Dog symptom guide
My Dog Is Shaking and Trembling — What Does It Mean?
Shaking can be caused by cold, fear, pain, nausea, or toxins. If it comes with vomiting, seizures, weakness, or trouble walking, treat as urgent.
Context determines urgency
Get a personalized assessment → Free Dog Triage ToolWhat this symptom can mean
Shaking is a broad symptom and can have both mild and serious causes. Dogs may tremble when cold, anxious, or excited, but they can also shake from pain, nausea, metabolic disease, toxin exposure, or neurologic issues. The safest approach is to assess the whole picture instead of the shaking alone.
Focus on what else is happening: appetite, walking ability, breathing, gum color, and whether episodes are getting worse. If shaking appears with vomiting, disorientation, collapse, or seizure activity, urgent care is warranted. Triage helps separate common stress-related tremors from symptoms that need immediate veterinary attention.
Use this page as a fast decision guide, not a diagnosis. A symptom can look mild early and become urgent later, especially overnight. The safest approach is to combine your dog's symptom details with behavior, breathing, hydration, and gum color. If multiple warning signs appear together, urgency rises quickly.
If you are unsure, choose the safer option and run triage now. The goal is to avoid missing emergencies while also reducing unnecessary panic trips. Taking two minutes to assess timing, progression, and red flags gives your veterinary team better information and helps you act with confidence.
Common causes
- • Cold exposure or anxiety/fear response
- • Pain from injury, GI upset, or musculoskeletal strain
- • Nausea, toxin ingestion, or medication reaction
- • Neurologic or metabolic disorders
- • Age-related tremor syndromes in some dogs
When it IS an emergency
- • Shaking with seizure, collapse, or inability to stand
- • Persistent vomiting, severe lethargy, or breathing difficulty
- • Known toxin exposure with worsening neurologic signs
When it may be okay to wait briefly
- • Brief trembling after stress with full return to normal
- • Normal appetite, gait, and behavior after observation
What you can do at home while monitoring
- • Keep your dog warm, calm, and in a quiet environment
- • Remove possible toxin access and note recent exposures
- • Record episode length and associated symptoms for your vet
- • Run triage if signs persist beyond a short period
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FAQ
Can anxiety alone cause shaking?
Yes, but repeated or severe episodes still need evaluation to rule out medical causes.
What if shaking stops before I reach the vet?
You should still document and discuss it, especially if episodes recur or worsen.
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Take the free 2-minute quiz →This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. If you believe your dog is in immediate danger, contact your nearest emergency veterinary hospital.