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Get your pet's plan
Get your pet's plan

Dog shaking or trembling: when to wait, when to worry, when to call the vet

Call your vet or an emergency clinic now if:

  • Suspected toxin ingestion: chocolate, xylitol, marijuana, medications, antifreeze, certain plants
  • Seizure-like activity: loss of consciousness, paddling legs, drooling, loss of bladder/bowel control (even if it stops on its own)
  • Shaking with severe weakness or collapse
  • Shaking + vomiting / diarrhea in a small or toy breed (hypoglycemia risk)
  • Severe pain reaction: shaking with crying, won't move, can't get comfortable
  • Shaking in a diabetic dog or one on insulin (possible hypoglycemia)
  • Shaking with dilated pupils, disorientation, or walking in circles

For suspected poisoning in the US, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 (a fee may apply).

For suspected poisoning in Canada, call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in the UK, call Animal PoisonLine at 01202 509 000 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in Australia, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 1300 869 738 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in New Zealand, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 0800 869 738 (a fee may apply).

For suspected poisoning in France, call Centre Antipoison Animal at 02 40 68 77 40 (no charge) or CNITV at 04 78 87 10 40. Both are open 8:30 am to midnight. Outside those hours, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.

For suspected poisoning in Spain, call your vet, or the Servicio de Información Toxicológica at 91 562 04 20 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

For suspected poisoning in Italy, call your vet, or the Centro Antiveleni di Milano at 02 6610 1029 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

If you think your pet ate something toxic, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic now.

Animal poison lines in other countries
  • For suspected poisoning in the US, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 (a fee may apply).
  • For suspected poisoning in Canada, call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in the UK, call Animal PoisonLine at 01202 509 000 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in Australia, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 1300 869 738 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in New Zealand, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 0800 869 738 (a fee may apply).
  • For suspected poisoning in France, call Centre Antipoison Animal at 02 40 68 77 40 (no charge) or CNITV at 04 78 87 10 40. Both are open 8:30 am to midnight. Outside those hours, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.
  • For suspected poisoning in Spain, call your vet, or the Servicio de Información Toxicológica at 91 562 04 20 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.
  • For suspected poisoning in Italy, call your vet, or the Centro Antiveleni di Milano at 02 6610 1029 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

If you think your pet ate something toxic, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic now.

Otherwise, the rest of this page helps you decide what to do.

Shaking is one of those symptoms that covers everything from “cold and wet” to “medical emergency”. Reading the full picture matters more than the shaking itself. For the broader framework, see our “when to take to vet” guide.

This is a decision framework. If something below sounds like your situation under “emergency”, call your vet now.

First decision: emergency, urgent, or wait-and-see

Emergency (call now or go to ER):

  • Suspected toxin ingestion. Chocolate, xylitol, marijuana, medications, antifreeze, certain plants. See AVMA’s household hazards reference. Tremors after possible poisoning = ER.
  • Seizure-like activity: loss of consciousness, paddling legs, drooling, loss of bladder/bowel control. Even if it stops on its own.
  • Shaking with severe weakness or collapse.
  • Shaking + vomiting / diarrhea in a small or toy breed (hypoglycemia risk).
  • Severe pain reaction: shaking with crying, won’t move, can’t get comfortable.
  • Shaking in a diabetic dog or one on insulin (possible hypoglycemia).
  • Shaking with dilated pupils, disorientation, walking in circles.

Urgent (vet within 24h):

  • New shaking pattern that didn’t exist before this week.
  • Shaking with low energy, off food, fever.
  • Shaking that worsens over hours, not better with rest.
  • Senior dog with new onset shaking: could be pain, neurological, or metabolic.

Wait-and-see:

  • Shaking from cold (wet from bath, cold weather, small dog in air conditioning).
  • Shaking from excitement (greeting you, anticipating walks, smelling something interesting).
  • Shaking from fear (thunderstorms, fireworks, vet visits, new place).
  • Brief shake-off after sleep or bath.

If wait-and-see, resolve the obvious cause (warm them up, calm them down, remove the trigger) and observe. If the shaking continues once the trigger is gone, call your vet.

Common non-emergency causes

Behavioral / environmental

  • Cold. Especially small breeds, short-coated breeds, puppies, seniors.
  • Excitement. Some dogs tremble when overstimulated, especially small breeds.
  • Fear or anxiety. Thunderstorms, fireworks, separation, vet visits, men with hats: anxiety triggers vary.
  • Pain anticipation. Dogs with chronic pain may shake before activity.

Common urgent causes (vet within 24h)

Medical (need vet workup)

  • Pain. Back pain (intervertebral disc disease), abdominal pain, joint pain. The dog may shake and be reluctant to move.
  • Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS / “White Shaker Syndrome”). Most common in small white breeds such as the Maltese, West Highland White Terrier and Bichon Frise, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Full-body tremors. Needs a vet workup, and the outlook with treatment is good.
  • Distemper. Causes neurological symptoms in unvaccinated puppies. Prevention is the answer (WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines).
  • Kidney disease, Addison’s disease, hypocalcemia: metabolic causes.
  • Old age tremors. Some senior dogs develop benign hind-leg tremors. Worth ruling out other causes with vet first.

Common emergency causes

  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Especially toy breeds, puppies, diabetics. Can progress to seizures fast.
  • Toxicity. Many toxins can cause tremors or seizures, among them chocolate, xylitol, marijuana and certain mushrooms (AVMA household hazards list).
  • Seizure activity. Tremors that look like a seizure: vet now.

What to note for your vet

Things to note:

  • Time of day, duration of shaking episode.
  • Trigger if obvious (cold, storm, vet visit, new person).
  • Other symptoms: appetite, energy, gait, alertness.
  • Recent food, treats, plants accessed, medications, possible trash access.

Have ready for the visit:

  • Past anxiety / behavioral notes.
  • Vaccination history (rules out distemper).
  • Any chronic conditions (diabetes, Addison’s, kidney issues).
  • Medication list: some drug interactions cause tremors.

A clear timeline matters here more than most symptoms. Many causes look similar at first glance and the pattern over hours/days is the key clue.

What not to do

  • Don’t assume “just cold” if shaking lasts and they’re warm.
  • Don’t give human anti-anxiety meds without vet approval.
  • Don’t let possible toxin exposure wait. Call your vet or an animal poison control line immediately.
  • Don’t wait on weakness + tremor in a small breed, a puppy or a diabetic dog. Low blood sugar is an emergency. For diabetic dogs with severe low blood sugar, VCA Animal Hospitals notes that a sugar syrup, such as corn syrup, can be applied to the gums while you are getting the dog to the vet. Call the vet, ask whether to do this, and go.

FAQ

My small dog shakes a lot. Is it normal?

Some small breeds (Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Pomeranians) shake more often than larger dogs from excitement, cold, and stress. Habitual baseline shaking is usually not concerning. New shaking patterns or shaking with other symptoms is.

Why does my dog shake after a bath?

Cold + body’s natural drying reflex. Towel-dry, warm room, blanket. Resolves quickly.

My dog is shaking and panting. Is that an emergency?

Could be, especially in a senior dog, brachycephalic breed (Frenchies, Pugs, Bulldogs), or after exertion in heat. Heatstroke and pain both cause this combo. If they don’t settle within minutes in a calm cool environment, vet now.

Can dogs shake from anxiety?

Yes, very common. Storms, fireworks, vet visits, separation, new environments. Differentiate from medical by removing the trigger and seeing if it resolves. Chronic anxiety is treatable. Talk to your vet.

Should I be worried if my older dog shakes in the back legs?

Possibly. Could be benign senior tremors, arthritis-related, neurological, or kidney-related. New onset = vet conversation, especially if combined with weakness or hesitation to walk.

Related

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