Dog is Shaking and Stomach is Hard – Top 3 Reasons Why

The combination of shaking and a hard stomach may suggest your dog is affected by a serious health condition or disease. Here are the most common reasons that may explain these symptoms. You should call the vet straight away if you haven’t already done so.

1. Pain from bloat

Bloat is a common cause of hard and distended stomachs. It can develop without warning and can progress quite quickly if it isn’t treated. Bloat in dogs should always be treated as an emergency situation. In addition to a hard stomach, bloat can lead to a lot abdominal pain, hence the excessive shaking.

2. Bowel obstruction

The dog may have eaten something that resulted in a blockage along the intestinal tract. It could be something inedible such as a piece of rubber ball or several hair ties. The blockage will prevent food and fluids from passing through and eventually cause a swollen and hard belly. The resulting pain will also cause the dog to shake.

3. Parasitic infections

If your dog isn’t on deworming treatment, it’s possible that the hard stomach and body shivering is a result of a parasitic infection in the dog’s stomach. Dogs are affected by a number of internal parasites including tapeworms and roundworms. Some of these parasites may cause inflammation to develop in the dog’s stomach and intestines.

Shaking is more often than not a sign of major pain. It’s not something to ignore as dogs have a reputation of trying to hide their pain. A trip to the emergency vet is recommended as the cause of the distended stomach and shaking symptom may turn out to be something life-threatening.