Being the owner of a dog can often be challenging, especially as one has to track daily what their dog does, how the dog is, and they like eating.
It would certainly make sense if one ever sees their dog shaking a bit too much; in such a case, one might wonder, “why does my dog shake so much?”
This article will examine why dogs shake so much and what owners should do in such a scenario.
Why Does My Dog Shake in his Sleep
Why does my dog shake in his sleep? That is a thought that often comes to an owner’s mind; seeing their dog shake so much in their sleep can be a rather uncomfortable sight. A dog shaking in its sleep can indicate the following:
- The dog might be dreaming. Just like humans can dream after experiencing the REM stages, a dog can experience something very similar and possibly have a dream; you may try to take note if your dog starts shaking just after 20 minutes which is the average period for a normal dog to experience such an event.
If your dog starts shaking in their sleep after 20 minutes, it has a vivid dream, and there is nothing to worry about.
Why does my dog shake so much in his sleep? It could simply be that your dog has a dream.
- The dog may be experiencing cold. Just like a human, your dog might be shivering due to feeling cold; if they are especially shivering the moment they sleep, you may try to cover them with a blanket to see if they stop shivering.
- There might be an infection. Your dog might be shivering in their sleep because of an infection or body pain; in such a case, it is essential to get your dog checked up by a veterinarian for a possible medical condition and get it treated as soon as possible.
Dogs sleep 12-14 hours daily, during which they may kick the air, shake, or even whine. Generally, a dog will twitch or shake in its sleep due to typically experiencing a dream; it could either be a good one or a nightmare. In this case, there is nothing to be concerned about, as your dog has a regular sleep cycle and its effects.
Do note if your dog has a tremor that lasts much longer while sleeping, which might indicate a seizure or worse. Hence one should consider calling an animal vet if such symptoms persist since they could indicate an underlying medical condition and hence should never be ignored.
With this, your question, “why does my dog shake so much while sleeping” should be answered.
Why Does My Dog Shake his Head
Why does my dog shake his head? This question can arise in the minds of various dog owners if they see their dogs shaking their heads frequently in a rather haphazard manner. There can be several reasons for a dog to shake their head, such as:
- Skin Allergies. Your dog may have a specific skin allergy and may be experiencing itchiness, hence the shaking of the head. In such a case, it is essential to consult a vet to get appropriate treatment for such allergies.
- Your dog might be trying to get something out of its ears. Dogs commonly shake their head to get rid of a tick or a mite out of their ears, along with water if there is any due to any reason.
They may also shake their heads to try to get any other foreign objects out of their ears; always remember to check your dog’s ears if you suspect they are having trouble getting out of an object. Why does my dog shake his head? They may just be trying to get something nasty out of their ears.
- As dogs usually have the characteristic of a long ear canal, which can be a source of foreign objects and dirt trapping, a dog’s ear may experience a fungal growth such as from yeast.
This may come with other symptoms, such as ear discharge, inflammation, and a foul odor. Ear mites or moisture from bathing/swimming can make a dog’s ear more susceptible to such infections. Hence it is essential to check your ears for debris trapping and take them to a vet if they are showing symptoms of an infection.
- Ear Damage. Your dog’s ears might be injured due to an external condition; in this case, your dog may very well shake their head due to the pain.
This can come with other behavioral changes, such as lethargy and sensitivity. If such damage has occurred, it is essential to get it treated as soon as possible by a vet.
- Ear wax buildup. If you haven’t cleaned up your dog’s ears, it might be time to do so, as a dog’s ears are already sensitive to the trapping of dust and other particles, which can, over time, cause ear wax to build up.
Hence you should check to see if there is any wax buildup in your dog’s ear and clean it as soon as possible, as it may very well be why they are shaking their head.
Dogs are also susceptible to infections like canine Otitis Externa, which occurs when the outer ear canal of a dog is inflamed; this is a severe condition which one should get checked by a vet as the symptoms will only increase, such as the shaking of the head along with swollen ears.
An early diagnosis of your dog’s head shaking can be very crucial to the overall health of the dog. While it is a common fact that dogs shake their heads to get rid of objects from their ears, it could also be a sign of a deeper underlying issue that you should get checked by a proper veterinarian rather than trying to treat it at home yourself.
Why does my dog shake so much, such as shaking their head? There can be several reasons for it. Therefore the owner needs to check them out, as stated above.
Why Does My Dog Shake his Body
Why does my dog shake his body so much? A dog shaking its body can signify several things you may not ignore. Those are:
- Your dog might be nervous. A nervous or anxious dog can shake their body in a rather haphazard manner to get rid of stress, especially if they are in a new and unknown place and feel incredibly uncomfortable or even afraid. At this point, petting your dog or pleasantly interacting with them will stop such body shaking.
- Your dog might be trying to dry itself off. A dog will do their best to remain dry; hence if you bathe them relatively frequently, dry them off as much as possible with a soft cloth and make sure that water has been wiped away. If you bath your dog almost regularly or go to a swimming session with them, then very well may try to get rid of the water from their bodies by shaking rigorously till they are dry.
- Your dog might be trying to get rid of fleas. Fleas are probably one of the main enemies of animals such as dogs, as they often infest their bodies. Your dog might be facing such a problem and may shake its body to try and get rid of the pesky fleas off its body. Scan your dog’s body closer to see if fleas are trundling along your furry friend’s body.
- Your dog may be experiencing Hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia happens when the concentration of calcium is low. If this happens to your dog, they may experience symptoms such as tremors in the body, muscle twitching, and even seizures. If such a problem occurs, your dog may very well enter into a fight or flight state; this will manifest as your dog starts to shake their body violently. Act quickly and take your dog to a vet to get treatment as soon as possible.
- Your dog may have consumed an unhealthy amount of chocolate. Chocolate is considered advisable for dogs only in tiny amounts. Suppose your dog has consumed a large amount of chocolate due to any unfortunate factor. In that case, they will experience a variety of symptoms which will also include the shaking of the body.
It is essential to check whether your dog has consumed chocolate; if they have done so, then taking them to a vet should be your topmost priority, as chocolates in large amounts can be lethal for dogs.
Why does my dog shake so much, such as shaking his body? While these are some reasons, there can be other simpler ones, such as the fact that your dog might simply be feeling cold and shivering. This may be especially noticeable in the winter season and alike. In this case, keeping your dog as warm as possible will help them stop shaking its body.
But as always, it is essential to get your dog checked by a vet if they are experiencing other symptoms, such as tremors and shaking, as those may signify an underlying medical condition that may very well be dangerous to ignore for your dog.
Why Does My Dog Shake When I Pet Him
Why does my dog shake when I pet him? A dog shaking when an owner pets them can signify several things, these are:
- Your dog likes petting. Dogs generally enjoy being pet, especially if you put them in a very gentle manner and may shake their body at such an action.
Dogs can pick on this and may try to get your attention by getting an excellent ol’ petting; in this case, when you shake your dog, they may very well shake their body with joy at the fact that their owner is petting them.
- As stated earlier, dogs generally love it when you caress their fur; this can be further magnified if you pet their fur and caress in. This gesture will make your dog shake their body with absolute happiness and comfort as its furs are ruffled when you pet them.
- Just like children who want their parent’s attention, dogs too are hungry for such loving gestures and may shake their bodies upon being a pet to keep their owners close to themselves. Dogs are always fond of loving actions and will tremble or shake upon acquiring such; this is one of the reasons why dogs shake their bodies upon being pets.
- It might want you to leave. While not common, some dogs may dislike being pets for reasons such as being ill, having a mood change, or generally disliking a physical gesture; in this case, they may try to shake their bodies to get you away from them as much as possible.
This can happen if you pet them too much and annoy them, be vary of petting your dog too much as anything done without a limit can have negative consequences.
- Your dog might be tired. Dogs sometimes feel tired and may shake their bodies as a signal for you to give them some space to rest for a while, like humans who sometimes want to have their own private time and may dislike any cuddles with their companion.
This can happen after you have trained them to do something, had a swimming session with them, or had a long walk in the park. Your dog might also feel tired due to a sickness such as a cold or an infection and may shake its body after being put in.
Dogs are generally peace-loving creatures unless they are trained to do something else. Hence, if you see them shaking after petting them, they may be happy and excited that you have to pet them and maybe want more from you; hence, a dog shaking after being a pet is usually not a concern.
But as always, getting your dog checked by a vet may give you peace of mind if you suspect any medication condition or a disorder that might be troubling your dog.
Why does my dog shake so much when I pet them? They mostly do it out of happiness sometimes, although there might be other reasons, as stated above.
Why Does My Dog Shake So Much Overall
A dog shaking their bodies can have varying factors, which a dog owner will need to figure out:
Environment: A dog often shakes due to environmental reasons; it could be that they have arrived at a new place and are afraid of it and may shake due to adrenaline release. They may also shake or have tremors due to being in a cold area and hence may require to be warmed up…
Stress: As stated before, a dog can be highly stressed if in a terrifying situation and may show it by shaking wildly and even barking or whining. This can happen for various reasons, such as traveling in a car, being given to a vet, or daycare. This can have negative consequences if the dog owner ignores the signs, as the dog may start shaking rigorously daily as they develop stressors and fear.
Excitement: It is a common fact that dogs are quickly excited at times; this may be due to seeing their long-gone owners, getting their hunting instincts activated, or simply being a pet. In such cases, dogs will shake their bodies haphazardly to show your happiness and excitement; dogs may also shake their bodies due to being annoyed or even angered at the sight of a stranger or when the owner pets them too much.
Toxic diet: Like it or not, keeping a healthy diet for your dog can be essential to keeping them in a fit shape; if you are neglecting their diet and giving them improper foods such as popcorn with chocolate flavors or any other fruit in large amounts, then your dog may very well experience shaking and tremors in their body due to general weakness and toxicity brought up by the diet.
Hence you must follow a proper diet regime for your dog at the consultation of a vet or a dog expert.
Medical Conditions: While dogs can have varying physical strength, many domesticated dogs are somewhat sensitive to medical issues or illnesses; bacterial growth or yeast infections are common among dogs and may very well be the reason why your dog is shaking and may generally need medical attention from a proper vet at the soonest.
These are the various reasons for the query by the owner of a dog as to “why does my dog shake so much.”
How Do I Stop the Shaking Completely
- The most crucial part of figuring out why your dog is shaking their body while they are either awake or asleep is to look at what sort of trouble the dog is facing. They might either be facing sleep deprivation or an infection.
- They may shake in their sleep due to a bad dream or simply as a reflexive gesture. Or it could be that they are cold.
- Your dog may shake when you pet him due to excitement or annoyance; there are so many reasons why your dog is shaking that there is technically no cure or treatment to stop such an action.
- Generally, if a dog is shaking, it is essential to try and take notes of what they are doing upon shaking. Are they kicking their legs while sleeping? Are they barking, growling, or whining along with shaking while awake? Could it be that your dog is facing a seizure if you see them foaming from its mouth while shaking violently?
- If they are shaking their head too much, is it because they are experiencing bacterial growth in their ears or a medical condition such as Otitis Externa, which infects the ear canal?
- In all these situations, contacting a vet is generally the first step you should take if your dog is experiencing some of the above to rule out a more significant medical condition.
- Some other reasons your dog might shake their body are simply because they are trying to get rid of fleas or are trying to dry themselves off if they are wet; in this case, no action should be taken besides cleaning them up.
- Diet, as said before, should be thoroughly maintained, and dog food should be brought with proper labeling and fed to the dog in controlled amounts, any food given in large quantities will have harmful side effects for the dog, such as shaking of the body, vomiting, and extreme diarrhea.
Conclusion:
Why does my dog shake so much? This question is asked by many dog owners frequently; the answer is unfortunately not so simple, which is why it is essential to always keep track of what your dog is doing, in what sort of condition they are sleeping, and what foods they are eating along with their cleanliness to make sure that there is no underlying condition that is causing them trouble.