vet well-visits for your petsvet well-visits for your pets

If you're like most people, you take notice if your dog is not acting in a way that you consider normal. For example, your dog may suddenly appear to be shivering or trembling. Sometimes, the reason this occurs is simple and can be taken care of with a little love and affection. However, there are instances when you may want to take your dog to the vet to ensure that there is nothing more serious happening. This guide explains what causes normal shivering and shaking, and when you will need to take your furry friend to the vet.

When Shivering Is a Normal Occurrence

The longer your dog is a member of your family, the more you will begin to understand their habits, their behaviors and what excites them. Here are the instances that may cause normal trembling and shivering:

• After getting a bath
• After getting spooked
• When greeting you at the door
• Feeling guilty from having an accident in the house
• Nervousness from being around new people or car rides

As time goes on, you will get to know which of these situations is causing a trembling sensation in your dog. More often than not, resolving this problem is simply a matter of cuddling with your dog, petting them or finding some other way to reassure them and make them more comfortable.

When Shivering Indicates a Health Problem

If none of the normal causes of shivering and trembling are taking place, then you may want to consult with a veterinarian so that they can determine whether some sort of disease or injury is present in your dog's body. Expect your vet to run tests to check for any of the following:

• Poisoning
• Kidney disease
• Liver problems
• Distemper

Keep in mind that there doesn't have to be an actual disease causing any type of tremors that your dog might be experiencing. In fact, they don't even have to be excited, cold from water or be experiencing any of the normal causes of shivering to show this phenomenon.

The older your dog gets, the more likely they will start trembling and shaking at some point. As a dog gets older, they may experience pain in their legs or other parts of their body that can cause trembling. Your vet should be able to determine whether old age is causing your dog to have tremors, and they can likely give them something to ease their pain if needed.

Other Symptoms to Look For

Take your dog to the vet right away if they are not only trembling, but also have any of these symptoms, which can likely indicate a health issue:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Limping
• Lip smacking
• Lethargy

Get to know your dog and his or her behaviors as much as you can, so that you can be alerted when something doesn't seem quite right. Even if you feel that your dog is simply experiencing a little bit of pain, don't try to medicate them without a prescription and guidance from a veterinarian.