As pet parents, we always strive to provide the best care for our furry companions. Dogs can experience a range of health changes as they age, and one common concern among pet owners is when their old dog starts shaking. Understanding the reasons behind this can help us better cater to their needs and enhance their overall well-being.
In this article, we’ll learn about the different causes of shaking, symptoms to look out for, from common issues like arthritis and anxiety to more serious conditions such as neurological disorders and metabolic imbalances. We will delve into how these conditions affect dogs, the symptoms to watch for, and the importance of seeking veterinary care for accurate diagnosis and treatment, and practical tips for managing shaking in senior dogs.
Understanding Shaking in Dogs
Shaking in dogs can have many causes, ranging from behavioral causes such as fear or excitement to medical causes, including joint pain, seizures, and accidental toxin ingestion. Tremors could be explained as involuntary movements of the body or head, they can be rhythmic and oscillatory, and usually, they are abnormal. They occur when muscles contract either synchronously or alternately.
Older dogs may have benign causes of shaking, such as benign tremors of the back legs in older dogs (especially Terriers) or dogs that shake when they are excited. However, there are many causes of old dog shaking that require medical attention, so it is important to always get tremors checked out by a veterinarian if they are new and/or you do not know what is causing them in your dog.
10 Common Causes of Old Dog Shaking
Arthritis and Joint Pain
One of the more common causes of shaking in older dogs is osteoarthritis, aka joint disease. Osteoarthritis causes shaking due to muscle weakness and pain. It is usually accompanied by lower energy, difficulty getting up, jumping, or climbing stairs, lagging behind on walks, and sometimes limping. It can be common in large breeds, older dogs, and overweight dogs, but can occur in any dog. Joint pain is usually managed by a combination of weight control, low-impact exercise, pain medication, and physical therapy.
Hypothermia
Older dogs have a harder time regulating their body temperature than younger dogs because their metabolism is slower and older dogs are often underweight. Signs of early hypothermia include shaking, lethargy, and seeking warmth. Avoid hypothermia by providing a warm, comfortable bed, keeping older dogs indoors during cold, inclement weather, and providing a jacket for older dogs when they go outside if they are susceptible to cold.
Anxiety, Stress, and Excitement
Sometimes, the shaking can be due to feelings of anxiety, stress, or excitement. Old dogs can get excited just like young dogs, so if your dog is shaking while they wait for something exciting, like a treat or walk, then it could just be excitement, and there is no treatment needed.
In other instances, dogs could be shaking due to anxiety or stress. In situations where they are fearful, such as going to the veterinary hospital, or during fireworks or thunderstorms, shaking is a common sign of fear, is typically accompanied by other signs of fear in dogs, and resolves once the fearful stimulus is removed.
If your dog is fearful or anxious, then speak to a veterinarian about how to help your dog. In addition, there are several things you can do at home to help your dog feel more peaceful.
Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS)
GTS, otherwise known as White Shaker Syndrome, is a condition primarily seen in small, white-breed dogs that causes generalized shaking of the whole body. It is believed to be due to an auto-immune disorder and is responsive to treatment with corticosteroids. Always talk to your vet for guidance on why your dog is shaking.
Neurological Disorders
Several neurological conditions seen in older dogs, including spinal disc disease, neuropathies, myopathies, epilepsy, degenerative neurological disease, brain inflammation and trauma, brain tumors and birth defects, can all cause tremors, seizures, and other neurological signs. How tremors are caused in neurological disease is dependent on the location of the lesion. Seek veterinary support if you suspect neurological issues are the cause of your dog’s shaking.
For example: spinal cord disease causes leg tremors due to muscular weakness, cerebellar hypoplasia causes head tremors when a dog tries to eat, and brain tumors cause generalized tremors or seizures due to compression of normal brain structures and abnormal electrical rhythms in the brain. Depending on the location of the problem, there will usually be additional accompanying symptoms that help the veterinarian localize the issue. Most, if not all, neurological causes of tremors require veterinarian attention as soon as possible.
Pain or Discomfort
While you already know that joint pain can cause tremors and weakness, it is also important to know that pain anywhere in the body, even from a broken toenail, can cause shaking in dogs. Dogs that are painful may guard the body part that hurts, whine or yelp when touched, or be more aggressive in general because it hurts!
Dogs that have pain will often have lower overall energy and if their belly hurts, they may put themselves into a ‘prayer’ position as well as shake. If your dog is experiencing pain, then they need to be seen by a veterinarian to get their pain managed and resolved if possible.
Metabolic Disorders
Several metabolic disorders, including hypoglycemia, hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease), hypocalcemia, and magnesium imbalances, can all cause tremors. It is thought that these conditions cause muscular weakness resulting in tremors. Metabolic disorders require veterinarian treatment.
Toxins or Poisoning
Many common household toxins can cause tremors in dogs, including:
- Snail bait (metaldehyde)
- Weed treatments (organophosphates)
- Lead
- Macadamia nuts
- Chocolate (theobromine)
- Castor beans
- Hexachlorophene soap
- Rat bait (bromethalin)
- Mold toxins
- Marijuana
- Human prescription medications (clozapine, zolpidem)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Strychnine poisoning
Dogs that have been poisoned typically develop tremors or seizures all of a sudden with no prior problems. There is often evidence that they have left, such as chewed packaging. Intoxication is an emergency situation: call your local veterinarian, emergency clinic, or pet poison hotline if you suspect your dog has been poisoned.
Treatment is usually supportive hospitalization: fluids to flush out the poison, and medications to control symptoms and absorb toxins from the system.
Prevent accidental poisonings by keeping all toxins locked in cabinets, away from curious dogs. This includes prescription medications, recreational drugs, lawn and garden care, toxic foods, and pest control products.
Old Age and Muscle Weakness
In dogs that are markedly advanced in age or significantly debilitated, tremors are usually due to muscle weakness. These dogs can have general muscle atrophy and can shake when they are getting up or standing. Treatment for these dogs is usually supportive:
- Controlling any sources of pain
- Making sure they have a supportive, warm, and comfortable bed
- Providing ramps and rugs to help them get up and around more easily
It is always helpful to talk to a veterinarian who is trained in palliative care to get more suggestions on how to support an older dog with muscle weakness.
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD)
CCD is a condition seen in older dogs that is similar to dementia in humans. Symptoms of CCD include:
- Appearing lost
- Staring into corners
- Increased sleeping
- Increased vocalization or anxiety
- House-soiling
- Forgetting training
- Changes in appetite
If you think your dog has CCD, talk to your veterinarian. There are a couple of prescription medications available to treat CCD in dogs as well as therapeutic diets. In addition to medications, dogs with CCD can benefit from an enriched environment and increased physical activity. Early identification and treatment with a veterinarian is the best course of action.
When to See a Vet
If your dog develops tremors that haven’t been diagnosed or treated by a veterinarian, then it is best to have your dog seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. While the cause of tremors in your dog may be mild or not require treatment, it is always best to get an ‘all clear’ from a vet instead of ignoring the symptoms. Reasons to go to a vet include:
- If your dog has ingested or been exposed to a toxin, that always requires immediate veterinary attention. Go to the vet.
- If your dog has mild tremors that come and go but is acting otherwise normal, then make a regular appointment with your vet to get them checked out.
- If your dog has tremors and is acting sick or strange in any way, go to a veterinarian as soon as possible, preferably on the same day. If your dog is non-responsive, vomiting, or has bloody diarrhea, go to the veterinarian immediately.
- If your dog is seizuring, call your veterinarian or the local emergency clinic and/or take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
- If your dog has tremors that have already been diagnosed, but you are concerned, either call your veterinarian for a phone consultation or make an appointment.
- In any situation, if you ever feel worried, call a veterinarian.
A veterinarian will use a combination of oral history from you (including any videos or pictures you have of your dog at home experiencing tremors), physical examination findings, lab work and imaging studies to diagnose the problem. The tests the veterinarian orders will depend upon what they think is causing the problem. And where the problem is in the body. Some causes of tremors can be easily diagnosed by tests the veterinarian has in their hospital. Other causes may require advanced imaging or testing, such as MRI or sampling and testing spinal cord fluid. Likewise, treatment depends on the cause of tremors.
Tips for Managing Shaking in Senior Dogs
In general, the best way to manage or prevent shaking in senior dogs is to promote overall health in them. Senior dogs should receive:
- Regular, daily outdoor exercise that consists of at least two 30-minute walks a day
- Time to sniff and explore their environment on walks and in the yard
- Training and play sessions to stimulate healthy brain tissue
- Several hours of sunlight and fresh air every day
- An appropriate amount of food that is AAFCO certified to be complete and balanced
- Keep your dog at a healthy weight (ask your veterinarian what a healthy weight is for your dog)
- Manage any joint pain with pain medication and physical therapy
- Annual or biannual checkups with your local veterinarian to catch problems early
- Work with your vet or trainer to manage any fear or anxiety
- Provide a supportive sleeping surface to promote healthy rest
Final Thoughts on Old Dog Shaking
There are many causes of old dog shaking. By understanding the underlying causes, pet parents can ensure their aging dogs receive the best possible care and support. While senior pets may require some additional care as compared to their younger counterparts, the loyal companionship and love they give back is always worth it.
