Why Is My Dog Shaking? Ranked by Urgency

Trembling covers everything from mild cold to organophosphate poisoning. Working through it in order of urgency helps.

Go now

• Poisoning. Snail bait, organophosphates, nicotine, chocolate in quantity, and mouldy food from the compost all cause tremors. If tremors came on suddenly in a previously well dog, assume poisoning until proven otherwise.
• Seizure activity. Whole-body shaking with loss of awareness, paddling, drooling or loss of bladder control. Time it, keep the area safe, do not put hands near the mouth.
• Severe pain. Especially with a hunched posture, a tense belly, or reluctance to move — abdominal emergencies and spinal disease both present this way.
• Low blood sugar in a small-breed puppy or a diabetic dog. Wobbliness with trembling, then collapse.
• Heatstroke — trembling in a hot dog with red gums.

Same day

• Fever or illness. Shivering with a warm dry nose, lethargy and no appetite. In South Africa this is often tick-borne disease.
• Kidney disease in older dogs, which causes tremors along with increased drinking and weight loss.
• Nausea. Trembling with drooling and lip licking.

Usually not urgent

• Cold. Small, thin-coated, wet or old dogs shiver readily. A Highveld winter morning does it. Warm them and see if it stops.
• Fear or stress. Fireworks, storms, the vet, a strange environment. Look at the whole body — tucked tail, ears back, whale eye, panting.
• Excitement. Some dogs tremble when anticipating a walk or food. Normal.
• Old age tremors. Hind leg trembling in senior dogs, often related to muscle loss or early arthritis. Worth mentioning to your vet but rarely urgent.

How to tell them apart

Ask three questions. Is the dog otherwise normal — eating, alert, walking well? Did this start suddenly or build gradually? Is there any possible exposure to poison, heat or a fall? Sudden onset in a previously well dog with any possible exposure means go now. Gradual onset in an old dog that is otherwise fine means book an appointment.