tense abdomen. Fever and inflammatory illness may also cause shivering, but it is difficult to judge a dog’s temperature accurately by touching their ears or nose.
If your dog is shaking and refusing food, vomiting repeatedly, passing blood, becoming lethargic or behaving differently, contact a veterinarian.
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycaemia, can cause trembling, weakness, disorientation, collapse or seizures.
It may be seen in very young or very small puppies, dogs with certain illnesses, or dogs receiving insulin. This can become an emergency quickly.
If a diabetic dog is shaking, weak or behaving abnormally, follow the emergency instructions previously provided by their veterinarian and seek urgent professional advice. Do not give an extra insulin dose unless directed.
Poisoning and Toxic Exposure
Sudden tremors can be a sign that a dog has eaten or been exposed to something toxic.
Potential causes include chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, human medications, mouldy food or compost, insecticides, some snail baits and other household or garden products.
Warning signs may include:
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- drooling
- agitation or unusual restlessness
- wobbliness
- twitching or strong muscle tremors
- abnormal heart rate
- difficulty breathing
- seizures or collapse
If poisoning is possible, do not wait for symptoms to worsen. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital immediately. The Australian Animal Poisons Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 1300 869 738.
Keep the packaging or take a photo of the suspected substance if it is safe to do so. Do not induce vomiting or give food, milk, oil, salt or home remedies unless a veterinarian or poisons specialist specifically tells you to.
Australian Outdoor Emergencies
In Australia, shaking can sometimes appear alongside emergencies encountered outdoors.
Snakebite may cause trembling or muscle twitching, weakness, vomiting, dilated pupils, collapse or breathing changes. Some dogs appear to recover briefly before deteriorating, so a suspected snakebite always requires immediate veterinary attention.
Paralysis ticks can cause weakness, wobbliness, changes to the bark, retching, coughing, vomiting and difficulty breathing. Any suspected tick paralysis requires urgent veterinary care, even if a tick has already been removed.
Shaking after a hike, time in long grass or access to bushland should be considered alongside the environment your dog has just explored.
Is It Shaking, a Tremor or a Seizure?
These words are often used interchangeably, but the events may look different.
A shivering dog is usually conscious and aware of what is happening around them. They may still respond to their name, look towards you or walk normally.
A tremor is an involuntary, repetitive muscle movement. It may affect one area, such as the head or a leg, or involve much of the body. Some dogs remain responsive throughout a tremor.
A generalised seizure may involve collapse, stiffening, paddling movements, jaw movements, drooling, loss of bladder or bowel control and reduced awareness. Focal seizures can be more subtle and may cause repeated twitching of the face, eyelid or one part of the body.
Recording a video from a safe distance can be extremely helpful because the episode may have stopped before your dog reaches the clinic.
When Is Shaking an Emergency?
Seek emergency veterinary care if your dog is shaking and:
- may have eaten or contacted a poison
- may have been bitten by a snake
- has weakness, wobbliness or difficulty standing
- is struggling to breathe
- has pale, blue, grey or very bright-red gums
- collapses or becomes unresponsive
- is vomiting repeatedly or has severe diarrhoea
- has a swollen or painful abdomen
- appears severely distressed or painful
- develops strong, continuous tremors
- has a seizure lasting five minutes or longer
- experiences more than one seizure within 24 hours
You know your dog’s normal behaviour. A sudden and significant change deserves attention, even if you cannot identify the cause.
What Should You Do During a Seizure?
Watching a seizure is frightening, but a few simple actions can help keep everyone safer.
- Move nearby furniture or objects away if you can do so safely.
- Block access to stairs, water or other hazards.
- Time the episode from the moment it begins.
- Record a video if it is safe.
- Keep your hands away from your dog’s mouth.
- Reduce noise and bright light.
- Contact a veterinarian for advice as soon as the episode ends.
Dogs do not swallow their tongues during seizures. Do not place your hands or objects in their mouth.
A seizure lasting five minutes or longer is a life-threatening emergency. Repeated seizures without proper recovery also require immediate veterinary care.
What Information Will Help Your Veterinarian?
Shaking may have stopped by the time your dog is examined, so the details you collect can be valuable.
Try to note:
- when the shaking began
- how long it lasted
- whether the whole body or one area was affected
- whether your dog responded to their name
- what they were doing immediately beforehand
- any food, medication, rubbish, compost or chemicals they could have accessed
- whether they had recently exercised, travelled or explored outdoors
- any vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, pain or breathing changes
- whether this has happened before
A short video is often more useful than trying to recreate the movement from memory.
Bringing It All Together
Dogs shake for many reasons, and not every episode means something serious. A brief shiver after getting wet or a tremble during a thunderstorm may have an obvious explanation.
The concern increases when shaking is new, persistent, unexplained or accompanied by weakness, vomiting, pain, breathing changes, collapse or altered awareness.
Pause, look at the whole situation and trust what you know about your dog. When something feels significantly different, early veterinary advice is always safer than waiting for the signs to become unmistakable.
At Paws & Peaks, we believe preparedness begins with recognising when your dog needs help—because their adventure starts with you.
This article provides general educational information and does not replace veterinary advice. If your dog is shaking severely, may have been poisoned, is having difficulty breathing, has collapsed or is experiencing a seizure, seek urgent veterinary care.
