My Shih Tzu Shakes: Causes, Treatment, and When to Seek Veterinary Help

If your Shih Tzu is shaking, it can be a concerning and unsettling experience for both you and your pet. Shaking in Shih Tzus can be caused by a variety of factors, including hypoglycemia, which is a low blood sugar condition.

Shaking can also be a sign of a neurological disorder, such as a seizure or tremors. According to the article, seizures in Shih Tzus can be caused by a range of factors, including genetics, infections, and toxins.

If you notice your Shih Tzu shaking, it's essential to seek veterinary help immediately. Shaking can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones.

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Shaking is a common behavior in dogs, and it's not always a cause for concern. In fact, puppies often hiccup after eating, which can be alarming but is usually harmless. However, it's essential to rule out more serious issues.

My own Shih Tzu has shaken after eating, and it's always a good idea to check if your dog is experiencing hiccups or myoclonus muscle jerks, which are common in young puppies and can occur while they're asleep.

Psychological causes of shivering and shaking include pain, noise phobia, anxiety, and fear. Anticipation and excitement can also cause your dog to shake, especially if they're looking forward to something fun like a walk or dinner.

Some common causes of dog muscle spasms include pain, toxin exposure, and infectious diseases like canine distemper. Metabolic diseases can also cause tremors, and in some cases, the cause is unknown, such as generalized idiopathic tremor syndrome, also known as Shaker syndrome.

Here are some common reasons for muscle spasms in dogs:

If your dog is shaking their head a lot and persistently, it's time to see your vet for an exam. However, if the shaking is occasional and mild, it's likely nothing to worry about.

My Shih Tzu shakes excessively, and it's worrying me. One of the possible reasons is pain, especially abdominal or spinal pain, or even the need to go to the toilet.

Noise phobias can also cause shaking, such as smoke alarms, appliance beeps, or fireworks. I've noticed that my Shih Tzu gets anxious during thunderstorms.

Anxiety and fear can lead to shaking, even in normal situations like baths or house moves. Anticipation and excitement can also cause shaking, like before a walk or dinner.

Nausea is another possible cause, often accompanied by vomiting, especially with motion sickness.

If your dog shakes its head excessively, it could be a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as inflammatory diseases, foreign objects in the ear canal, or neurologic disorders.

Common causes of dog muscle spasms include pain, toxin exposure, and idiopathic head tremors, which are common in certain breeds like Boxers and English Bulldogs.

Here are some possible reasons for muscle spasms in dogs:

It's essential to consult with a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of your dog's shaking, as it can be a sign of a serious health issue.

My Shih Tzu shakes uncontrollably when excited or experiencing strong emotions. This is a common symptom of shaker syndrome, a condition that affects small breed dogs, especially white dogs like my Shih Tzu.

Shaker syndrome typically develops in early adulthood, around one to two years of age, and is characterized by rhythmic, repetitive, and involuntary muscle movements that resemble shaking. These tremors can be localized to one area of the body or involve the entire body.

The tremors may worsen with excitement and exercise, but often improve or resolve when the dog is resting or sleeping. Most dogs with shaker syndrome are otherwise normal, except for the tremors.

If your dog shakes their head a lot and persistently, it's time to see your vet for an exam, as this could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

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Affected dogs typically develop tremors during early adulthood, at one to two years of age.

Tremors are rhythmic, repetitive, and involuntary muscle movements that look like shaking, and may be localized to one area of the body or involve the entire body.

Tremors may vary in severity, from mild to incapacitating, preventing eating, walking, and other normal activities.

In many dogs with shaker syndrome, tremors worsen with excitement and exercise.

Tremors may improve or completely resolve when the dog is resting or sleeping.

Most dogs are otherwise normal except for the tremors, but some may show other neurologic deficits during trembling episodes, such as trouble with their vision or nystagmus.

If your dog is shaking uncontrollably, especially when they're experiencing a strong surge of feelings, they may have shaker syndrome.

Dogs with shaker syndrome may start shaking along with excitement, and while it's possible that more severe cases can be exhibited while dogs are sleeping, it's not commonly seen.

If your dog's shaker syndrome seems to be causing distress, or if it happens so often that they have trouble functioning normally, talk to your vet for solutions.

Shaker syndrome has an excellent prognosis. Most dogs' tremors fully resolve within one to two weeks of beginning prednisone treatment.

The key to a successful outcome is early detection and treatment. With prompt veterinary care, your dog can make a full recovery.

If your dog is diagnosed with shaker syndrome, it's essential to follow your veterinarian's treatment plan carefully. This will help minimize side effects and ensure the best possible outcome.

Regular follow-up care with your veterinarian is crucial to monitor for potential side effects of prednisone, such as increased appetite, thirst, and urination.

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Ear infections are a common health issue that causes excessive head shaking in dogs, so if you notice your Shih Tzu shaking their head a lot, it's time to see your vet for an exam.

Ear infections can be caused by yeast or bacterial infections, which tend to get itchy and produce a significant amount of inflammation and discharge, triggering a dog to shake their head.

If you lift up your Shih Tzu's ear flap and see redness, discharge, or swelling, an infection is likely.

Infections can happen deep in a dog's ear, so even if you don't see obvious signs, an infection may still be present.

Allergies can also cause head shaking in dogs, leading to symptoms like hair loss, itchy skin, recurrent ear and skin infections, and head shaking.

If your Shih Tzu is shaking their head due to allergies, a vet may prescribe a diet containing a single carbohydrate and a single source of protein to diagnose a food allergy.

A food allergy is likely if symptoms significantly improve or disappear altogether after a month or two on this diet.

Serious conditions like inflammatory diseases, foreign objects in the ear canal, and neurologic disorders can also cause head shaking in dogs.

It's essential to diagnose and address the underlying cause of head shaking to prevent potential complications like ruptured blood vessels in the ear flap.

Dogs may shake their head to expel irritants from their ears, but if it happens excessively, it's best to consult a vet to rule out any underlying health issues.

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