If you suddenly see your dog shivering for any reason, it can be a quite scary scenario for a dog guardian. It leaves the guardians wondering and concerned about the reason that may have brought on this reaction in the dog. You have no idea why your dog is suddenly trembling, and even though many factors can contribute to this behavior, understanding the causes behind dog shiver is crucial for every dog guardian.
Therefore, this blog post is focused on what is dog shiver, when is it out of excitement and when should vets be consulted. Here, I will discuss any measures that the dog guardians can take to address this problem. Any potential issues that can arise, and finally emphasize ohe importance of Understanding this factor for every dog guardian. If you wish to be the best guardian to your dog, subscribe to The Happy Puppers. The subscription option is present in the sidebar. If you like watching videos, please subscribe to the YouTube channel of The Happy Puppers, Shruti and Delta. Do not forget to ring the notification bell. This way YouTube will not miss out on notifying you about any of the new video releases
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What is dog shiver?
Dog shiver refers to the situation where your dog is involuntarily shaking or trembling. In all cases of dog shiver, it involves repeated and very rapid muscle contractions. This behavior is similar to the behavior humans exhibit when we are feeling very cold. In these cases, dog shiver can either occur as a full-body phenomenon or it might be localized to certain regions of the body like the face or the legs. Therefore, the chattering of teeth that you see in the dog can be a phenomenon that is occurring on the face. Occasional shivering is considered to be a very normal response to various kinds of stimuli that your dog may face. However, if your dog is facing severe shivering, it can be an indicator of an underlying health concern.
Normal shivering versus abnormal shivering
Normal shivering
- The cause of normal shivering can be exposure to cold temperatures. A dog’s body can shiver to generate heat and keep the body warm. The shivering will usually stop the moment the dog warms up enough.
- In certain cases, guardians may also notice shivering as a result of muscle fatigue. This can happen after an intense physical activity.
Abnormal shivering
- If your dog is persistently shivering, it can indicate various underlying health concerns, like pain, anxiety, fever, or any other neurological disorders.
- Anxiety, stress, or fear can also lead to abnormal shivering in the case of dogs.
- If your dog is suffering from an underlying health condition, like kidney disease, hypothyroidism, or any other neurological disorder, dog shiver can be a symptom.
Common causes behind dog shiver
Cold temperature
Even humans shiver when the temperature is cold. Most regulate their internal body temperature via sweating or panting or when the sweat is released from their paw pads. In severe cold temperatures, the dog’s body can also use shivering or trembling to generate body heat.
Signs of normal shivering, and when you should consult a vet
A sign of normal shivering would be occasional tremors occurring through the whole body when the dog is exposed to cold temperatures.
If you notice that your dog is displaying uncontrollable and persistent shivering, his extremities are cold, he is lethargic and is showing signs of hypothermia like shallow panting or pale gums, do not ignore this and immediately take your dog to the vet.
Anxiety or fear
If there is an emotional overload on the dog, they will most often exhibit it as physical symptoms. One of the primary manifestation of fear, anxiety, or stress in case of dogs is dog shiver.
The signs of anxiety induce shivering include
- Tucking the end of the tail
- Trembling constantly
- Excessive panting
- Ears pinned behind
- Repeatedly avoiding eye contact
If you notice the above signs and symptoms in your dog, the best thing you can do is to provide calming stimuli to your dog like calming music, aromatic sprays, or provide any other form of physical contact like gentle cuddling or petting. Being a dog guardian, you will be aware of what your dog likes and dislikes when he or she is anxious. Follow through with those techniques to provide your dog as much comfort as possible.
Anticipation and excitement
In certain cases your dog may start shivering as a result of being happy, excited or because they are anticipating something really interesting. The excitement in dogs dance triggers the production of adrenaline This leads to the physical reactions that you see like dog shiver. Here are some examples of situations where your dog may start to shiver as a result of excitement.
- Right before your dog leaves for his walk.
- When your dog sees his favourite treat in your hands or his favourite toy.
- When your dog meets his favourite person after a long time.
Discomfort or pain.
Another cause of dog shiver can be the occurrence of any physical illness. This can lead to dog shiver. Therefore, if you do not find any other reason for dog shiver, check your dog for any signs of physical ailments.
- Check your dog for any sign of illness or injury Consult with the veterinarian as soon as possible for a complete examination and diagnosis .
- Administer any pain relieving medication if your veterinarian has prescribed for your dog.
Health issues or illnesses.
If your dog has prior health issues or is suffering from a medical condition, it can also lead to signs of dog shiver. Various physical ailments
that can cause a dog shiver in case of pups are:
- Hypothyroidism
- Fever
- Neurological disorders
- Kidney disease.
When should you consult your vet regarding a case of dog shivering?
In case you notice that your dog is constantly shivering or if you notice that the dog is also displaying other symptoms like loss of appetite, diarrhoea, lethargy, less interaction et cetera, you should not delay in consulting your vet for a complete evaluation of your dog. Dogs cannot vocalise their pains like humans. Therefore, the responsibility falls squarely on the dog guardian’s shoulder to make sure that other problems are diagnosed at early stages and the treatment is administrate as soon as possible.
How to prevent dog shiver?
If the dog shiver is not occurring because of an underlying illness or a physical ailment, there are various ways that you can reduce the tendency of shivering in your dog. The method you apply will depend on the cause of dog shiver. Therefore, if you haven’t gone through the previous sections of the blog post where I have described why do dogs shiver, please have a look at that before you read how to prevent dog Shiver.
Once you have understood the cause of dog shiver, it is time to make the environment more suited to the needs of your dog so that the shivering can stop. Here are a few tips and tricks that you can engage in to reduce dog shiver.
Get proper bedding and shelter
If your dog is living in a cold climate, having a proper bedding and shelter is crucial for protecting your dog from the weather. It will also act as a comfortable resting place for your dog. When you’re setting up the shelter, make sure that it has proper warmth and insulation so that it can prevent shivering, due to the cold temperature.
Here are some tips for creating a warm and comfortable environment for your dog
- Make sure that the shelter has a good level of insulation and is protected from the weather
- Use items that are thick and warm, like heated blankets, warm clothes and covers.
- In case it is very cold outside for your dog, bring your dog indoors and make sure that your dog stays indoors to prevent exposure to low temperatures.
Socialization and training
If the dog shiver is result of anxiety or stress, proper socialization and training can be a huge help in this factor. Start training your dog to positively respond to different stimuli and socialize them with other animals and humans so that the fear your dog feels when he comes in contact with someone new can reduce. This will also help reduce the anxiety in your dog.
Tips for proper socialization and training
- Use plenty of positive reinforcement during the training process
- Always maintain a calm demeanor and use a calm voice.
- Spend a lot of time with your dog in bonding activities so that your dog can feel more comfortable around you.
- Establish trust with your dog to reduce anxiety and promote feelings of relaxation.
Regular vet checkup
Another factor that is crucial for reducing dog shiver is focusing on regular veterinary checkup for your dog’s health. This will help identify any health issues and addressing them at the earliest possible stages so that any further discomfort and complication can be prevented.
Importance of early diagnosis and treatment
- When you take your dog for a regular checkup, your vet can easily diagnose health issues early that can lead to dog shiver eventually like kidney disease, neurological disorders or hypothyroidism.
- When the problem has been diagnosed early, the treatment can be started, which further reduces the risk of and improves your well-being.
Conclusion
A dog guardian, there is no bigger problem than watching your dog suffer and not being able to help them. Understanding the reasons behind dog shiver and taking proper preventive steps can ensure that your dog has a comfortable living and is properly looked after. Dog shiver can be a normal response towards excitement, cold or anticipation. However, it can also be an indication that there is an health problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible like pain, anxiety or health issue.
In this article, I have discussed several strategies that you can use to prevent dog shiver. These strategies and tips will ensure that your dog lives in comfort and is happy and healthy. In case you apply the strategies and your dog’s shiver does not stop, go back to the veterinarian for another check-up. Your dog’s well-being is of the topmost priority, and should not be neglected under any circumstance.
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Frequently asked questions
Dogs can shiver in response to various stimuli. Cold environment is one of them. Dog shiver can also occur as a response to excitement, anxiety, health issues or pain. If you notice that your dog is shivering without any visible reason, take your dog to the vet immediately so that any health issues can be treated at the earliest possible time.
If your dog is shivering because of anxiety, the first step would be to create a calm and safe environment for your dog. Provide a quiet space with all the items that bring comfort to your dog, for example, blanket, cozy bedding, cover the crate with a cloth to create a den-type environment, soothing music, et cetera. Following this, offer your dog some comforting contact like gentle, curling or petting.
Yes, dog shivering in response to excitement is quite common. Excitement triggers the release of adrenaline in the body. This leads to physical reactions like shivering. Examples of scenarios where dog might display shivering because of excitement is going for walks, seeing their favourite treats, toys or meeting their guardians after a while.
If you notice that the dog shiver is uncontrollable, persistent or is accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, cold extremities, loss of appetite, signs of hypothermia, or gums, take your doctor to the vet immediately. Your dog needs a comprehensive evaluation and the treatment needs to begin as early as possible.
