Generally, dogs are playful animals, especially when they’re around their owners. They wag their tails, roll over, lick and kiss their owners, jump on people, etc. these behaviors and others can demonstrate a happy dog. But what if suddenly your vibrant furry friend goes deadly dull or, worse, starts shaking and crying?
Our canine buddies, like people, get sick from time to time. The issue is that they can’t tell precisely what is wrong or where it hurts. Something is amiss if you observe your dogs deviate from their routine or cease to be their playful selves. But one sign that you should never underestimate is when your dog is crying and shaking.
Why Is My Dog Shaking and Crying?
Your dog could be shaking and crying due to a medical condition, anxiety, or fear. So, these signs should serve as a red flag that your dog needs some special attention.
However, if the shaking is not accompanied by crying, it could perhaps signal that they’re happy. Dogs can show enthusiasm by playing, stretching, or drying off; they shake and tremble. Since most dogs are hyperactive and joyous, shaking is a natural method to release some of that energy.
Let’s go through some of the problems that your furry friend could be going through whenever you see them shaking and crying:
1. Seizures
Dogs, like humans, can suffer from illnesses that cause seizures, such as epilepsy. Seizure is a neurological disorder that can manifest through drooling, convulsion, collapse, and foaming at the mouth. If your dog has a seizure, try to keep objects away from it to prevent more injuries and keep track of how long it lasts.
Seizures can be fatal depending on their stage—higher stages tend to occur frequently. If you realize that your dog has a seizure, contact a veterinarian and plan how to go about the treatment process. Additionally, keep a close watch on your pet so that you can help them out if they collapse.
2. Poisoning
Many objects can be toxic to your dogs if they consume them. Unfortunately, most of the time, dogs don’t realize this until it is too late. Poisoning can cause a variety of symptoms, including shaking. Your dog may start whimpering and weeping if it’s in pain or distress.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten anything harmful, contact your veterinarian right away since they may require urgent medical attention immediately.
3. Fear and anxiety
Dogs are just as capable of being disturbed, worried, and even afraid as we are, and they can demonstrate such emotions through crying, shaking, and excessive vocalization. If your dog shows any of these, examine the environment, as you might be able to identify and correct the problem.
It might be anything as simple as fireworks going off or a vehicle ride if it’s homophobia—the irrational fear for traveling. If you can’t figure out the problem, call your veterinarian immediately.
4. Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a virus that is common in puppies that have not yet completed their initial vaccinations series—it’s rare in adult dogs who have had all of their essential vaccinations. Coughing, fever, and nasal discharge are common symptoms that accompany shaking in cases of distemper. It would help if you treated distemper as soon as possible, or it will have serious health effects on your dog.
5. Distemper Virus
The distemper virus, like the canine distemper, is common in unvaccinated puppies. The virus causes flu-like symptoms as well as tremors, which is why affected dogs shake. Coughing and a runny nose will also affect the dog. It would help if you took your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can treat it. They’ll need to rest after they get home while the drugs fight the virus in the body. They can then get their distemper immunization at a later time.
6. Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS)
GTS can also be called White shaker dog syndrome. This condition can cause full-body tremors in petite dog breeds such as Maltese, Poodles, and West Highland White Terriers. Symptoms show between the ages of nine months and two years. If your small breed dog starts to shake, calm him until the trembling stops, then contact your veterinarian.
7. Nausea
If your dog starts vomiting regularly, it could be an indication of more serious medical problems. It’s normal for a dog to vomit if it eats something toxic. However, regular vomiting, along with crying and shaking, is an indication that you should seek a veterinarian’s help right away. Vomiting frequently could indicate an issue with the liver, kidneys, pancreas, or intestine. If the veterinarian concludes that nothing major is wrong, they can prescribe nausea medicine.
8. Pain and Aging
Dogs sometimes experience shaking problems as they get older—especially in their hind legs. Usually, tremors have little effect on your dog’s movement or stride. Older dogs’ trembling could be due to old age or geriatric discomfort. If your senior dog has developed tremors, you should always consult your veterinarian to manage the pain appropriately.
How Do You Calm a Shaking Dog?
1. Exercise Your Dog
If your dog has separation anxiety, the obvious solution is never to leave them alone. Most pet owners can’t do that, so using exercise as a bonding activity as well as a way to tire out your pet is a simple solution.
Exercise, like its human equivalents, can help relieve stress by releasing feel-good endorphins. Since anxiety can lead to excessive energy, taking your dog for a long walk or a game of fetch before you leave can be helpful. It’s also a good idea to make lots of physical contact with them and talk to them during the exercise.
2. Physical Contact
Nothing is likely to calm an anxious dog more than its owner’s touch. Pick your canine buddy, cuddle on the couch, or give them an excellent lengthy petting session as soon as you notice signs of nervousness in them.
3. Massage
A massage, as you may know, can soothe and calm even the most agitated human – but did you know it can also help dogs? Anxiety can cause muscle tenseness, and massage therapy is one approach to relieve stress.
Begin at the top of the neck and work your way down with long strokes. Try to maintain one hand on the dog while massaging it with the other hand. After a while, you may even be able to identify where your dog holds its stress and focus solely on that spot.
4. Music Therapy
Both humans and dogs have been shown to benefit from music therapy. While you’re at home, in the car, or away from your pet, the power of music can be comforting and relaxing. Music can also help with noise sensitivity by shutting out annoying or frightening stimuli that might cause anxiety in some dogs.
5. Time-Out
While anxiety isn’t a terrible behavior in and of itself, giving your dog a break while they’re acting out can help. Isolating your pet in a safe and quiet environment might help them relax. Perhaps there is some highly soft music playing, low lighting, and aromatherapy accessible in that place.
You can as well try the available anxiety relief technologies such as ZenCrate. ZenCrate helps dogs suffering from a range of anxiety disorders. It looks like a regular crate but offers vibration isolation, noise cancellation, reduced light, comfort, and security.
A motion-activated sensor activates a gentle fan when your dog enters this object, which helps to muffle noise while still providing a steady stream of fresh air. Music can be pre-programmed into the container. It has a removable door, so your dog may enter and exit whenever it wants.
6. Calming Coats
Calming coats and t-shirts apply gentle and consistent pressure to a dog’s midsection, much like a baby’s swaddling cloth. It’s ideal for dogs suffering from anxiety brought on by travel, separation, noise, or strangers.
There are numerous brands and models to pick from, depending on the size of your dog. ThunderShirt Anxiety Jacket, American Kennel Club Stress Relief Coat, and Comfort Zone Calming Vest are available.
When to See an Emergency Vet
Seek help from an emergency vet whenever your dog shakes and cries for long. Try to figure out whether your dog is in pain if it’s shaking, trembling, or crying.
Look for any indicators of medical issues, such as a shattered limb or significant stomach bloating, which might be a sign of pancreatitis or an intestinal disorder.
If your pet is trembling and sobbing, as well as having other medical symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or limping, you should seek veterinarian help right once.
Related Questions
1. Why Is My Dog Shaking and Acting Weird?
Shaking and trembling could indicate a severe medical issue, such as poisoning, kidney illness, or an accident. So, if your dog suddenly starts shaking or shivering, keep an eye out for other signs like diarrhea, vomiting, or limping. Then contact your veterinarian right away.
2. Why Do Dogs Shake When Not Feeling Well?
Shivering or shaking can occur for various reasons, including discomfort, fear, worry, nervousness, or simply being too cold. There’s even an endocrine disorder known as Addison’s disease that causes excessive shivering.
3. Why Is My Dog Crying and Restless?
Crying is your dog’s way of expressing its fear or anxiety. If your dog is also pacing, trembling, or panting while crying, something is likely making it frightened and anxious. Perhaps there is a stranger in the house making your dog nervous, or maybe he is worried because someone is missing.
4. Should I Be Worried if My Dog Is Shaking?
Yes, shaking can be an indication of a severe medical problem, so if your dog is shaking for an extended time or with other troubling symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away.
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