Shih Tzus are affectionate, extroverted, and playful companions that genuinely relish human company. If you’ve been a Shih Tzu owner for any period of time, you know just how special these lively charmers can be. That’s why it can be so terrifying if your little fur buddy starts exhibiting strange behaviors like shaking.
Many things can cause a Shih Tzu to begin shaking. They may be trembling to express emotions like excitement or fear, or they may not be in control of the shaking at all due to a health condition or their age.
Read on to find 11 common reasons why your Shih Tzu is shaking and what you need to do when you see them exhibit this behavior.
The 11 Reasons Your Shih Tzu Is Shaking
1. They’re Excited
It doesn’t take much to make a Shih Tzu excited. Even just walking in the door at the end of your workday is enough to make some pups so happy they’ll tremble or even urinate from the excitement.
Your Shih Tzu’s enthusiasm toward you is completely normal (and adorable) as long as their excitement shakes aren’t accompanied by any concerning body language.
- How to Help Over-Excited Shih Tzus
While shaking with excitement can be normal, you still may want to address your pup’s overexcitement, especially if it’s also causing them to urinate inappropriately.
To calm overexcited pups, try to ignore their enthusiasm and redirect them to a more desirable behavior. For example, ask them to sit. Once they follow through, offer praise and reward them with something they love (e.g., a treat or praise).
2. They’re Afraid or Anxious
If your pup begins trembling after a triggering event (e.g., fireworks, sirens, or a visit to the vet), chances are they’re shaking due to fear or stress.
- How to Help Anxious or Fearful Shih Tzus
Your job as a pet owner is to determine what’s triggering your pet. If it’s something you can control, you can remove your dog’s access to it. For example, if you know your Shih Tzu is terrified of fireworks, you can take them into a quiet room far from windows and doors on July 4th.
Some cases of anxiety may be so severe that medical intervention may be necessary. There are several medications your veterinarian can prescribe to address an overanxious Shih Tzu.
3. They’re Nauseous
Dogs can shake when they’re feeling queasy. Nausea is often accompanied by other signs, including restlessness, panting, drooling, gulping air, and retching.
Shih Tzus can become nauseous for a number of reasons, though the most common include eating something they shouldn’t have, parasites, viral infections, and stress.
- How to Help Nauseous Shih Tzus
If your pup appears to be nauseous but doesn’t exhibit any other signs, you may be able to get away with monitoring the situation from home. If they resume their regular activities after a few hours, it’s likely the problem has resolved itself.
However, if other concerning signs accompany your Shih Tzu’s nausea or if they’re actively throwing up, call your veterinarian and make an appointment. Your vet may recommend testing like bloodwork and urine samples as a jumping-off point as they seek a diagnosis.
4. They’re Aging
Some dogs will develop tremors in their legs as they age due to weakening muscles or arthritis. Pups who are into their golden years may also exhibit other signs of aging, such as changes in weight, vision or hearing loss, reduction of mental acuity, and changes in sleep patterns.
- How to Help Aging Shih Tzus
It’s essential to keep up with your annual wellness exams as your dog ages, as they may become prone to certain conditions like cancer, heart disease, hearing loss, blindness, and more. The more information your veterinarian has about your dog before they begin showing signs of their age, the faster they’ll be able to pick up on slight nuances in their health and behavior that may indicate an issue.
Your vet may recommend making some changes in your pup’s environment to keep them safe as their bodies change.
5. They’re in Pain or Ill
Shih Tzus may respond to pain or illness with trembling. Shivering can be a sign of severe health conditions like hypoglycemia or distemper, but it may also be a result of something much less severe, like an upset tummy.
Dogs in pain will typically exhibit other signs, including flattened ears, low posture, irritability, aggression, crying, reluctance to play, lameness, and loss of appetite.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu in Pain
If you believe your Shih Tzu is in pain, the best thing you can do for them is to take them to your veterinarian. They’ll run some tests to determine the source of your pup’s pain and create a treatment plan to get your pet back to full health.
6. They’ve Ingested Something Toxic
Many toxins and poisons can cause dogs to tremor and shake. According to the ASPCA, the 10 most common pet toxins include over-the-counter medication, human food and drink, prescription medication, chocolate, plants, fungi, rodenticides, household products, insecticides, and recreational drugs.1
- How to Help a Shih Tzu That’s Ingested Something Toxic
If you believe your pup has gotten into something they shouldn’t have, you need to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Some products can be life-threatening if you don’t seek immediate treatment. You can also try calling the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for advice.
7. They Have a Seizure Disorder
Epilepsy isn’t just a condition that affects humans; our dogs can develop this neurological disorder, too. This condition is characterized by recurrent seizures without a known cause. Other than shaking, other signs of epilepsy include drooling, loss of consciousness, stumbling, falling over, neck stiffening, and loss of bladder and bowel control.
Please note, however, that dogs do not need to have epilepsy to have seizures. Seizures are a sign, not a disease. They’re a manifestation of abnormal motor activity occurring in the brain.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu with Seizures
If your dog is having seizures, it’s essential to stay as calm as possible. Keep track of how long the seizures last, and if possible, record them for your veterinarian. Protect your dog from hard objects and stairs as they’re seizing. You can cushion their head and hold them gently until they come to.
Make a point to call your vet after a seizure, even if your pup is acting normally again.
8. They Have Distemper
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks the immune system cells. It weakens a dog’s immune response and puts them at a higher risk of developing other infections. The virus can affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Sadly, this condition is often fatal. However, dogs that do recover are usually stuck with muscular twitches and seizures for the rest of their lives.
Other signs of distemper include diarrhea, vomiting, yellow discharge from the nose and eyes, cough, and paralysis.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu with Distemper
There is no one treatment for this condition, but it is focused on reducing the intensity and severity of your pup’s signs. Treatment also typically involves supportive care while your dog tries to fight the virus. Your vet may recommend antibiotics to control any secondary bacterial infections that occur as a result of distemper.
They may also suggest hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy and anti-seizure medications.
9. They Have Generalized Tremor Syndrome
Generalized tremor syndrome (GTS), also sometimes called shake syndrome, causes head and body tremors. Affected pups have rhythmic, repetitive, and involuntary muscle movements that may or may not be localized to one area of the body.
The tremors can vary in severity from mild and barely noticeable to incapacitating, as they do not allow the pup to eat or walk properly.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu with GTS
Your veterinarian will want to perform several tests to rule out any potential medical conditions that may be causing your Shih Tzu’s neurological signs. Once they have ruled out all medical causes for your dog’s tremors, they’ll officially diagnose them with GTS. Once a diagnosis is received, your vet may refer you to a veterinary neurologist for advanced testing and more extensive workups.
This condition is often treated with the steroid prednisone to suppress the immune system. In most cases, the tremors stop within a week or two of beginning treatment.
10. They Have Hypoglycemia
When a Shih Tzu’s blood sugar dips too low, they may shake or even have a seizure. When this happens, the body can exhibit signs of not having enough energy to operate. The brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function properly, so this condition can be extremely dangerous and must be treated quickly.
Like all toy breeds, Shih Tzus are particularly vulnerable to this condition, also known as hypoglycemia. Other signs include lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, weakness, and fainting.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu with Hypoglycemia
If you believe your Shih Tzu has hypoglycemia, immediate veterinary treatment is necessary to give your pup the best chance of recovery. Low glucose levels can be life-threatening, so time is of the essence.
Once at the clinic, your vet will perform a blood glucose test and likely a complete blood count. After examining your pup and learning more about their medical history, the vet may deem further testing necessary.
The treatment will depend on how severe the situation is. Shih Tzus with minimal signs may only need a dose of oral liquid glucose. Those with more severe signs will need to be hospitalized for IV fluid therapy to bring their blood sugar up.
11. They Want Attention
Shih Tzus are intelligent little pups, and if they’ve gotten your attention by shaking in the past, they may do it again to elicit the same response.
- How to Help a Shih Tzu That Wants Your Attention
As easy as it is to give your pup the attention they desire, reinforcing attention-seeking behaviors can be a slippery slope. However, you can prevent such behaviors from happening in the future by ensuring all of your pup’s needs are being met. Start by providing them with enough attention by setting aside time every day to play with them and take them outside to burn off some energy.
Another great way to stop attention-seeking behaviors like shaking is to give your dog alternative behaviors. Teach them a more effective way to get what they want and then reward them for good behavior. For example, if your Shih Tzu starts shaking when you come home from work, teach them to sit to say hello and then give them a treat whenever they sit instead of shake when you walk in the door.
Final Thoughts
Shaking is an action that can be totally harmless, or it can indicate a more serious health concern. As with all dog behaviors, it’s essential to consider the context in which your dog is shaking. If they’re shaking whenever you come home from work, it could be that they’re excited to see you or they’re seeking attention from you after being separated for so long.
However, if their shaking is accompanied by other concerning and out-of-character signs, a visit to the veterinarian should be in order to rule out any potentially serious health conditions.
Featured Image Credit: Kirsten Thompson, Shutterstock