Dog Shivering: Causes, Symptoms, and When It’s an Emergency

Seeing your dog shiver can be unsettling, especially when it seems to come out of nowhere. Shivering is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom, meaning the body is signaling something. Sometimes it is simple, like feeling cold or being nervous. Other times it can point to pain, poisoning, fever, metabolic problems, or shock. In this guide, I will walk you through the most common reasons dogs shiver, the symptoms that help you narrow it down, and the moments when it is safest to treat it as an emergency.

What shivering looks like

Shivering is usually a rapid, small muscle tremor that may involve the whole body or just certain areas like the hind legs. Some dogs shiver intermittently, while others shake continuously.

It helps to notice the pattern:

• When did it start? Sudden onset can be more concerning than a mild tremble that happens only in cold weather.
• How long does it last? Whether it lasts minutes or hours matters.
• What else is happening? Appetite changes, vomiting, limping, hiding, or restlessness can point to the cause.

Quick reassurance: If your dog shivers briefly during excitement, stress, or cold weather and otherwise acts normal, it is often not an emergency. If it is new, intense, keeps recurring, or comes with other symptoms, it is worth a veterinary call.

Common causes

Cold, wet, or fear

Just like people, dogs can shiver when they are cold. Small dogs, short-haired breeds, puppies, and senior dogs tend to be more sensitive. Shivering can also happen with anxiety, loud noises, vet visits, travel, fireworks, and thunderstorms.

Clues: Your dog stops shivering once warmed up or once the stressful situation ends. They otherwise seem normal and alert.

Excitement

Some dogs tremble when they are highly stimulated, like when you pick up the leash or they see a favorite person. This is usually brief.

Clues: Loose body language, wagging tail, bright eyes, normal movement.

Pain or injury

Pain is a very common reason for shivering. Dogs may shiver from muscle strains, back or neck pain, dental pain, arthritis flares, or abdominal discomfort.

Clues: Limping, reluctance to jump, hunched posture, guarding the belly, panting when it is not hot, unusual irritability, or licking a specific area.

Nausea or digestive upset

Dogs sometimes shiver when they feel nauseated. This can occur with mild stomach upset, motion sickness, pancreatitis, or other gastrointestinal issues.

Clues: Drooling, lip licking, swallowing repeatedly, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or a tense abdomen.

Fever or infection

Shivering can be a response to fever, as the body tries to generate heat. Infections affecting the respiratory system, urinary tract, skin, or internal organs can all be involved.

Clues: Lethargy, reduced appetite, cough, nasal discharge, increased drinking, or painful urination. Some dogs may feel warm to the touch (like warm ears or paws), but that is not a reliable way to detect fever. A temperature is the only dependable check.

Temperature guide: A normal dog temperature is often around 101 to 102.5°F (38.3 to 39.2°C). Temperatures around 103°F+ (39.4°C+) are often considered fever range. Call your vet for guidance, and treat 104°F+ (40°C+) as urgent.

Toxin exposure or poisoning

Many toxins can cause tremors or shivering, sometimes along with seizures. Common examples include certain human medications, chocolate, xylitol, cannabis products, pesticides, rodenticides, and some toxic plants.

Clues: Sudden shivering with vomiting, drooling, wobbliness, agitation, rapid heartbeat or unusually slow heartbeat, diarrhea, weakness, or seizures.

Neurologic issues

Conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves can cause tremors. Some dogs have breed-related tremor syndromes or develop tremors with age. There is also a condition often nicknamed “shaker syndrome” (generalized tremor syndrome), which is seen more often in small dogs and may be described as whole-body shaking. It is treatable, but it still needs veterinary evaluation.

Vestibular disease is different. It is a balance disorder that can cause head tilt, abnormal eye movements, and severe wobbliness. Owners sometimes describe it as “shaking,” but it is usually not true shivering.

Clues: Head tilt, loss of balance, unusual eye movements, weakness in limbs, confusion, or changes in walking.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Tiny breeds and puppies can develop low blood sugar more easily, especially if they miss meals or have vomiting and diarrhea. Hypoglycemia can cause shivering and progress quickly.

Clues: Weakness, glassy eyes, wobbliness, extreme sleepiness, collapse, or seizures.

Hormonal and electrolyte disorders

Some internal disorders can cause trembling due to weakness, nausea, and electrolyte shifts. Examples include Addison’s disease and low calcium (hypocalcemia), which can happen in nursing dogs (often called eclampsia).

Clues: Weakness, collapse, vomiting or diarrhea, restlessness, stiff gait, facial twitching, or worsening tremors, especially in a nursing mother dog.

Kidney, liver, or other metabolic disease

Systemic illnesses can cause trembling due to nausea, electrolyte imbalances, weakness, or toxin buildup in the body.

Clues: Increased thirst and urination, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, bad breath, yellow tint to gums or whites of the eyes, or generalized weakness.

Vaccine reactions

Mild tiredness or slight shivering after vaccines can happen and usually improves within a day. More serious reactions are uncommon but can be life-threatening.

Clues: Mild sleepiness and mild soreness are common. Emergency signs include facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, sudden diarrhea, trouble breathing, weakness, or collapse.

Symptoms to watch

Shivering alone is often mild, but shivering plus other symptoms is where you want to pay close attention. Keep an eye out for:

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing or persistent coughing
• Weakness, wobbliness, or collapse
• Whining, yelping, or hiding
• Swollen belly or repeated unproductive retching
• Pale, blue, or gray gums
• Disorientation or unusual behavior
• Seizure activity or uncontrolled muscle tremors

If you are unsure, take a short video of the episode. This can help your veterinarian distinguish shivering from tremors or seizures.

When it is an emergency

Use the list below as a safety-first guide. If any of these apply, it is appropriate to call an emergency vet right away.

• Possible toxin exposure, even if you are not 100 percent sure
• Shivering with vomiting, severe diarrhea, or repeated retching
• Shivering with weakness, collapse, or inability to stand
• Seizures, loss of consciousness, or uncontrolled tremors
• Difficulty breathing, open-mouth breathing at rest, or blue-tinged gums
• Signs of severe pain such as crying out, tense abdomen, or refusing to move
• Very high or very low body temperature (as a rough guide, 104°F+ or 99°F or below)
• Deep-chested breeds with a swollen abdomen and unproductive retching, which can suggest bloat
• Puppies, seniors, pregnant or nursing dogs, or dogs with chronic illness whose shivering is new or worsening
• Signs of a severe vaccine reaction such as facial swelling, hives, vomiting, collapse, or trouble breathing

Trust your instincts: If your dog seems “not right” and shivering is part of the picture, it is safer to call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic than to wait.

What to do at home

If your dog is alert, breathing normally, and not showing emergency signs, these steps can help while you monitor closely.

1) Warm them gently

• Move indoors, dry them off if wet, and offer a blanket.
• Avoid heating pads directly on skin. If you use warmth, keep it low and make sure your dog can move away.

2) Reduce stress

• Move to a quiet room away from noise and activity.
• Use calm, reassuring body language and avoid crowding your dog.

3) Check for obvious injury

• Look for limping, swelling, cuts, or sensitivity when you gently touch different areas.
• Do not force movement if back or neck pain is possible.

4) Think about triggers

Ask yourself: Did they just eat something unusual? Could they have gotten into a medication, edible, gum, or trash? Was there a recent vaccine or new medication? Did they overexert in heat?

5) Track key details

• Time the episode.
• Note appetite, water intake, bathroom habits, and energy.
• If safe, you can take their temperature with a digital rectal thermometer and pet-safe lubricant.

If your dog is in significant pain, is very stressed, or might bite, skip the temperature check and call your veterinarian instead.

Important: Do not give human pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen. Do not give acetaminophen unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to. Even small dosing errors can be dangerous for dogs.

What your vet may do

Because shivering has many potential causes, vets often take a step-by-step approach.

• History and exam: Recent diet changes, toxin risks, pain points, temperature, heart and lung sounds.
• Basic testing: Bloodwork and urinalysis to look for infection, organ function, glucose, and electrolytes.
• Imaging: X-rays or ultrasound if abdominal pain, injury, or bloat is suspected.
• Neurologic evaluation: If tremors, balance issues, or seizure-like activity are present.

Treatment depends on the root cause and may range from warming and rest to fluids, anti-nausea medications, pain control, antibiotics, hormone support, or emergency stabilization.

How to prevent episodes

• Keep small and short-haired dogs warm: A well-fitting coat for cold walks and a dry towel after rain can prevent chill-related shivering.
• Prevent toxin access: Store medications, chocolate, gum, cannabis products, pesticides, and cleaners securely.
• Support joint health: Maintain a healthy weight and talk with your vet about exercise and arthritis strategies for older dogs.
• Plan for anxiety triggers: Create a safe space during storms, and ask your vet about behavior support if fear is intense.
• Feed consistent meals for toy breeds and puppies: Regular meals can help prevent low blood sugar episodes.
• Watch nursing dogs closely: If a mother dog becomes restless, stiff, or shaky, call a vet promptly.

Quick decision guide

If your dog is shivering, use this simple check:

• Seems otherwise normal and stops when warmed or calmed: Monitor closely and consider a routine vet call if it repeats.
• Shivering plus any other symptoms: Call your vet the same day for guidance.
• Shivering plus collapse, breathing trouble, severe pain, repeated vomiting, toxin risk, seizure activity, or temperature extremes: Treat as an emergency and go in.

Shivering can sometimes be the first sign of a fast-moving problem. When in doubt, reach out to a veterinary professional. Quick action can make all the difference.