Why Is My Dog Shivering? 10 Main Reasons Why

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

As the weather outside gets frightful, it’s not uncommon to see your furry buddy trembling from the cold – just like us. But if it’s gotten to the point that you’re wondering – why is my dog shivering? Like, all the time? – take note. While it might not always be cause for concern, some cases of unexplained trembling and shivering could just be a red flag.

So here are 10 main reasons why your dog might be shivering more than usual, what to expect at your vet’s, and how a drop in your dog’s activity can help you catch on to an illness much in advance. Let’s get started.

Is a dog trembling always cause for concern?

Not always. A dog shivering could be due to less concerning reasons, like the cold or excitement. But it could also be due to more serious reasons – including anxiety, pain, or even poisoning.

Trembling – or shivering – is an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction that could occur in different parts of dogs’ bodies. A whole bunch of physiological processes are taking place that might cause shivering as a symptom. (Though it depends on what’s causing it in the first place.)

These tremors can be short-lived and temporary, depending on the situation. Else, more prolonged and intense trembling could be a sign something’s not right with your dog, health-wise.

Why is my dog shivering? 10 reasons behind it

Now a dog shivering isn’t always due to “scary” reasons. Dogs sometimes tremble out of sheer excitement – or joy, like when you offer them a treat or Grandma comes to visit. In many cases, it could be completely harmless, just triggered by how your dog’s brain works in response to something positive they’re looking forward to.

But as it turns out, your dog might also end up with a case of the shivers if:

1) It’s…well, cold outdoors

Dogs tend to have good thermal protection because of their natural fur (especially dogs with undercoats.) But they can still get too cold – and shivering is their body’s way to keep them warm. Which is why it’s a good idea to stay informed just how cold is too cold for dogs.

• When dogs are cold, the thermo-receptors in their skin send signals to their brain – especially their hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.
• The hypothalamus is responsible for triggering muscle tremors in your dog’s body as a way to keep them warm. I.e., by contracting the muscles to keep your dog’s body temperature constant or to increase it.

The process of shivering also increases your dog’s metabolic rate. Plus, it takes energy to produce the amount of heat your dog needs to be warm. That’s why puppies, small, and short-haired dog breeds tend to tremble more in the cold. Their fur offers fewer insulating layers.

💡Keeping your dog warm, well-dressed, and active in the colder months can help prevent any shivering. Dog booties and jackets can help, plus going for walks around the warmest parts of day – like noon. Else, try these fun indoor games for dogs to keep your buddy on their toes when the weather’s rubbish outdoors.

Read more: How To Protect Dog Paws In Winter & Snow

2) It’s hot outdoors

Now you wouldn’t be the first to wonder, why is my dog shivering when it isn’t cold outside? Turns out, heat can put as much strain on your dog’s body as cold. Left unattended, heat stroke in dogs can be life-threatening if they’ve been out in the sun for too long.

So keep an eye out for signs like:

• Excessive panting,
• Weakness – including fainting or dizziness,
• Excessive drooling,
• If your dog seems confused or disoriented,
• Drinking a lot of water,
• A dry nose,
• Weird breathing – including hyperventilation,
• A bright red tongue,
• Dehydration,
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, like vomiting and/or diarrhea,
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat,
• Increased body temperature

⚠️ If you suspect heat stroke, get your dog to a vet right away as it counts as a medical emergency.

3) Your dog’s frightened or stressed out

A dog’s that a bit of, well, a scaredy-pooch might tremble to emotional stress – like from anxiety or if there’s something “scary” in their environment. This is because their sympathetic nervous system is on overdrive, releasing adrenaline to help your dog fight or flee. (Like if there’s thunder or fireworks outside or you’re taking them to the vet’s.)

Besides trembling, your dog might also:

• Pant more than usual,
• Vocalize more, barking, whining, or even howling,
• Drool more,
• Lick themselves as a way to self-soothe,
• Or get up to destructive, aggressive behavior – like chewing up your slippers or peeing around the house

All these signal that your dog is on high alert. So try and remove them from the stressful situation and give them a ton of cuddles. Else, in more serious situations, your vet can best advise you whether your dog could benefit from anti-anxiety medication.

Read more:

• Noise Anxiety In Dogs: Prevent Your Buddy From Spooking
• How To Manage Separation Anxiety In Dogs

4) Your dog’s just exercised – a bit too much

A dog shivering or trembling after exercise could mean they’ve overexerted themselves – especially if it was a walk longer than they’re used to, with fewer breaks, or in high temperatures. Overexertion can lead to your dog’s muscles filling with more acid than usual, which can trigger uncontrolled trembling. (Kind of like us after a long workout.) This is usually because the extra exercise affects your dog’s nervous system and could be a reaction to exhaustion or dehydration.

Some dog breeds might be more prone to overheating and make reluctant exercisers. (Like Brachycephalic dog breeds, including Pugs, Boxers, Bulldogs, and Staffies.) But in general, make sure you give your buddy regular breaks and bring along a ton of water so they don’t overexert themselves.

5) Your dog might be in pain

Sadly, trembling can also be a sign your dog is in pain or discomfort. In these cases, the trembling might occur mostly in the affected part of their body – or all over. Pain tends to cause a physiological stress reaction in your dog’s body, which can trigger trembling as a symptom.

Read more: All The Signs Of Pain In Dogs & What You Might Miss

6) Your dog’s blood sugar is running low

Is your dog shivering – and also hasn’t eaten for a while? It could be due to hypoglycemia, or a dangerously low blood sugar level. Small dog breeds tend to be more at risk due to their lower body mass and higher energy consumption, which can turn up as tremors, weakness, and disorientation.

Read more: Dog Won’t Eat? 6 Common Causes For A Dog Not Eating

7) Your dog’s age is catching up to them

As dogs grow a bit whiter around the whiskers, it’s not uncommon for them to develop painful, mobility-affecting conditions like osteoarthritis. Senior dogs tend to lose muscle mass and can lose stability around their ligaments and bones. This can cause tremors in your dog’s hind legs and other affected areas of their bodies.

Arthritis in dogs is a painful condition that can cause your dog to tremble in discomfort. As a result, they might grow less active over time so as to not push pressure on any painful joints…which, sadly, ends up worsening the problem over time.

💡An Activity Tracker for dogs can alert you if there’s a drop in your dog’s active minutes over time, whether gradual or sudden. (Which could signal the beginnings of arthritis or another disease – before it has a chance to worsen.)

8) Your dog might be poisoned

Especially from substances that are toxic to dogs, including:

• Chocolate,
• Caffeine,
• Certain plants,
• Household items, like paint products or even pesticides
• A whole bunch of human foods that are harmless to us but fatally poisonous for dogs

⚠️ Watch out for red flags like excessive drooling, vomiting, or tremors. Get in touch with your nearest poison prevention hotline and drop by your vet right away.

9) Your dog’s magnesium levels might be low

If none of the other situations apply and you’re still wondering why your dog is shivering so much, it could be due to a magnesium deficiency. Which might turn up as muscle twitching, tremors, weakness, and even seizures in serious cases.

• Maybe the dog food brand you’ve been feeding them doesn’t contain enough magnesium.
• Else, certain health conditions – including kidney disease – can deplete your dog’s magnesium reserves.
• Certain medications can also lower magnesium levels, because they might make your dog pee it out.
• Stress can lower your dog’s magnesium levels as well.

10) Your dog might be genetically at risk for tremors

Smaller dogs less than 35 pounds (~16 kg) – like Maltese and some small Terriers – might be more at risk for acquired tremors syndrome, especially if they’re on the younger side. These tremors tend to be mild, only affecting one part of the body. But in more serious cases, these tremors can even make it difficult for your dog to walk – though they may improve after some rest.

Still other dog breeds may be genetically at risk for issues affecting the nerves of their spinal cord. Including Weimaraners, Samoyeds, Bernese Mountain dogs, and Chow Chows. These tremors might turn up in these dogs’s heads and bodies – often a few weeks after they’re born – and may affect how well they can stand, walk, and eat. But on the bright side, many of these symptoms often improve by themselves as these dogs grow older.²

When should I head to the vet?

Again, not every shiver or tremble is a cause for concern. In many cases, your dog shivering could be due to completely benign reasons. However, you should consider dropping by your vet if you notice:

• Your dog’s trembling persists without passing by itself.
• Any additional symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or lethargy.
• Behavioral changes, like if your dog is suddenly anxious, aggressive, or more withdrawn than usual. All these signs could be linked to stress or pain.
• Your dog limping or licking a specific part of their body or just seems generally uncomfortable.

🚩 Another red flag that your dog might be sick, injured, or in pain is a drop in their activity. Meaning if your buddy is now more reluctant to go on walks, barely participates during playtime, or just seems weaker or more lethargic than usual.

That’s why vets recommend you should:

“Keep track of your dog’s energy levels, especially how long they are able to walk.

If you notice significant declines, it could be a sign of pain, heart disease, or other illness.”

– VCA Animal Hospitals³

💡 Which is where an Activity Tracker for dogs can give you the actionable data you need to figure out when to head to the vet – and spot a health issue before it has a chance to worsen.

With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive GPS helps you follow your dog’s every step in real-time – but also logs in how often your dog was on the move, as “active minutes.”

Which, over time, can help you see in numbers:

• How active your dog is on the regular,
• How much quality sleep your dog’s been getting,
• And if there’s a weird change in your dog’s sleep or activity – which could signal something’s wrong.

All of which can alert you to a problem much in advance – so you can get your dog to a vet early on.

Discover Activity Tracking

Ready to take an active role in your buddy’s health & wellbeing?

Dogs tremble for a whole bunch of reasons – some benign, some less so. It could be that they’re excited, cold, or even overheating. Else, it could also signal more serious health issues, including anxiety, stress, pain, or even health conditions like kidney disease, poisoning, low magnesium levels, or hypoglycemia.

• Make sure your buddy’s well-dressed for the weather – and watch out if you’ve got a small or short-haired dog at home. (Since they might shiver more quickly when it’s cold outdoors.)
• Brachycephalic dog breeds might be more likely to overheat or over-exert themselves during exercise.
• If you notice your dog’s trembling persisting or accompanied by symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, or vomiting, head to your vet right away.

💡 And if you want to catch on to a sickness before it arises – keep an eye out for your dog’s activity levels. An Activity Tracker for dogs can help you do this with just a glance at your phone, from the comfort of your couch.

“Absolutely love this tracker…it gives great insights on (our dogs’) activity and sleep levels.

I’m comforted knowing that if they started acting strangely or the data shifted drastically that we could take them to vet potentially before we would notice something wrong.

Can’t recommend this tracker enough!“

– Eva, US (Source: Trustpilot)

Stay on top of your dog’s wellness

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

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Wondering what your dog’s shivering might say about their mental state? Here’s Dr. Webb from the Southwestern Veterinary Neurology covering the basics:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.