6 Reasons Why Your Dog is Shaking & Acting Weird

Is your dog suddenly panting and shaking badly? Here are six reasons that may get your dog to shake and act weird. Regardless of what the reason ends up being, we highly recommend having your dog checked by a vet ASAP to rule out any medical problems.

1. Your Dog is in Pain
This could explain the suddenness of your dog’s weird behavior. Shaking and shivering can be a symptom of various health conditions and diseases. Your dogs may be affected by a viral infection or, as they get older, are starting to feel the effects of a joint disease like arthritis.

Your dog could also be in pain due to food poisoning. Unfortunately, food as innocent as chocolate can be very toxic to dogs and lead to physical weakness and tremors. If the shaking is accompanied by other health-related symptoms (like vomiting) then take your dog to the vet immediately.

2. Your Dog has Cushing’s Disease
The shaking could potentially be caused by Cushing’s disease. In the majority of cases, dogs develop this condition when a tumor develops in the pituitary gland. The tumor causes the gland to produce too much cortisol, which may make your dog act somewhat lethargic.

Your dog may also start to drink more water, eat more, and urinate more frequently. Cushing’s disease is more common among middle-aged and senior dogs.

3. Your Dog is Anxious or Stressed
Your dog may start to shiver excessively when they face a stressful situation. For example, they may have gotten scared by the loud noise of fireworks or thunderstorms, or they may be stressed from being in a new environment where there are a lot of strangers.

In some cases, you may be able to train your dog to better handle stressful situations. In others, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety medication in preparation for the stressful periods.

4. Your Dog is in Heat
Your female dog may shake randomly when she is in heat (becomes receptive to mating). Female dogs that aren’t spayed typically go through a heat period twice a year. A dog in heat will start becoming restless, appear more nervous, and urinate more often.

There are certain steps you can take to calm a dog in heat. You can give the dog more exercise to help her get rid of excess energy, you can reward her with treat or praises any time she acts calm, and you can also leave out some toys and treats to keep her busy.

5. Your Dog is feeling too Cold
Yes, even your furry friend can get cold, especially if they are a short-haired. A dog’s body will start to shake and may occasionally flinch when the body temperature drops in order to raise more body heat. You might notice the dog’s shaking occur more frequently after a trip to the dog groomer.

Now could be a good time to get your dog some warm doggy sweaters. If your dog already has some clothes on and the shivering doesn’t subside then you should take a trip to the vet immediately.

6. Your Dog is Suffering from Heat Exhaustion
Your dog could pant and shiver when they are feeling the effects of heat exhaustion. This can happen if your dog takes part in a high-intensity exercise during the midst of the summer. Dogs release most of body heat by panting and not by sweating.

Protect your dog from the heat by giving him plenty of opportunities to drink cool water and by giving him plenty of time to rest in a shaded area when outdoors.