shakes sometimes. He's a JRT mix (my first time owning a small breed). He has a clean bill of health and we don't hit him or yell at him. He quivers sometimes though. I've asked other people with different kinds of small breeds and they say it's just something small dogs do.
We don't know if he was abused because we adopted him from Rover Rescue. He was only a year old when we got him and he had spent 4 months in a shelter followed by 1 month in a foster home prior to us adopting him.
It doesn't seem to happen at any particular times. He could be outside in the yard, laying on the couch, in bed with us at night. It doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason.
I haven't asked my vet yet, but I intend to.
Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
2006-12-09 15:56:55 · 9 answers · asked by KJ 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I didn't think I had to point out that I don't let my dog freeze either. He lives in the house with the rest of our family and when he's outside (during the winter) he's too busy running and playing like a mad dog with my Lab to get cold. Besides, we never leave them outside unattended.
2006-12-09 16:05:15 · update #1
I am a registed breeder of Jack Russell Terriers and I know 2 Jacks that shake some just do it and other use it to seek for attention! I would worry but shaking can be a sign of being
deficiency in magnesium. You can fix this by adding dolomite (calcium Magnesium) quarter of a teaspoon twice a week of food or when the dog is shaking give magnesium Orotate(400mg) (bought at health food store) crush half to one tablet and mix into food. should work within 5 mintues but may very between dogs.
My Bella used to shake but now she doesn't she has dolormite regulary but in the beginning she had a tablet here and there. Alot of dogs are magnesium deficient due to artificial fertilizers, nitrogen and excess calcium. magnesium plays a big part in the nervous and muscular system this is why you get muscle spasms/ twitching/shaking.
Hope this helps
2006-12-09 16:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by Tara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It must be a small dog thing....I've often wondered this too. We have a small mix breed dog. I often find him sitting on the sofa shaking...his whole body shaking...like he's scared or something. When I talk to him he shakes even more...even when I go over and pet him...he's shaking. Our dog is really high strung...I disconnected our door bell because it was driving him nuts...when people come to our door and knock he'll charge the door and slam into it...you'd think he was going to tear them apart. Everyone knows he's just a sook though. Big baby.
But I think by the sound of your Question this must be a common thing with them.
2006-12-10 00:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by steve 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I own 4 chihuahuas (i've had them for years) and they all do that, it is just something small dogs do... when they get the least bit nervous, excited, chilly, anything like that, they just quiver. Mine look like they're gonna shake out of their skin when they want some attention, & they usually start whining when they do it. But that may just be mine, they are rotten. But, unless your doggy is seizing up, or falling over, I'd say it's nothing to worry about, just a small dog thing.
2006-12-10 00:09:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have a maltese terrier, which we adopted as well. he shakes at times, ie going to the vet, half an hour before we leave, when he hears the bath water running etc. i have taken him to the vet, he said it could be one of 3 things, 1) he was abused, 2) he has a nervous disposition, or 3) he is actually scared of an anticipated activity which is about to occur. like you we have never hit, yelled at or mistreated him. on the occasion that he has messed inside, he trembles like crazy, even though we just clean it up with minimal fuss. he is 19 years old and has done this ever since we rescued him, he would have been approx 3 yrs old
2006-12-10 00:09:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah- Little guys seem more prone to the shivers than larger dogs. Often they are cold- my yorkie has to sleep under the covers at night and wear a coat outside. Sometimes they are just nervous, too. Its hard to say, but I would definitely ask your vet to rule out anything else.
2006-12-10 00:06:19 · answer #5 · answered by jwoodpp 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have a small breed dog a (chihuahua) and he shakes a lot because he is a bit chlly evenin the summer with the air on. he had 2 previous homes.
They have barely any body fat. And of course their nerves can get the best of them so do not rule that out but i got a coat for my chi and he i a lot happier! but if it is nerves you can just comfort him when he get nervous but keep him warm all times of year!
2006-12-10 00:02:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My whippet/terrier mix does the same thing. Sometimes we chalk it up to him releasing his tension- happy or nervous. It's like his body shakes for a few moments, and then it's over. We find it happens when something excitable is going on around him. It's not always from fear.
2006-12-10 00:03:04 · answer #7 · answered by BuffyFromGP 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
someimes dogs just shake when they have extra energy. we had a maltese that would shiver sometimes. even if it was inside. then we figured out that nothing was wrong it was just really hyper but had been trained not to go crazy. it doesn't sound unusual. if he is old then it might be an arthritus type illness but other than that doesn't sound dangerous.
2006-12-10 00:05:25 · answer #8 · answered by i.WoNt.SaY.iT. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a whippet too and she used to shake all the time. I would guess that he is probably chilly, not freezing just chilly. Our whippet LOVED to be under the blankets. Next time he does it cover him up with a blanket and see if he stops. If he does it is probably the problem.
2006-12-10 00:08:05 · answer #9 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋