What to do if your dog is shaking and trembling?

You may have a question: Why is the dog shaking, the reasons, what to do?

Seizures in dogs are an unexpected and frightening manifestation of various pet health problems.

The causes can be a variety of ailments, so after the first such case it is necessary to consult a veterinarian to find out the factors that could trigger the seizures.

In this article we will tell you why your dog has seizures, what they are, what causes them, and how you can help your pet.

.

First, we will distinguish between different types of muscle contractions, since the specific behavior of the animal can suggest possible causes of a seizure. So, types of seizures:

1. Convulsions
   - the muscle contracts sharply, abruptly, arrhythmically, and not for a long time.
2. Tonic
   - long-lasting and not sharp convulsions that can be repeated continuously for a long time.
3. Clonic
   - muscles quickly contract and relax, but not as sharply as during convulsions.
4. Epileptic seizures
   are accompanied by loss of consciousness, the appearance of white foam from the mouth, and drooling.

usually the easiest to detect

, because they are accompanied not only by loss of consciousness, the dog foaming at the mouth and convulsions, but also by peculiarities in the animal’s behavior. But more on that later.

Seizures in dogs: causes and treatment

The most common cause of involuntary muscle contractions is epilepsy
.
Epilepsy is of two types: primary
and
secondary
.

Primary

caused by genetic disorders in the functioning of the brain and nervous system. It can appear in dogs aged from six months to 5 years.

Secondary

arises due to a variety of unforeseen situations, including the following:

Important!

These disorders in the animal’s body provoke not only the development of epilepsy and, as a consequence, epileptic seizures, but also the appearance of other types of seizures: convulsions, clonic and tonic seizures in dogs.

So, how can you tell if it’s an epileptic seizure? First of all, remember your pet’s behavior before the seizure.

At the first stage

The pet’s desire to hide from strangers manifests itself, it shakes and whines, and appears in an anxious state.

Then the second stage

- at a certain moment the dog loses consciousness, falls, has convulsions all over its body, it breathes heavily and shakes, all this is accompanied by the release of foam from the mouth.

After this comes the third stage

- postictal stage, when the animal begins to slowly come to its senses, it is not oriented in space and is somewhat alarmed. Usually the seizure does not last very long, about 5 minutes.

But sometimes it can be very long - about half an hour. This usually occurs when the body is in a neglected state.

What to do when your pet has a seizure? It is best to immediately contact a veterinary clinic or call a veterinarian at home. While the seizure lasts, you need to isolate the animal from sharp corners and hard objects so that it does not get injured.

Never try to put anything in the mouth

, this can end tragically both for your pet and for you, because a cramped jaw is very difficult to unclench. Transportation to the hospital is best carried out in a soft blanket. Your main task is to ensure that the pet does not harm itself. Be sure to take care of the muzzle and...

Important!

It is a popular belief among veterinarians that touching an animal during a seizure in any way can only make the situation worse. Therefore, it is better to rid your pet of any external stimuli: loud sounds, bright flashes, sharp touches.

The causes of uncontrolled muscle contractions may vary between breeds. For example, seizures in small breed dogs are often caused by hypoglycemia

- reduced amount of glucose in the blood.
In large breeds, the most common cause is epilepsy
.

Why is my dog's head shaking?

It happens that a dog experiences convulsions only in a specific part of the body (most often the head and lower jaw shake, and convulsions of the hind legs also occur), then the option with epilepsy is definitely not suitable. Most often, such local muscle contractions are caused by:

• disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system;
• infectious diseases;
• nervous overstrain;
• strong negative emotions.

At the first appearance of such “shaking”, you should immediately contact a veterinarian

, then there is a chance to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Cramps in sleep

Most often, puppies and easily excitable dogs twitch in their sleep. They seem to be having “bad” dreams, but in reality they are anxious and afraid. If you see that your pet is shaking in its sleep, then gently, gently touch it and stroke it, cover it with a warm blanket.

This is quite enough for your pet to calm down and sleep more soundly. If convulsions occur not only during sleep, they are not easy to calm, then it is necessary to conduct a full examination in the clinic

to find out the reasons.

Important!

Animals also have “nervous breakdowns”, they can be accompanied by convulsions. To make the animal feel better, you just need to spend more time with it and isolate it from any unpleasant environmental influences.

What is a cramp?

The basis of seizures is the hyperactivity of neurons responsible for the motor control system. Depending on the area, nature and degree of damage to the nervous system, symptoms can be very different, from muscle tremors, twitching of one paw or facial muscles to a seizure, which terribly frightens the owners: the dog suddenly falls, begins to twitch with his whole body, foam or saliva flows from the mouth . The pet can wet itself, because... control over the body is lost, and the muscles contract arbitrarily. This condition is often called an epileptic seizure, although epilepsy is not always the cause.

As a rule, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to five minutes, and stops as suddenly as it began: the dog gets up, looks around in bewilderment, shakes its head, moves stiffly. Many pets immediately after an attack drink or eat greedily, react inhibitedly to the owner’s voice, sit or lie, staring at one point. If the attack occurs for the first time, the danger to the pet’s life is minimal, but the cause of the condition must be identified and eliminated (or brought under control).

Useful video

Video about what types of seizures occur in dogs, their causes, treatment:

Caring dog owners should not only be alert to changes in their pet's behavior and mood (learn about age-related changes in a dog's body), but they should also pay attention to some physical signals that could be a symptom that something is wrong with their pet. that's not it. And today we invite you to talk about one of these signals from the dog’s body. Have you noticed that your dog is... trembling. Oh, do you know why this happens? We suggest learning about the causes of trembling in dogs in our publication. We will also tell you about how to help your pet...

Why do dogs tremble?

A physical condition such as trembling is in most cases considered a pathology and not a normal phenomenon, which may indicate that something is wrong with your pet. You shouldn’t ignore this condition, but trying to get to the bottom of the cause of the trembling and find out why your dog is shaking - this will even be useful. By the way, there are some dog breeds, primarily Yorkshire terriers, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, for which trembling in the body is normal. And, owners of dogs of such breeds should know about this and not bother the veterinarian in vain, since for their pets such a condition is not considered a deviation from the norm.

Causes of trembling in dogs

If you have a dog that is not a decorative or indoor breed, but, say, a Labrador (it is included in the list) or a shepherd, then you should not ignore the fact that it shakes periodically. It is better to try to find out what caused this condition and eliminate this cause. Ah, the reason could be the following...

Cold and hypothermia

If the air temperature outside is low, and you are carried away talking on the phone and do not monitor the walking time (find out), then dogs, especially small and medium-sized ones, can simply freeze on the street without warm clothes. When they feel cold, their body begins to instinctively shake and tremble, thus trying to speed up the flow of blood through the body in order to avoid hypothermia. If you notice that your dog is literally shaking from the cold, you should not continue your walk. Your pet may get sick from hypothermia and you will have to treat it.

For the future, if it is cold outside and you are planning a long walk, take care of clothes in which she will feel comfortable and will not shiver from the cold. Another alternative solution to the need for walks in the cold season is to teach your dog to go to the litter box at home. You can read how to do this, and about the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution.

If the temperature in the room where your pet lives is not high, you can place a heater to slightly warm the air in the room. However, we do not recommend leaving an electrical appliance unattended alone with your dog.

You can also insulate the place where your pet sleeps and rests by placing a warm bedding or blanket there.

If you find yourself on the street, and there is no way to get home, and your dog is shaking from the cold, you can warm it up by holding it close to you, or simply taking it in your arms...

Excitement and fear

Who said that the feeling of fear is not characteristic of dogs? This is wrong. Dogs, like people, can experience fear, anxiety, fright and other related emotions. And, finding themselves in such a situation, many of them begin to literally tremble with fear. So, if you raise your voice at your pet and notice that he is trembling, stop, you are crossing the permitted line, and you risk losing the friendship of your four-legged friend and breaking his psyche. Such a dog will not be able to be faithful and devoted to you, since loyalty and devotion should not be based on a feeling of fear.

If you notice that the dog begins to tremble when meeting another, larger one, try to nullify their communication and take the pet in your arms. He was just scared...

By the way, the more temperamental your pet is, the more strongly it will react to fear factors. Therefore, if you know that your pet is a coward (perhaps this is just an instinct of self-preservation), try to avoid visiting too crowded places with him, participating in fights, traveling in cars (want to know?), visiting exhibitions (described here), and firecrackers exploding...

If your dog is seriously worried and you are concerned about its nervous system, you can give it a calming tea, however, we would first recommend that you consult your veterinarian about this.

Positive emotions

Not only fear, but also positive emotions can cause trembling in a dog’s body. At the sight of her owner, whom she has not seen for a long time, she can simply go crazy with happiness, tremble with nervous excitement, dance, etc. In principle, this is not a bad reason for trembling, but if you are worried that such manifestations are weakening the pet’s nervous system, you should immediately rein in the dog with the command “stand” or “lie down”...

Hormones

During periods of sexual activity, dogs of both sexes may tremble periodically. However, most often, in order for your dog to experience such great excitement, he needs to see the lady of his heart. If you do not plan to practice, and there are no random matings in your plans, in order to protect your pet from such hormonal shocks, it is better to castrate him and sterilize the bitch.

Pain syndrome

Many dogs, experiencing pain and painful sensations, can tremble throughout their entire body, and trembling can be observed at the location of the pain. If you notice that your friend has begun to tremble, carefully examine him for injuries, bites from other animals, or injuries. If you find them, the pet will need to be given first veterinary aid, and then be sure to show it to a specialist.

If trembling in the body is observed in an older dog, its cause may be rheumatic pain - you will not be able to remove it, but you can ask the veterinarian to prescribe a painkiller for your pet.

Often, with abdominal pain and severe intoxication of the body, dogs experience pain shock and trembling throughout the body. In this case, the pet should be given a painkiller, but if the vomiting and lethargy do not stop, and the trembling intensifies, it is worth showing it to the veterinarian.

Low blood sugar

With hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, especially for representatives of small and decorative breeds, they experience trembling throughout the body, attacks of lethargy and loss of strength. It is very important to make sure that the tremors in the body are not associated with low blood sugar, since otherwise the dog will need emergency help, without which it may become a victim of seizures and death.

Allergy

One of the symptoms of an allergic reaction is trembling in the body. At the same time, if you fed the dog before, or changed its diet, trembling began after taking medication - most likely, you are dealing with an allergy. It is very important to identify the allergen and identify the cause of this condition, since very often the allergen tends to accumulate in the body to a critical point, and this becomes a serious test for the health of the animal. As first aid for allergies, and to reduce the severity of the attack, the dog can be given antihistamines. Find out about the things that can cause an allergic reaction.

Trembling or tremor is a rapid, long-term contraction and relaxation of muscle areas. Owners of small decorative or overly emotional dogs are absolutely calm about the fact that their pet often trembles. But if a large, working or calm dog is shaking for no apparent reason, this may be a symptom of a nervous system disorder, pathology or acute condition.

From a physiological point of view, tremor is an unconditioned reflex to maintain normal functioning of the body. If your dog is shaking slightly for the following reasons, there is no need to worry.

• Manifestation of emotions
  - stress, aggression, anger, joy, excitement, impatience.

• Hormonal surge
  - observed in males if there is a female in heat in the field of smell, while the dog can behave violently, whine, and refuse to obey. In females it is observed less frequently and only during periods of readiness for mating.

• Cold
  - a frozen or wet dog trembles to warm up; in order to stop the tremor, you need to rub the dog and make it actively move.

• Acclimatization
  – when traveling or moving to another climate zone. The adjustment period may be accompanied by trembling, which may be influenced by temperature differences or air humidity levels.

• Fear
  - suppression of fear is accompanied by the release of adrenaline into the blood, resulting in increased heart rate and tremors.

• Motion sickness
  – transportation by car or train can cause trembling, vomiting, dizziness, and unsteady gait. The optimal solution to the problem is sedatives - during sleep the animal saves energy and does not succumb to unnecessary stress.

• Dreams
  - excessive excitability and active life can lead to the fact that the pet will experience strong emotions even after falling asleep. If a dog shakes in its sleep, actively twitches its paws (runs), whines, or jumps up sharply without waking up, there may be two reasons - central nervous system excitability and magnesium deficiency. More on magnesium deficiency below.

Ear diseases in dogs

Most often, if a dog starts shaking its head, its ear hurts. In this case, the shaking is caused by the desire to stop the discomfort. Moving your head partially helps relieve pain, since large nerve fibers are irritated, and pain is transmitted through small ones.

Ear pain is not always otitis media. There are more than a dozen diseases that affect the dog's ears and head in general. Let's look at the symptoms of the most common of them.

Many small dogs experience weather dependence, which is accompanied by severe headaches when the atmospheric pressure changes.

Ear mites or otodectosis is a parasitic disease caused by the microscopic mite Otodectes. An acceptable environment for the parasite to live and reproduce is the ear canal, since it is warm and humid. When in an acceptable environment, ticks multiply quickly. Parasites feed on blood, lymph, skin particles and secretions, and earwax.

It is important to remember that ear mites are highly contagious and can quickly spread from a host to a healthy dog. Note that most often the carriers are cats. A guaranteed infection will occur if a nursing bitch is sick with ear mites. In this case, puppies can quickly die, but an adult dog will fight the disease for a long time.

The main symptoms of ear mites are:

• Frequent shaking of the head.
• Ear scratching.
• Ear pinching.
• The appearance of scratches on the face and back of the head in a short period of time.
• Severe pain - the dog whines if you touch the ear.
• Severe itching – the pet scratches the ear with its paw, on furniture and other surfaces.
• Formation of brown, plasticine-like ear plaque. In advanced cases, these secretions clog the ear canal.
• Discharge from the ear canals - at first the discharge looks like ichor; in the advanced stage, green pus is released.
• The characteristic odor from the ears is the waste products of mites, earwax and blood mixing, forming crusts that emit a putrid odor.

Have you examined your pet and his ears are clean, pink and smell normal? What could be the reason? The first thing to rule out is ear or head injury. When a concussion occurs, your pet may feel dizzy and nauseous. Shaking his head, the dog is literally trying to come to his senses and not lose his balance.

Ear injuries are quite common in some breeds. Be careful and examine your pet after every walk if it has drooping, long, or sensitive ears.

Tremor as a symptom of disease or pathology

If the dog is trembling in a calm environment or for no apparent reason, you need to evaluate the general condition of the animal. Negative indicators in the presence of tremor can be considered:

• Refusal to eat or drink.

• Increased or decreased temperature.

• Dull, dry, unkempt coat.

• Dry, flaky skin.

• Too fast or slow heart rate.

• Pale or bluish mucous membranes.

• Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of balance.

• Aggression or excessive depression.

The presence of one or more symptoms indicates a disease. Diagnosis should be carried out by a veterinarian, since there are a lot of possible options: poisoning, heat stroke, dehydration, severe stress, central nervous system diseases, pneumonia, influenza.

An allergic reaction can cause itching, redness of the skin and mucous membranes, nasal discharge, tremors - antihistamines are used to relieve symptoms.

Tremors are often observed in pregnant dogs before contractions begin.

. The phenomenon is considered normal and does not require intervention.

• Hind legs or whole body shake.

• The uterus becomes toned.

• The back is arched or hunched.

• The dog tucks its tail and lies on its side.

Types and causes of otitis in dogs

If a dog scratches its ear and shakes its head vigorously, the cause is most likely otitis media. Even animals prone to otitis rarely suffer from this disease if regular prevention is carried out: examination and cleaning of the ears.

However, there are a number of contributing factors that can cause your dog to suffer:

• Features of anatomy - some dog breeds have drooping ears, and some have a narrowed ear canal. In the first case, the ears constantly get wet due to the formation of condensation; in the second, there is a high probability of injury and infection of the auricle. Dogs with cropped ears are also at risk, since their ears are not protected from the influence of the external environment - wind, dust, direct sunlight, frost, precipitation, etc.

• Neoplasms, for example, “harmless” papillomas, can lead to narrowing and even clogging of the ear canal.

• Entry of water or foreign object.

• Rough walking or improper ear cleaning method.

• Using alcohol solutions to clean ears.

• Parasites.

• Fungi and bacteria that have entered the ear canal.

• Unbalanced or unhealthy diet - it has been established that sweet and smoked foods provoke the development of otitis media.

• Viruses – one of the symptoms of a viral disease may be otitis media or ear pain.

If you can't figure out if your dog has otitis media, you need to check the signs. In addition to constant shaking of the head and obvious soreness in the ears, a number of other symptoms indicate otitis media. We talked about the signs of ear mites above, so if you find copious brown discharge, this is definitely not otitis media. However, infection with ear mites can lead to otitis, both acute and internal.

Otitis may be indicated by a constant tilt of the head to one side. By tilting its head, the pet reduces the pressure in the ear, which slightly dulls the pain. Changes in the flora and position of the ear, even if it is clear, may indicate internal otitis, which is very painful. If there is excessive scratching of the ears and the area around them, one can conclude that the dog either has ear mites or otitis media.

After the initial infection, otitis media develops quickly and is accompanied by discharge. At first, the discharge is transparent and greasy, then ichor, pus and even blood are observed. Even before obvious purulent discharge appears, the ears begin to smell unpleasant, which indicates rotting tissue in the ear canal and the formation of pus (when there is more of it, it will come out).

Quite often, even in the early stages of otitis, the dog’s hearing noticeably deteriorates. If the disease is accompanied by blockage of the ear canal, hearing may be completely lost.

With any type of otitis, the dog experiences a deterioration in appetite and a lethargic state. In the early stages, you may notice that the ears become much hotter. When inflammation affects the deeper layers and triggers the body's immune response, the base body temperature will rise.

Next, let’s look at the types of otitis media, since the treatment method and prognosis for recovery depend on the correct diagnosis. According to the location of the lesion, the disease is divided into:

• External - inflammation affects only the visible part of the auricle. Infected scratches are often observed.

• Medium is a very painful form that starts in a part of the ear that is invisible to you. Scratching is observed behind the ears. The first symptoms can be considered abundant transparent discharge and “slurping” when massaging the auricle.

• Internal is the most painful and secretive form of otitis. Visual symptoms do not appear for a long time, but it is painful for the dog to move his head and therefore he tries to turn his whole body. Often the first symptoms are apathy or anxiety, fever, and refusal to eat.

Note! Treatment with folk remedies is acceptable only at the early stage of otitis externa. If your dog has already started to have purulent discharge, be sure to consult a doctor, since the infection goes deep into the ear very quickly and can cause irreversible damage.

Tremor as a symptom of an acute reaction requiring emergency care

Painful sensations also cause trembling in older dogs. As prescribed by the veterinarian, the dog is given pain medication, after which the causes of the disease are identified. If a dog is in pain, most often it does not eat anything, is depressed, prefers to remain quiet, and squints or defends itself when the painful area is probed.

The reasons why a dog may tremble are physiological and pathological. The first include harmless conditions that arise under the influence of external factors and require minimal human intervention.

Common Causes of Trembling

A dog may shake due to hormonal reasons. This condition often occurs in males when excited and in females during estrus.

If a dog is trembling, breed characteristics may explain the condition. This often happens in small pets, such as:

• Pomeranian Spitz;
• Yorkshire Terrier;
• Chihuahua, etc.

These animals most often experience the emotions of fear and excitement.

If the dog constantly lies at home and on walks, and periodically shakes, then perhaps the reason is old age.

Pets age faster than people - their 10 years are equivalent to 60 years of human life.

Pets may twitch in their sleep. This is due to dreams: in animals they are more dynamic than in humans.

In some cases, the state of trembling is caused by a number of factors:

Allergy in an animal

Otodectosis

A common disease among dogs. Otodectosis is a mite infection of the ear. It is found in dogs that free-range or accompany their owner in the forest. During walks, the parasite easily attaches itself to the animal. In most cases, the disease affects both ear canals.

A characteristic feature of otodectosis is a gray-brown coating on the inner surface of the ear. In advanced cases, it comes to dark brown crusts. This is dried blood resulting from scratching. Locally, using antiparasitic drugs. It is important to first clean the surface of crusts and ear plugs. If large areas of scratching appear, they must be treated with an antiseptic and healing ointments. Carefully inspect your pet's ears after a walk. Regular brushing will also help keep them healthy.

Very common in breeds with long ears or those that have folds in this area (Chow Chow, Shar Pei, Bulldogs, etc.) The folded skin blocks the ear canal and interferes with air circulation. After some time, grease accumulates in the ears. If bacteria get into it, the inflammatory process begins. The dog shakes its head and presses its ear - this indicates the animal’s discomfort. Behavior becomes restless, itching appears in the sore spot. Then the pet begins to rub against any surface that it can reach. Doesn't sleep well at night, whines in his sleep. Any attempt

looking into the ear is met with active resistance - a sign that acute pain is occurring. When you do manage to get to the ear, the first thing that catches your eye is purulent plaque. Often accompanied by redness, swelling and an unpleasant odor. In some cases, an ear plug forms. If the situation is advanced, the pet weakens and loses its appetite.

Local treatment. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments are prescribed as medications. If the otitis media is viral in nature, the veterinarian will prescribe immunomodulatory medications, interferon. If the cause of the disease is bacteria, then antibiotics. The doctor will be able to determine why the disease began only after passing all the necessary tests. To avoid disease, the rules are simple: timely care of the ears and their regular examination.

Situations caused by diseases

The main causes of tremors include metabolic disorders.

The condition may be caused by:

• disturbance of magnesium-calcium balance;
• hypothyroidism;
• insulin deficiency.

Low blood glucose levels, or hypoglycemia, most often occur in small breeds. You can recognize this by additional symptoms when the dog:

• becomes lethargic, apathetic;
• doesn't eat anything;
• feels cramps.

The condition is quickly cured, but if the process is started, paralysis of the legs may occur.

The cause of tremors in a dog that has given birth to offspring is eclampsia.

The condition is characterized by a rapid decrease in calcium levels in the blood. The bitch's hind legs, forelimbs and whole body are shaking.

The following additional symptoms occur with eclampsia:

• spasmodic muscle contraction;
• temperature rise up to 40 degrees;
• the appearance of shortness of breath;
• acceleration of the heartbeat.

Viruses

Trembling in dogs occurs due to a viral disease. The most dangerous conditions include:

An attentive owner always watches his pet, so he sees any changes in his behavior, for example, he begins to tremble. This may be due to physiological reasons or pathological conditions associated with various diseases. But it is worth noting that if a Yorkie, Chihuahua, Pomeranian or other small breed is trembling, this in most cases is a normal variant that should not cause concern to the owner. In this way they often express fear and may also simultaneously tuck their paws, ears and tail, squeal and even involuntarily urinate.

For owners of pets of other breeds, you should also not immediately sound the alarm, but try to figure out the reasons and eliminate the most harmless options.

The main distinguishing feature of these factors is that a symptom such as trembling disappears almost immediately after the source that provoked it is eliminated. These include:

• Stressful situations (for example, when awaiting punishment or after it).
• Hypothermia, which can be caused both by walking at low air temperatures and at home, for example, after swimming.
• Fear (appearance of obvious sources of danger in the field of vision, in the case of loud sounds, etc.).
• Intense excitement associated with positive emotions. Some pets begin to tremble in anticipation of receiving their favorite treat or meeting their owner after a long separation, and even in their sleep if they dream of something pleasant.
• Hormonal surge. This is especially true for male dogs, who become very overexcited at the sight of an attractive individual of the opposite sex.
• An attempt to attract the owner's attention. In this case, trembling can be compared to wagging a tail. This expression of emotions is characteristic of breeds that usually have their tails docked (Rottweilers, Boxers, etc.).

But if the dog is trembling as if it has chills, and the “conditions” listed above are not present, this is a reason to take a closer look at your pet and perhaps even go to the veterinarian.

Pathological causes

If a dog starts to tremble even at home for no apparent reason, you need to assess the dog’s general condition and evaluate the presence of other negative symptoms (fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, etc.). This behavior may be a signal of the development of diseases or other pathological conditions.

Viral diseases

In pets who have not been vaccinated, trembling can be caused by one of the viral diseases. The most dangerous of them include:

• Viral hepatitis (young individuals under one year of age are most susceptible) - affects the cornea, liver and kidneys. In addition to trembling, it is accompanied by impaired coordination, paralysis and other manifestations of disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.
• Encephalomyelitis (develops in dogs at 5-8 years of age) - causes poor coordination of movements, frequent falls due to weakness of the limbs, and if left untreated, ends in complete paralysis.
• Parovirus enteritis (puppies under 4 months of age are most susceptible, but it also occurs in older dogs) - accompanied by possible trembling, refusal to drink and eat, and prolonged vomiting. It is important to start treatment in the first 4 days after the lesion, otherwise the likelihood of death is very high.

• Helminthic infestation - indicates infection of the body with helminths and may be accompanied by the appearance of trembling when attempting to defecate.
• Dirofilariasis - is caused by heartworms, which, after entering the body, migrate to the heart of the animal and in the process of this path, uncontrollable trembling sometimes appears. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of edema and dropsy, caused by impaired blood circulation, dry frequent cough and apathetic behavior.
• Piroplasmosis – causes blood poisoning due to a tick bite. The disease is accompanied by heavy breathing, loss of balance, trembling and brown urine.

Diseases of internal organs and metabolic disorders

Trembling, along with other symptoms, may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the internal systems of the body. Among them:

• Hypoglycemia (more common in small dogs) – accompanied by uncontrollable tremors, loss of strength and lethargy. If detected early, hypoglycemia can be successfully treated, but otherwise it causes paralysis of the limbs and subsequent death.
• Hypothyroidism (deficiency of thyroid hormones) is accompanied not only by trembling, but also by weakness and a decrease in body temperature.
• Heart disease (heart failure, myocarditis) - manifests itself in the form of tachycardia (heartbeat disturbances), tremors, frequent bowel movements and other symptoms.
• Inflammation of the spinal cord - accompanied by trembling, changes in gait and paralysis of the limbs.
• Eclampsia - appears in dogs during pregnancy and lactation with a significant drop in the level of calcium in the body, as a result of which the functioning of the nervous system is disrupted and trembling subsequently develops into convulsions. Sometimes vomiting, fever and shortness of breath appear.

Other reasons

The appearance of tremors may be associated with other reasons, including:

• An allergic reaction - manifests itself against the background of switching to a different diet, using medications and is accompanied by itching, sometimes rashes.
• Food or toxic poisoning manifests itself in the form of apathy, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sometimes increased thirst, and convulsions.
• Heatstroke – the dog not only shivers on a hot day, but also becomes lethargic and sometimes has rapid breathing.
• Pain – manifests itself in the form of trembling throughout the body or in the area where pain is localized, while the pet whines. This behavior may be associated with injuries, rheumatic pain, abdominal pain or more serious diseases, including cancer.
• The side effect of the vaccine is accompanied by severe trembling, lack of appetite and weakness.
• Postoperative condition - the appearance of trembling may be due to the body’s inability to normal thermoregulation, an increase in temperature due to the development of an infection, or a reaction to certain medications.

What diseases cause head tremors in English Bulldogs?

It may be that an English Bulldog's head is shaking due to a simple injury. For example, a scar may form due to an impact, which will only appear after some time. In some cases, there are no options to solve the problem, but often a positive result is achieved by systematically taking medications to resolve scar tissue and restore metabolic processes in the affected area. It is imperative to monitor your pet’s nutrition; the dog requires vitamin supplements at least in the off-season, and even when fed with ready-made food.

A number of pathologies, often diagnosed in certain breeds, also explain why the English Bulldog's head shakes violently.

1. Epilepsy. This disease is genetic, so it is incorrect to say that ordinary tremor “transitions” into it. Simply, in the absence of supportive therapy, the symptoms intensify and cause more discomfort to the dog. Unfortunately, the impact of epilepsy on a pet's quality of life is so great that not all bulldogs survive. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis is required, as well as following the recommendations of veterinarians.
2. Tumor. Depending on where the tumor develops, it can literally put pressure on the brain, causing the animal to have seizures. For example, when a dog shakes its head and cannot stop. The risks of such a diagnosis are equally likely for English bulldogs and other breeds.
3. Ataxia. The essence of the disease is incoordination of movements. Given the already specific structure of the entire skeleton and especially the spine, the English Bulldog may experience even greater difficulties with normal movement. The very first symptoms of ataxia are head tremors, weakness of the hind legs, difficulty turning over from the back. This diagnosis is not considered the most typical for French and English bulldogs, but a good veterinarian will suspect it if neither tumor nor epilepsy is confirmed.
4. Congenital pathologies of the development of the nervous system. English bulldogs, unfortunately, are characterized by congenital and genetic pathologies of the nervous system. Sometimes they experience underdevelopment. This does not affect the dog's behavior or intelligence in any way. On the contrary, such a puppy may be even more energetic and physically strong. In the case of congenital problems in the development of the nervous system, rare and short attacks, which do not in any way worsen the dog’s quality of life, have been observed since childhood. With age, their duration and intensity may increase, then the veterinarian is obliged to offer medications that alleviate the animal’s condition.

Due to physiological characteristics, it happens that the deterioration of the condition and the onset of attacks, in which the English bulldog’s head shakes, occurs after walking in the cold or with frequent tugging on the leash. Veterinarians recommend walking with scarves or any dog ​​clothing that covers the neck if it is cold outside. If your pet is too energetic and does not obey, you can go to a harness so that it can be pulled back and restrained painlessly.

Some breeds have common health problems that are genetically determined. These include head tremors in English bulldogs. Such attacks frighten the owners, but often at a veterinarian's appointment they learn that this is not dangerous, because it is a consequence of the development of the nervous system, and not its degenerative disease. Diagnosis is necessary to exclude or confirm epilepsy. Even such a diagnosis is not a reason for despair, because maintenance therapy will allow you to keep the dog’s life at the same full level of activity.

In the article I will talk about the causes of tremors in pets, why a dog or cat is lethargic, tucks its tail, hind legs and begins to shake. What diseases is it caused by? Or is this a normal physiological reaction. When diagnostics and qualified assistance from a veterinarian are needed.

In animals that have not been vaccinated, trembling may be caused by a viral disease.

Trembling may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the animal’s internal organs:

• Hypoglycemia is a lack of blood sugar in small breed dogs. Accompanied by shaking, lethargy, loss of strength. Hypoglycemia can be easily cured with one injection of glucose. If detected untimely, it causes paralysis of the limbs and death.
• (deficiency of thyroid hormones) – accompanied by trembling, weakness, and decreased body temperature.
• Heart disease (heart failure, myocarditis) – caused by trembling, irregular heartbeat, and frequent bowel movements.
• Inflammation of the spinal cord - accompanied by shaking and paralysis of the limbs.
• Eclampsia (drop in calcium levels) - appears in bitches during pregnancy and lactation. There is trembling, turning into convulsions, vomiting, high fever, shortness of breath.

Trembling may also indicate a disturbance in the functioning of internal organs.