You may know that chihuahuas are the smallest dogs on the planet. They do have a lot of interesting traits and one of them is shaking. Why do chihuahuas shake? Well, as you can see there are a lot of reasons for that. Below we are going to explain all of them. This is not a huge issue and in most cases, it is completely harmless so you don’t have to worry about it. But, you need to know the reasons why this happens.
Reasons Chihuahuas Shake Most Of The Time.
1. Very high metabolism
These are small dogs, 2-4 pounds in weight. They have a small stomach and very fast metabolism. As such they burn calories 3 times faster than any other dog. Why do chihuahuas shake? The most common answer is high metabolism as you were able to see. They will usually shake when scared, excited or when they are cold. All dogs will shake in these cases but chihuahuas will do it quickly and more due to high metabolism.
2. Chihuahua is excited
Well, chihuahuas are excited and you can notice shaking. It will start immediately and it can last for minutes. The most common case when you can notice this is before dinner. There is nothing serious here and you don’t have to worry about it. All you have to do is to give food to your pet and wait until he gets what he wants. He will stop shaking soon. Your pet may shake when you come home from work. He is excited to see you and once again there is no need to worry about anything here.
3. Due to age
Old dogs will shake more than adult dogs and puppies. This is common for all dog breeds but once again more pronounced in chihuahuas. There are not a lot of things you can do. It is ideal if you can provide a lot of physical activity and time to your old dog.
4. Due to anxiety
All dogs can suffer from anxiety but chihuahuas are masters in this field. They can be anxious or better said become anxious without any massive reasons. For instance, you can see them anxious when new faces come to your home, due to separation anxiety and many other reasons. Chihuahuas are known for this so you may want to prepare for this if you are planning to adopt this dog breed.
5. Your pet is cold
Well, it is obvious. All dogs and all living creatures will shake when they are cold. But, chihuahuas will shake sooner and at a higher temperature than other pets. This happens because they are very small and they do not have a lot of body fat to protect them from the cold. While it is mandatory to keep your pet warm, keeping chihuahuas warm is even more important.
6. Due to poison
Yes, your pet can be poisoned. All dogs must avoid chocolate so chihuahuas must not eat it either. Pesticides, antifreeze, and countless other things can poison your pet as well. If this happens he or she will show certain signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, drooling, weakness, seizures, and similar. It is mandatory to take him to a vet immediately! Chihuahuas are very small dogs so they need a small amount of poison to end up poisoned.
7. GTS
GTS stands for generalized tremor syndrome and it affects puppies. Puppies aged months-2 years are most commonly affected by this syndrome. Scientists do not know why it happens and there is no cure for it. It can affect all dog breeds to only chihuahuas so keep that in mind. It is not a very common syndrome but one that is very problematic. Luckily it doesn’t affect older dogs.
8. He is upset or nervous
An upset or nervous dog will shake and chihuahuas are well-known for this. They can be easily upset and they are very aggressive. When things mix up, he will start shaking. A dog can be upset due to countless things. Keep in mind that you should provide a lot of physical activity and take your pet to play with other dogs. This is ideal in order to keep them relaxed and calm at all times. 30 minutes outside per day is more than enough for your pet needs.
9. Canine Distemper
This is a huge problem and it is a viral infection. It affects puppies and adult dogs who were not vaccinated. You can also see tremors, coughing, fever, nose and eye discharge when this condition is present. That’s why it is important to take your pet to a vet on a regular basis and use all vaccines recommended by the expert. Chihuahuas are sensitive and delicate dogs so vaccines are a must.
10 .Allergy
All dogs are prone to allergies and there are countless examples of why and when this can happen. Chihuahuas are also prone to all kinds of allergens so they can shake and will show other signs when this happens. Shaking is one of the most common signs and one that will be noticed immediately. You will have to take your pet to a vet as soon as you start suspecting an allergy. Some of these are very dangerous.
11. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels will be very low. It can happen to all dogs and in general, 10% of chihuahuas end up with this. You will notice shaking most of the time or at least when the blood sugar level is too low. You will want to feed your pet 3 times per day, small meals of course. If he starts shaking excessively, give him sugary water right now.
12. Seizure
All kinds of seizures can cause your pet to shake. These are neurological disorders and they are hard to treat. Luckily most of them can be treated. You will also notice that your pet has muscle twitching, collapsing and that he has mouth foaming and drooling. If you notice a combination of these signs, take him to a vet immediately. If the condition is detected sooner, the treatment will be more successful.
13. Internal bleeding or injury
Chihuahuas are very small pets so they can end up injured all the time. Some of the accidents can cause internal bleeding and injuries that are hard to notice. Keep in mind that your pet may also have black diarrhea, pale gums, bruises, and weakness. It is best to take him to a vet after any type of accident. Chihuahuas are delicate pets hence they can end up severely injured in no time and when other dogs wouldn’t.
14. Ear infections
This is more common than you may believe. A simple thing such as excessive earwax production can cause shaking and shivering. You will see a dog that has his head tilted and he is shaking excessively. He may also rub his head against a wall, furniture, or something else. You need to take him to a vet immediately. This is not something that will go away by itself.
15. Kidney disease
Kidney disease is a huge problem for all dogs and there is no cure for it. Shaking is one of the symptoms. You will also notice bloody eyes, ammonia smell, weakness, ulcers in the mouth, pale gums, shortness of breath and so much more. Sadly, there are not a lot of things you can do here. Yes, there are treatments that can prolong the lifespan but they are not extremely effective.
When to take your pet to a vet
As you were able to see, not all reasons require you to take the pet to a vet. But some of these do. In general, if your pet shakes when he is happy, excited, or scared, you don’t have to do anything. This will typically last a few minutes or even 20 minutes but will stop and your pet will not shake anymore.
But, if your pet is shaking for hours or days and there are no apparent reasons such as dinner, you came home from work, or something similar, you will need to look closely. Are there any other signs that are visible? For instance, your dog is drooling or has a fever. Your pet is too tired and he refuses to move and play with you. Your pet has a fever. In general, all of these signs suggest that your pet has some huge issue and that you need to take him to a vet. If there are no other signs, it usually means that shaking is harmless and you don’t have to do anything about it.
The final word
Why do chihuahuas shake? There are 15 main reasons why they do this and most of these are harmless. You can see a dog shaking occasionally and when he is excited about an instance. There is nothing to worry about and you can enjoy time with your pet. But, if your dog is shaking and there are other symptoms present, you will need to take him to a vet. Treatment may be needed.
Also, you can read here, Why Is My Dog Acting Paranoid All The Sudden?
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