When your dog is not feeling well and shaking, it can be frightening to watch, especially when the cause isn’t immediately clear.
Shaking can appear suddenly, come and go, or worsen over hours, making it a symptom you cannot ignore.
This guide outlines the common reasons why a dog may not be feeling well and is shaking, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Not Feeling Well and Shaking: Why It Happens
A dog not feeling well and shaking is often linked to pain, nausea, fever, anxiety, toxicity, or neurological issues. Dogs shake as a physical reaction to discomfort, inflammation, or stress, and the symptom may accompany vomiting, lethargy, whining, drooling, or hiding.
Shaking can also occur because the dog’s body is struggling to regulate temperature or manage internal distress.
In many cases the cause is treatable, but shaking paired with signs of illness is a signal that your dog’s body is under strain and needs attention.
Dog Not Feeling Well and Shaking: Common Causes
Pain
Pain is one of the most common reasons a dog is not feeling well and shaking. When a dog experiences discomfort—whether from an injury, arthritis flare, abdominal pain, dental disease, or muscle soreness—the body may react with trembling as a way of coping with the distress.
You may notice your dog moving stiffly, hesitating to jump, whining when touched, or hiding in quiet spaces.
Some dogs shake when pain spikes suddenly, while others tremble continuously because the discomfort is ongoing.
Pain-related shaking matters because it indicates your dog is struggling, often more than they let on. Dogs naturally hide their pain, so shaking becomes one of the more visible clues that something deeper is wrong.
Fever
A dog who is not feeling well and shaking may be running a fever. When the body temperature rises due to infection, the dog may shiver the same way humans do with chills. These shivers happen as the dog’s internal system works to fight off bacteria or viruses.
You may notice warm ears, lethargy, decreased appetite, faster breathing, or wanting to lie in cooler areas.
Common sources of fever include respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, and tick-borne diseases.
Shaking linked to fever is serious because it indicates inflammation and systemic stress on the dog’s body. If shaking continues or worsens, veterinary evaluation is needed to determine the underlying infection.
Related: Dog Not Feeling Well and Lethargic (Common causes)
Nausea
Nausea is another major cause of shaking in a dog not feeling well. When the stomach and intestines are upset, the entire body can respond with trembling. Dogs with nausea may drool, swallow repeatedly, lick lips, or pace around restlessly.
Digestive upset may occur from eating something unusual, sudden diet changes, food intolerance, pancreatitis, or ingesting toxins.
Some dogs also shake before vomiting because the sensation of nausea triggers a stress response throughout the body.
This type of shaking is concerning because nausea often means internal irritation, inflammation, or early signs of poisoning. If shaking is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or refusal to eat, veterinary guidance is important.
Stress
Some dogs shake due to emotional stress, but when a dog is not feeling well and shaking, owners must separate behavioral trembling from illness-related trembling. Stress can amplify physical symptoms, making the shaking appear more intense.
Triggers may include loud noises, new environments, separation anxiety, or unfamiliar people.
A dog under stress may pant, pace, cling to the owner, or hide. Stress can also suppress appetite and upset the stomach, causing the dog to feel physically worse.
While stress alone may cause shaking, when paired with signs of illness it suggests the dog may be overwhelmed physiologically and emotionally. Monitoring for additional symptoms helps clarify what is driving the shaking.
Painful or Inflammatory Conditions
Conditions involving internal inflammation—especially in the abdomen—can cause a dog to not feel well and shake. Inflammation in organs such as the pancreas, stomach, intestines, or liver leads to intense discomfort.
Dogs with these conditions often show reduced appetite, hunched posture, restlessness, or panting.
Pancreatitis is a particularly serious cause, with shaking being one of the early outward signs of distress.
Shaking is significant here because it reflects the body’s attempt to cope with the internal inflammation, indicating a deeper medical issue requiring proper diagnosis and treatment.
Poisoning
Toxins commonly cause shaking, especially when a dog is not feeling well. Substances like chocolate, xylitol, rat poison, antifreeze, certain plants, moldy food, or human medications trigger neurological and metabolic changes.
A dog with toxin exposure may shake violently or intermittently. You may also see drooling, vomiting, stumbling, rapid heart rate, or collapse. Even mild shaking after ingestion of an unknown substance is a veterinary emergency.
This cause is extremely serious because toxins act quickly and treatment is time-critical. Shaking paired with sudden behavioral or neurological changes strongly suggests toxicity.
Read more: Dog sick diarrhea and not eating (Common causes)
What to Do If Your Dog Is Not Feeling Well and Shaking
If your dog is not feeling well and shaking, begin by creating a calm, comfortable environment where they feel safe. Provide a quiet room away from noise, and allow your dog to rest somewhere warm but not overheated.
Many dogs shake more when anxious, so offering gentle reassurance without overstimulating them can help.
Next, evaluate whether your dog may be in pain, nauseous, or feverish. Look for clues such as pacing, drooling, sluggish behavior, or difficulty settling.
If your dog recently ate something unusual or vomited, digestive upset could be contributing to the shaking. Small sips of water are okay, but avoid giving food or medications until you know more about the cause.
If the shaking appears mild and your dog is otherwise alert, you can monitor closely for several hours. However, if shaking persists beyond 30–60 minutes, increases in intensity, or becomes accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, swelling, or signs of poisoning, it’s important to seek veterinary support.
Avoid giving human medications, as many are toxic to dogs. If you suspect your dog ingested a harmful substance, call your vet immediately even if symptoms seem mild. Early action makes a significant difference in recovery.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Seek veterinary help right away if your dog is shaking and also showing additional symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or collapse. These signs indicate the shaking is part of a larger medical issue that needs prompt evaluation.
Contact your vet urgently if your dog has shaking with breathing difficulty, severe pain, pale gums, swollen abdomen, or disorientation. These symptoms may be linked to internal bleeding, poisoning, bloat, or infection.
You should also get help if your dog’s shaking comes on suddenly with no clear trigger, especially if they recently ate something off the ground or were exposed to chemicals. Sudden shaking often signals a toxin or acute illness.
Finally, if the shaking lasts more than an hour, even with no other symptoms, a vet visit is recommended. Persistent trembling indicates your dog’s body is struggling and requires professional assessment.
Related: Dog throwing up and diarrhea (Causes and what to do)
Key Takeaway
A dog not feeling well and shaking is a symptom that deserves careful attention, especially because shaking is often tied to pain, nausea, fever, or poisoning. While some causes are mild, others require quick medical care.
Keep your dog comfortable, observe for additional symptoms, and reach out to your vet if the shaking persists or intensifies.
Dogs communicate their discomfort through subtle signs, and shaking is one of the clearest signals that something isn’t right. With prompt evaluation and supportive care, most dogs recover well and return to their normal selves.