Dogs shake for various reasons, most commonly due to cold, fear, pain, or calcium deficiency. It's crucial for owners to assess the situation to determine the underlying cause.
1. Feeling Cold: When dogs are cold, they shiver to generate heat and maintain their body temperature. Ensure your dog stays warm, especially during colder weather.
2. Fear or Anxiety: Dogs might tremble when they're in new environments or when exposed to loud noises like thunder or fireworks. Comfort and reassurance from their owners can help ease their fear.
3. Pain: If your dog is hurt or sick, they may shake because of the pain. If your dog is trembling and also experiencing difficulty walking, dilated pupils, or loss of appetite, seek veterinary attention immediately.
4. Illness: Conditions like fever, distemper, or epilepsy can all trigger shaking in dogs. If the trembling persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's essential to consult a vet.
5. Calcium Deficiency: Calcium ions play a vital role in muscle contraction and relaxation. A calcium deficiency in dogs can lead to abnormal muscle function, resulting in weakness, shaking, and even seizures. Therefore, ensuring adequate calcium intake for your dog is very important. We recommend Myosure Doctor's Goat Milk Calcium tablets, which contain rich calcium lactate, a high-calcium formula customized for cats and dogs. The addition of Vitamin D3, Vitamin A, and Zinc helps promote calcium absorption and reduce calcium loss. The added goat milk powder enhances the flavor and provides extra nutrition, perfectly meeting the calcium needs of cats and dogs.
Signs of Calcium Deficiency in Dogs
Symptoms of calcium deficiency in dogs typically include limb weakness, unsteady gait, poor or deformed joint development, muscle cramps, sparse or dull coat, lethargy, poor appetite, and weight loss. These symptoms are more commonly seen in older dogs. If left uncorrected, calcium deficiency can lead to various skeletal issues such as joint deformities, bowed legs (X-shaped or O-shaped), and rib flaring. In severe cases, dogs may exhibit muscle weakness. Calcium deficiency during teething can lead to retained baby teeth, delayed growth of adult teeth, and misaligned or gapped teeth.