Why Is My Dog Shaking? 10 Causes & Solutions

Hi seekers! Seeing your dog shaking can be alarming. Your heart sinks, and your mind starts racing through all the worst-case scenarios.

Take a breath. Shaking in dogs is actually quite common, and the causes range from completely normal to genuinely serious. The key is knowing the difference.

Let me walk you through the 10 most common reasons why dogs shake—and what you should do about each one.

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1. 🧊 They’re Cold

This is the most obvious and common reason.

Just like us, dogs shiver when their body temperature drops. Their muscles contract and relax rapidly to generate heat. This is especially common in:

• Short-haired breeds (like Chihuahuas, Greyhounds, and Dalmatians)
• Small dogs that lose heat faster
• Thin or elderly dogs
• Dogs that are wet or damp

✅ What to do:
Wrap them in a warm blanket, put on a dog sweater, or hold them close. Once they warm up, the shaking should stop within a few minutes.

⚠️ Watch for: If they’re shaking even in a warm room, the cause is something else.

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2. 😰 Fear or Anxiety

Dogs are emotional creatures, and shaking is one of their primary stress signals.

Common triggers include:

• Thunderstorms or fireworks
• Loud noises (construction, vacuum cleaners)
• Vet visits or car rides
• Meeting new people or animals
• Being left alone (separation anxiety)

How to tell: The shaking is often accompanied by tail-tucking, flattened ears, panting, whining, or hiding. The shaking usually stops when the stressor is removed.

✅ What to do:

• Stay calm—your dog takes cues from you
• Provide a safe space (a quiet room, a covered crate with soft bedding)
• Try calming aids like a Thundershirt (gentle pressure wraps that soothe anxiety) or Adaptil (a synthetic pheromone that reduces stress)
• For severe anxiety, talk to your vet about behavior modification or anti-anxiety medication

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3. 🤩 Excitement or Joy

Not all shaking is bad news.

Does your dog shake when you pick up the leash? When you come home after a long day? When you mention “walk” or “treat”? That’s excitement shaking—and it’s completely normal.

How to tell: The shaking is brief and accompanied by wagging tails, happy barks, wiggly bodies, and bright eyes. It stops once the excitement passes.

✅ What to do: Nothing! Enjoy it. Your dog is happy to see you.

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4. 💧 The “Shake-Off” (Wet Dog or Stress Release)

You’ve seen this a thousand times. A wet dog shakes vigorously, spraying water everywhere.

They can shake off up to 70% of the water on their fur in just 4 seconds. This isn’t just efficient—it’s a survival instinct to prevent hypothermia.

But there’s another type of shake-off too.

After a stressful or tense moment (like a conflict with another dog or a loud noise), dogs will often do a quick, full-body shake. This is their way of releasing tension and “resetting” their nervous system.

✅ What to do: If they’re wet, towel them off. If it’s a stress shake-off, give them a moment to calm down. It’s a healthy way for them to decompress.

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5. 😣 Pain or Discomfort

This is the one you should take seriously. When dogs are in pain, they often shake.

Dogs are masters at hiding pain. It’s an evolutionary survival mechanism—showing weakness makes them vulnerable. But eventually, the discomfort becomes too much.

Common pain-related reasons for shaking:

• Arthritis or joint pain
• Dental problems (tooth decay, abscesses)
• Abdominal pain (pancreatitis, gastric issues)
• Injuries (sprains, fractures, wounds)
• Back or neck pain

How to tell: The shaking may be localized (like trembling in one leg) or full-body. Your dog may also:

• Whimper or cry
• Be reluctant to move
• Have a hunched posture
• Avoid being touched in certain areas
• Show changes in appetite or behavior

✅ What to do: If you suspect pain, see a vet. Don’t give human pain medications—many (like ibuprofen) are toxic to dogs.

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6. 🤢 Nausea or Upset Stomach

Just like us, dogs shake when they feel sick to their stomach.

Common causes:

• Motion sickness (car rides)
• Eating something spoiled
• Eating too fast
• Food allergies or intolerances
• Gastrointestinal infections

How to tell: Shaking is often accompanied by:

• Lip-licking or swallowing
• Drooling
• Whining
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Loss of appetite

✅ What to do:

• For mild cases: Withhold food for 12 hours (but always provide water)
• Offer a bland diet (boiled chicken and white rice) once they feel better
• For car sickness: Talk to your vet about motion sickness medication
• If vomiting or diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, or if your dog is lethargic, call the vet

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7. 👂 Ear Problems

If your dog is shaking their head repeatedly, the problem is often in their ears.

Common ear issues:

• Ear infections (bacterial or yeast)
• Ear mites (especially in puppies and outdoor dogs)
• Foreign objects (grass seeds, foxtails)
• Ear hematomas (blood blisters from scratching or head-shaking)

How to tell: Your dog may:

• Shake their head vigorously
• Scratch or paw at their ears
• Have a foul odor coming from the ears
• Show redness or discharge in the ear canal
• Hold their head tilted to one side

✅ What to do:
Check the ears for redness, discharge, or odor. If you suspect an infection or foreign body, don’t try to clean it yourself—you could push debris deeper. See a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

⚠️ Pro tip: Some breeds are more prone to ear problems, including Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, and Basset Hounds. Clean their ears regularly with a vet-approved solution.

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8. ⚠️ Poisoning or Toxin Ingestion

This is an absolute emergency.

If your dog has eaten something toxic, shaking can be one of the first signs.

Common toxins that cause shaking:

• Chocolate (contains theobromine)
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum, candy, and baked goods)
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Macadamia nuts
• Human medications (especially ADHD drugs, antidepressants, and painkillers)
• Mouse or rat poison
• Certain houseplants

How to tell: Shaking is often accompanied by:

• Vomiting or diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
• Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Seizures
• Lethargy or weakness
• Pale or blue gums
• Difficulty breathing

✅ What to do:
Do NOT wait. Do NOT try to make your dog vomit unless a vet or poison control center tells you to.

Call your vet or a pet poison control hotline immediately. If possible, take the product container with you to the vet so they know exactly what they’re dealing with.

Remember: The faster you act, the better the outcome.

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9. 🩺 Underlying Medical Conditions

Sometimes shaking is a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Common conditions that cause shaking:

Condition	What It Is	Other Signs
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)	Common in puppies and toy breeds	Weakness, lethargy, collapse
Kidney disease	Toxins build up in the blood	Increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss
Distemper	Serious viral infection	Fever, nasal discharge, coughing, neurological signs
Addison’s disease	Adrenal gland disorder	Weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss
Idiopathic tremor syndrome	Neurological condition of unknown cause	Full-body tremors, worse with excitement
Epilepsy or seizures	Brain disorder	Uncontrolled shaking, loss of consciousness, drooling
Degenerative myelopathy	Spinal cord disease (especially in older German Shepherds)	Weakness in hind legs, eventually paralysis

How to tell: The shaking is persistent, not associated with temperature or stress, and often accompanied by other symptoms.

✅ What to do: If your dog’s shaking can’t be explained by any of the reasons above, see a vet. They can run blood work, check for parasites, and rule out serious conditions.

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10. 😴 Normal Dreaming

Here’s the cutest one on the list.

Have you ever seen your dog twitching, kicking, or shaking slightly while sleeping? This is completely normal and happens when dogs are in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep—the stage where they dream.

How to tell: The shaking occurs only while sleeping. Your dog may also paddle their legs, whimper, bark softly, or twitch their whiskers.

✅ What to do:
Leave them alone. Let them enjoy their dream. Waking a dreaming dog can startle them and cause confusion or aggression.

⚠️ Exception: If your dog is shaking while awake, this doesn’t apply.

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When to Call the Vet Immediately

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for when shaking is an emergency.

🚨 Call the vet or go to the emergency vet if shaking is accompanied by:

• Difficulty breathing or blue gums
• Collapse or inability to stand
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood)
• Seizures (uncontrollable, full-body shaking with loss of consciousness)
• Known or suspected toxin ingestion
• Signs of severe pain (yelping, whimpering, guarding)
• Pale or gray gums
• Temperature above 103°F (39.4°C)
• Shaking that lasts more than a few hours without stopping

📞 Call your vet within 24 hours if:

• Shaking persists for more than a day
• Your dog is lethargic or not eating
• You notice weight loss along with shaking
• There are changes in drinking or urination
• Your dog is a senior or has pre-existing health conditions

👀 Monitor at home (no vet needed) if:

• Shaking stops quickly once your dog warms up
• Your dog is visibly excited or happy
• Your dog is clearly scared (fireworks, thunder) and acts normal once the trigger is gone
• Your dog shakes briefly after getting wet
• The shaking is just during sleep (dreaming)

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Quick Reference Summary

Cause	How to Identify	What to Do
Cold	Shivering in cold environment	Warm them up
Fear/Anxiety	Scared by noise, people, etc.	Remove trigger, comfort them
Excitement	Shaking when happy or playing	Enjoy it—it’s normal!
Wet dog / Stress release	After getting wet or stressful event	Towel off, let them relax
Pain	Reluctance to move, crying	See a vet
Nausea	Drooling, lip-licking, vomiting	Bland diet, call vet if persists
Ear problems	Head shaking, pawing at ears	See a vet
Poisoning	Vomiting, drooling, seizures	Emergency—call vet immediately
Medical conditions	Persistent shaking, other symptoms	See a vet for diagnosis
Dreaming	Shaking only during sleep	Let them sleep peacefully

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The Bottom Line

Here’s the simple truth: most shaking in dogs is completely normal. Cold, excitement, dreaming—these are all part of being a dog.

But sometimes, shaking is a red flag. And when it is, you need to act fast.

Your quick checklist:

1. Check the situation – Are they cold? Scared? Wet? Excited?
2. Look for other symptoms – Vomiting? Lethargy? Pain? Limping?
3. If it’s an emergency (toxins, severe pain, difficulty breathing) – Call the vet immediately.
4. If you’re unsure – Call your vet anyway. That’s what they’re there for.
5. Trust your gut – You know your dog best. If something feels off, don’t wait.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you’re paying attention. Your dog is trying to tell you something—and now you know how to listen.