Why Is My Dog Shaking? Causes from Cold to Pain & Seizures

Vet-reviewed via PetHealth+ · Last reviewed June 2026

Dogs shake for reasons ranging from cold and excitement to pain, nausea, toxins, and seizures. Occasional shivering after a bath or during fireworks may be normal. Contact your vet if shaking is new, persistent, or paired with vomiting, collapse, or behaviour changes — especially after possible toxin exposure.

Normal reasons dogs shake

Not every tremble signals illness. Common benign causes include:

Cold — short-coated, elderly, or thin dogs shiver to generate heat
Excitement — greeting you at the door or anticipating a walk
Anxiety or fear — thunderstorms, vet visits, or separation
Wet coat — shaking off water after swimming or bathing

These episodes are usually brief and stop once the trigger passes.

Pain and illness

Shaking can be a subtle pain signal. Conditions that may cause trembling include:

Arthritis or injury — especially if the dog avoids movement or yelps when touched
Abdominal pain — pancreatitis, bloat, or gastrointestinal obstruction
Ear infections — head tilt and balance issues may accompany shaking
Fever or infection
Nausea — often seen with car sickness or digestive upset

Dogs often hide pain. Shaking plus reduced appetite, restlessness, or posture changes warrants a vet visit.

Toxins and metabolic causes

Certain exposures cause muscle tremors or seizures:

Chocolate, xylitol, and other toxins
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) — common in toy-breed puppies and diabetic dogs on insulin
Low calcium in nursing mothers
Organ failure — kidney or liver disease affecting electrolytes

If shaking follows ingestion of a suspected toxin, contact your vet or a poison helpline immediately.

Neurological causes

More serious tremors include:

Generalised seizures — collapse, paddling, loss of consciousness, drooling
Partial seizures — focal twitching of one body part
Idiopathic head tremors — rhythmic head bobbing in some breeds, usually benign
Canine cognitive dysfunction — senior dogs may pace and tremble at night

Video recording an episode helps your vet distinguish seizure activity from other tremors.

What to do

Note when shaking started and what was happening at the time
Check for other signs — vomiting, limping, disorientation, drooling
Keep the dog warm and calm if anxiety or cold is the likely cause
Call your vet if shaking is new, worsening, or unexplained
Seek emergency care for shaking with collapse, known toxin ingestion, or bloat signs

Do not give human medications to stop tremors without veterinary guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog shake when not cold?

Anxiety, excitement, pain, nausea, toxin exposure, low blood sugar, and neurological conditions can all cause shaking unrelated to temperature. Context and other symptoms help narrow the cause.

Is shaking normal in small dogs?

Some small breeds tremble when excited or anxious — a behaviour sometimes called 'small dog syndrome.' Persistent or new-onset shaking in any size dog deserves veterinary evaluation.

When is dog shaking an emergency?

Shaking with collapse, seizures, vomiting, known toxin ingestion, difficulty breathing, or extreme lethargy needs immediate veterinary care. Do not wait to see if it passes.

Can old dogs shake because of age?

Senior dogs may develop tremors from arthritis pain, cognitive decline, or idiopathic old-dog vestibular syndrome. A vet exam rules out treatable causes such as pain or metabolic disease.