Why is my dog shivering?

If your dog is shivering, it draws attention quickly — and for good reason. Shivering can be a brief, harmless response to cold or excitement, or it may be an early sign of pain, anxiety, toxin exposure, or a serious medical problem. Paying attention to when, how, and with what other signs the shaking occurs helps you decide whether to soothe at home or seek immediate veterinary care. I typically see owners worried after a bath, when a small puppy trembles on a car trip, or when an older dog begins to shake quietly at night; those situations call for different responses.

Why a Shivering Dog Deserves Immediate Attention

Shivering deserves attention because it can signal something simple that improves quickly, or something that requires urgent treatment. A wet coat and a cold house will shiver away with drying and warmth; a dog shaking after a thunderstorm may respond to calming work; but persistent trembling that appears suddenly in an otherwise well dog may be an early sign of poisoning, low blood sugar, or a neurologic event.

Which dogs to watch more closely: puppies (poor ability to regulate temperature), seniors (more likely to have chronic disease or pain), dogs just bathed or wet, and animals traveling in vehicles or new environments. Those are the owner situations where shivering is most often noticed and where the context matters for deciding what to do.

There’s a real emotional impact when a pet trembles: owners can feel helpless or anxious, and dogs pick up on that, which can make stress-related shaking worse. Calm, practical action protects both the animal’s health and the human–pet bond. Use curiosity as your guide when shivering is brief, resolves with warmth or calming, and the dog otherwise acts normal; treat it as urgent when the shaking is unrelenting, accompanied by breathing changes, collapse, or other concerning signs.

Right Now: The Most Likely Explanations for Shivering

In a single line: most dog shivering is linked to cold, fear or anxiety, pain, excitement, simple neurologic tremors, or—less commonly—illness, medications, or toxins; many cases are non-urgent and resolve with warmth or calming, but persistent or worsening tremors with other red flags merit immediate veterinary attention.

Common causes you’ll see in practice include: low body temperature after being wet or cold, adrenaline-driven shaking with fear or excitement, pain-related trembling (for example with an injured limb), small muscle tremors in older dogs or specific breeds, and systemic illnesses like fever, hypoglycemia, or toxicity. Some medications and toxins may also disrupt neuromuscular control and lead to tremors.

Shivering is typically non-urgent when it starts in a clearly cold environment, stops after drying and warming, or happens only during short bouts of excitement and the dog is otherwise alert, eating, drinking and acting normally. Consider it an emergency when shaking is persistent or severe; when the dog is difficult to arouse; if there are breathing problems, pale or blue gums, collapse, seizure activity, repeated vomiting or bloody diarrhea, or if you know the dog may have eaten a toxin.

Inside the Body: What Causes Shivering in Dogs

Shivering is, at its simplest, an involuntary muscle contraction pattern that helps generate heat. When the body senses a drop in temperature, the nervous system may trigger rapid, small contractions across muscle groups to produce warmth. In dogs with poor insulation, low body fat, or small size, this thermoregulatory shivering may start sooner and be more obvious.

There’s a difference between neuromuscular tremors and seizures. Tremors are rhythmic, often localized or whole-body shivers that tend to be reproducible and may persist for a while; seizures usually involve altered consciousness and uncontrolled movements that are not purposeful. It can be hard to tell the two apart in the moment, so note whether your dog is responsive during the event and how long it lasts.

The autonomic stress response can also produce shaking. When a dog experiences fear or anxiety, adrenaline and other stress hormones flood the system and can lead to trembling even without a temperature problem. This shaking may stop once the dog feels safe, but repeated exposure to the trigger can make the response stronger over time unless addressed.

Drugs and toxins may interfere with normal neuromuscular signaling and cause tremors. Some pesticides, certain sedatives or stimulants, and a few human medications can provoke shaking by acting on the nervous system. If you suspect ingestion of anything unusual, that should raise the urgency.

When It Happens and Why — Common Triggers and Timing

Cold exposure is one of the most straightforward causes: a wet coat after a bath or swim, a drafty car in winter, or a short-haired dog left outside can all show shivering soon after exposure. Timing here is immediate and the remedy (drying and warming) is straightforward, but watch for prolonged hypothermia if warming does not help.

Fearful or novel stimuli often produce a predictable pattern: the dog freezes or shakes at the onset of the trigger (thunder, fireworks, vet visits, strangers), and the tremor may persist for minutes after the event as adrenaline declines. In these cases the shaking is linked to context and may appear in similar situations in the future.

Excitement and intense play can also cause short, full-body tremors as the nervous system winds down after a surge of activity. This is usually brief and the dog returns to normal quickly. By contrast, tremors that follow exercise but are accompanied by weakness, pale gums, or collapse could suggest a medical issue like low blood sugar or heart disease.

Timing patterns that suggest illness include shaking that is new in an older dog, tremors that start overnight without an obvious trigger, or shaking that begins after administering a new medication or supplement. Toxin-related tremors may begin soon after ingestion and often come with other signs such as drooling, vomiting, or uncoordinated movements.

Warning Signs That Mean You Should See a Vet

Not every shiver needs a rush to the emergency clinic, but these signs make it urgent: shaking that continues or worsens despite warming or removing stressors; trouble breathing, open-mouth breathing, or noisy respiration; collapse or inability to stand; pale, blue, or very bright red gums; a weak or very fast pulse; seizures or repeated convulsive activity; and severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially if blood is present.

A body temperature well outside the normal range for dogs (normal roughly 101–102.5°F, although individual variation exists) is also concerning: a low rectal temperature after cold exposure that fails to respond to warming suggests progressing hypothermia; a high temperature with shivering may suggest a systemic infection or toxin. If you can safely check a rectal temperature and it is clearly abnormal, relay that reading when you call for help.

What to Do Immediately When Your Dog Is Shivering

First, do a quick safety and status check. Is the dog conscious and responsive? Is breathing steady? Is the environment safe from traffic, toxins, or other animals? If the dog is unconscious or not breathing normally, treat it as an emergency and get help immediately.

If the dog is alert but shivering, reduce environmental stressors: move to a warm, quiet room, remove wet bedding and towels, and gently dry the coat. Wrap the dog in dry towels or a blanket and consider placing a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in cloth against the trunk — never place a heating pad directly on skin and avoid rapid warming that can cause complications. If overheating appears to be the issue, move to a cooler area and offer fresh air rather than applying heat.

Note recent events: baths, outdoor time, new medications, access to chemicals, or unusual food. If the dog is seizing, time the event, keep the animal safe from injury without restraining limbs, do not put anything in the mouth, and call your veterinarian immediately. If you know or strongly suspect poison ingestion, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control helpline right away; give them the product name and timing if possible.

If you know how to take rectal temperature and have a digital thermometer, a quick reading can be helpful; otherwise prioritize getting the dog warm and calm and contacting a veterinary professional. When in doubt, call your regular clinic or an emergency hospital and describe the shaking and any other symptoms — they can tell you whether to come in now or monitor at home.

How to Prevent Future Episodes: Practical Strategies

Prevention starts with addressing the trigger you identify. For cold-related shaking, keep small, elderly, and short-coated dogs indoors during cold weather, use well-fitting coats for walks, and dry them thoroughly after baths or swims. Insulating bedding and a warm sleeping area cut down recurrence in chilly homes.

For fear- or anxiety-related trembling, behavioral work can reduce the response over time. Desensitization and counterconditioning with gradual exposure to the trigger, paired with high-value rewards, often reduces shaking. Consulting a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist helps design a safe plan. Simple environmental changes — a quieter room during storms, a safe crate, or playing background noise — often make a measurable difference.

Regular preventive veterinary care reduces medical causes: managing arthritis pain, monitoring endocrine conditions, checking for low blood sugar in small-breed puppies, and reviewing medications that might cause tremors. Keep poisons locked away, know which human foods and household chemicals are hazardous, and update parasite control and vaccinations to reduce disease-related causes.

Helpful Gear and Supplies to Keep Your Dog Comfortable

• Well-fitting dog coats and sweaters — choose weather-appropriate layers for short-haired or small breeds and test fit so the dog can move freely.
• Absorbent towels and a soft, insulating bed — rapid drying after baths and a warm sleep surface reduce thermoregulatory shivering.
• Pet-safe warming pad or microwaveable heat pack designed for animals — use with a cover and never place directly on skin; check temperature regularly.
• Digital pet thermometer and a sturdy harness — a thermometer lets you check temperature if trained; a harness helps support weak dogs safely.
• Calming aids like a snug thunder shirt and pheromone diffusers — these are not cures but can reduce anxiety-related shaking when used as part of a behavior plan.

References and Further Reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: “Tremors and Seizures in Dogs” — Merck & Co., Inc., Veterinary Manual (section on neurologic disorders)
• Merck Veterinary Manual: “Hypothermia” — clinical guide on recognition and treatment of low body temperature in companion animals
• VCA Hospitals: “Why Is My Dog Shivering?” — patient education article on common causes and when to seek care
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: “Common Pet Toxins and Clinical Signs” — guidance on toxin-related tremors and emergency contacts
• Pet Poison Helpline: “Tremors and Seizures in Pets” — overview of toxic causes, recommended actions, and hotline resources