Tremors in dogs are very common, but when our dog starts to tremble, it is important to know what the cause of the tremor is, as it may be due to an external stimulus, which we can eliminate to try to calm it down and help it, or it may instead be something pathological, due to a problem in the animal, in which case it will be essential to visit the vet.
Firstly, and to try to locate the cause, it is essential to differentiate between tremor and convulsion, although it may seem similar, at the moment of truth when they are suffering it, there is no doubt:
The tremor is the symptom that concerns us, as in some cases it is not pathological and we can try to help it. The animal is usually awake and conscious, its muscles contract rhythmically and it can last for a long time.
A seizure is always pathological and it is essential to see a vet. The animal becomes unconscious and usually lasts less than two minutes, the legs are usually stiff for the duration of the seizure. Intense drooling often occurs.
Causes of tremors in dogs
Returning to trembling, as we said, this can be caused by an external stimulus, and this is when we can help.
- Anxiety/agitation or fear: There are animals that react to stress, discomfort or fear by trembling, we must help our pet to feel safe, with affection and support.
- Happiness and excitement: On the other hand, those that are more nervous tend to react this way in situations of joy, such as when we return home, or they sense that the time is approaching to go for a walk.
- Cold: There are some breeds, especially small dogs, that are much more sensitive to cold. As is obvious, if our pet is shivering with cold, we must help him to warm up, either by offering him a warm place or by providing him with blankets or even putting a coat on him if necessary and he tolerates it well.
- REM sleep: Many owners worry when they see their pet shivering in his sleep, often shaking his paws. Don’t worry, he is dreaming deeply and it will pass on its own.
If the trembling is not due to something external, it is possible that we are dealing with a pathology, they are usually accompanied by other symptoms and in this case we should always consult a Veterinarian.
- Fever: As happens to us, they feel cold when they have a fever and as a consequence they may shiver. It may be due to various causes such as a virus or infection and it is essential to go to the vet.
- Digestive discomfort: nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. It is common for them to tremble at the imminence of vomiting or liquid/pasty stools. They often try not to relieve themselves at home, even when ill, and come to us trembling, indicating the need to go outside urgently. If this is repeated on a regular basis, it is likely that they have a digestive disorder, such as allergy, intolerance or some kind of digestive sensitivity or pathology, so it might be interesting (in addition to consulting your vet) to offer them a specific diet such as Lenda Sensitive.
- Hypoglycaemia: Low blood glucose, more frequent in small dogs. It is important to have a veterinary examination to see if it is something specific or if he could have Diabetes.
- Intoxication: If we suspect that the dog may have ingested something toxic, we should not hesitate to go to the clinic as soon as possible. In these cases, and depending on the substance, the tremor can quickly give way to a seizure.
- Pain, osteoarthritis or age-related problems: any cause of pain can also include tremors, it is essential to look for the cause of this discomfort. In elderly dogs it is often caused by bone and joint pain. We can try to prevent this with a specific food with a prescription such as Senior-Mobility or treat it, if it is more advanced, with a natural veterinary diet such as Lenda VET Mobility-Joints, which in addition to chondroprotection, has an anti-inflammatory effect that manages to mitigate the discomfort.
There are many other pathologies that cause tremors, such as distemper (muscle spasms), Shaker syndrome (brain inflammation) or various muscular or nervous system diseases. If the trembling is frequent, is increasing and is not related to any external element, it is essential to see your vet so that he can carry out an examination to try to find the cause, and treat it if necessary.
