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Shaking and trembling in dogs

Hi there! We are sorry you are here but happy to help. When your pup starts trembling and shaking and won’t stop it can raise a lot of questions. Is he painful? Is he cold? Is this a symptom of something serious? Here’s how to know if it needs to be addressed today.

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Symptom checker

What’s going on with your dog? Shaking by itself may not indicate anything serious. It is more likely to be a concern if it is accompanied with other signs. Here are some signs that you should be paying close attention.

Are they acting painful or startled when you touch them?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Are they acting sick?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Could they have gotten into the garbage, medicine cabinet or any recreational drugs?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Is this really uncharacteristic?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Are they acting painful or startled when you touch them?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Are they acting sick?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Could they have gotten into the garbage, medicine cabinet or any recreational drugs?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Is this really uncharacteristic?

If the answer is yes, there is more concern for a problem.

Does your pet need Urgent Care?

Yes. There are a multitude of things that could be wrong with your dog. In this case, if you are concerned it is better to come in and have your pup evaluated.
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Here’s what you can do at home...

We put shaking into 6 categories: stress/anxiety, excitement, coldness/chills, pain, toxin exposure, medical conditions.

The first 3 can be helped at home.
1

Change Environment.

Sometimes shaking is due to anxiety, stress or excitement. Try taking your pet into a different room, on a walk, or see if you can distract them for a bit.
2

Do you feel cold?

They might be too. You can try to warm them up or encourage them to snuggle in a warm bed!
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What can you expect from your visit?

Your Scout veterinarian may recommend:

Triage

Your Scout care team will want to make sure it’s just panting by doing quick vitals assessment.

Examination

our Scout veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination looking for signs of pain or discomfort and look for clues to identify what is going on.

Lab Tests

Your Scout veterinarian will want to rule out any serious or life-threatening issues. They may recommend a urine test to look for evidence of accidental drug exposure. Bloodwork may also be recommended to look for any evidence that this is a symptom of a bigger medical problem.

X-rays

If your Scout veterinarian finds a source of pain on your pup, they may recommend X-rays to look at the area more closely.

Referral

If a major neurological or medical condition is uncovered that requires hospitalization or assessment by a neurologist, the Scout team will help coordinate referral to an in-patient facility in Chicago.

Treatment

Shaking can be one of the hardest things to work up as a veterinarian. There can be so many reasons for it and many of them may not have one simple treatment. Your Scout veterinarian will work with you to make sure your pet is stable and comfortable. When a major problem is uncovered, the Scout care team will advise you how to best move forward.
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