It is not uncommon to see tiny dogs shiver as if they were cold. As cute as these tiny dogs can be, they are pretty vulnerable creatures that are prone to several health problems; among these is the tendency to tremble.This quite common form of shivering is seen very often in Toy breeds. Common Toy breed dogs prone to shivering are as follows:
- Chihuahua
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Maltese
- Pomeranian
The causes of such shivering may be various. Perhaps the most common cause in such breeds is a condition called hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a medical term composed by the word 'hypo' meaning low and 'glycemia' meaning blood sugar. Toy breeds suffering from Hypoglycemia therefore are suffering from a low blood glucose level that makes them shaky and weak. The cause behind this tendency is the fact that Toy breed dogs have a low body mass that makes it quite a challenge to properly store blood sugar.
Puppies are often more likely to suffer from this condition. As they grow into adult dogs, the episodes may gradually diminish. However, some adult dogs may actually have episodes of hypoglycemia for the rest of their lives.
Fortunately, according to Best Pet Home Remedies, episodes of low blood sugar can be easily resolved by carrying along a small bottle of pancake syrup, Karo syrup or honey. When these sweet substances are rubbed on the dog's gums, the dog should recover from the shaking episode within 10-20 minutes. Giving a small snack may be also helpful.
As helpful as these remedies may be, there are instances where the dog may not respond and immediate veterinary attention may be required. The dog at this point may need injections of Dextrose and careful monitoring.
Untreated, the hypoglycemia attack may progress and cause the dog to have pale gums, become weak, cold and have a slow heart beat. Further down the road, the dog may eventually exhibit seizures and even lose consciousness.
Because Toy breed dogs have little body fat they indeed tend to get cold pretty easily. Some may therefore, shiver primarily from being cold. Allowing them to wear some protective clothing in the winter may help reduce the shivering episodes.
White Shaker syndrome is also a condition that owners of small dog breeds with a white coat should be aware of. According to Pet Place, this condition is yet quite misunderstood. Affected dogs tend to shiver especially when excited or stressed. The most common affected breeds consist of white colored coated Maltese, West Highland white terriers, Poodles and Bichon Frise. Affected dogs tend to do better once put on Steroids (Prednisone).
Shivering in dogs may also have various other causes. These episodes may be be caused by ingestion of toxins, seizure activity, pain, fear, nervous system disorders and many more. For this reason if your puppy or dog begins exhibiting shivering episodes, it is best to have your veterinarian start out by ruling out serious medical conditions.
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