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Dog Panting and Shaking on Steroids (Here’s Why)

By Patricia Williams
Last updated: October 8, 2025

When your dog is prescribed steroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone, you may notice unsettling side effects like panting and shaking.

These symptoms often appear suddenly and can seem alarming—especially when they happen at night or persist for hours.

We outline the common reasons why dogs may pant and shake when taking steroids, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.

Dog Panting and Shaking on Steroids — Why It Happens

Dog panting and shaking on steroids often occurs as a side effect of the medication’s impact on the nervous and metabolic systems. Steroids increase metabolism, heart rate, and energy levels, which can cause panting as the body works harder to regulate temperature.

Shaking or trembling happens because steroids stimulate the nervous system, sometimes leading to muscle weakness, anxiety, or restlessness. These effects are usually temporary and lessen as the dog’s body adjusts or when the dosage is reduced.

Why Dogs Are Put on Steroids

Veterinarians often prescribe corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, or dexamethasone because of their strong anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing effects. These drugs can be lifesaving for dogs suffering from:

Allergies and skin problems
Arthritis and joint pain
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Autoimmune diseases (lupus, IMHA, etc.)
Neurological conditions
Cancer treatment support

While effective, steroids alter many body systems—hormones, metabolism, water balance, and even the nervous system. This is why side effects like panting and shaking are common, particularly during the first weeks of treatment.

Dog Panting and Shaking on Steroids: Common Causes

Drug-Induced Anxiety and Restlessness

Steroids like prednisone often act as stimulants in the body. Just as humans may feel jittery after a strong cup of coffee, dogs can feel “wired” or unable to settle.

Panting in cool conditions: Even when the room is comfortable, dogs may pant excessively because their nervous system is overstimulated.
Shaking or trembling: Some dogs visibly tremble, especially when trying to relax at night.
Nighttime restlessness: Dogs may pace, whine, or refuse to lie down, making bedtime particularly stressful.
Adjustment period: This type of panting and shaking is often temporary. Many dogs adapt to prednisone within a few days to weeks, and the side effects gradually lessen.

Still, if restlessness is severe, your vet may recommend lowering the dose or adjusting the timing of administration to mornings, when natural cortisol levels are normally higher.

Metabolic Heat Production

Corticosteroids speed up metabolism, which means the body produces more internal heat. Because dogs can’t sweat the way humans do, their only way to release heat is through panting.

An elevated metabolic rate increases oxygen demand and heat generation, leading to heavier breathing and panting.

When paired with even mild anxiety, this extra heat load can also cause trembling or shivering.

Risk factors for worse symptoms:

- Older dogs – Their cooling systems are less efficient.
- Overweight dogs – Fat insulates the body, trapping heat.
- Flat-faced breeds (like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers) – These breeds already struggle with airflow and are prone to overheating.

For these dogs, a slightly warm room can be enough to make panting look severe.

Muscle Weakness and Fatigue

Long-term steroid use has a catabolic effect—it breaks down muscle tissue over time. This leads to muscle wasting and weakness, especially in the hind legs and abdomen.

Shaking during activity: Dogs may tremble when standing up or walking, as weakened muscles strain to support their weight.
Panting from exertion: What once was a simple task—like climbing stairs—may now leave your dog panting heavily.
Visible signs: You may notice thinning muscles around the thighs, shoulders, or spine.

This effect is more likely with chronic steroid therapy, but even short courses can cause temporary weakness in some sensitive dogs.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Steroids interfere with the balance of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes that control nerve and muscle function.

Low potassium (hypokalemia) can cause weakness, trembling, and even muscle spasms. From subtle twitching to obvious full-body shaking.

Those on high-dose or long-term steroids, or dogs also taking diuretics, are particularly vulnerable.

Your vet may recommend periodic blood tests to check electrolyte levels if your dog remains on steroids for more than a few weeks.

Excessive Thirst and Urination

Polyuria (frequent urination) and polydipsia (excessive thirst) are among the most universal steroid side effects. While not inherently dangerous, they can indirectly lead to panting and shaking.

If water intake doesn’t keep up with fluid loss, mild dehydration can cause panting, lethargy, and trembling.

Frequent bathroom trips at night interrupt rest, leaving your dog restless and anxious.

The discomfort of a constantly full bladder can also make your dog pace, pant, and shake.

Keeping fresh water available and allowing more frequent potty breaks can help manage this side effect.

Digestive Discomfort

Prednisone is known to irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Some dogs develop nausea, ulcers, or even bleeding.

Dogs don’t always whine when they’re in pain—panting heavily is often their way of signaling discomfort. Trembling or restlessness often accompanies stomach upset.

Other warning signs:

- Vomiting or retching
- Black, tarry stools (a sign of internal bleeding)
- Refusal to eat

If these appear, contact your vet immediately. GI side effects can be serious and may require protective medications like omeprazole or sucralfate.

Pain or Underlying Disease Exacerbation

Not all panting and shaking on steroids are direct side effects. Sometimes, the drug unmasks or worsens an existing condition.

Heart disease – Steroids can cause fluid retention, which may worsen coughing, panting, and exercise intolerance.
Kidney disease – Prednisone increases workload on the kidneys, potentially accelerating decline.
Diabetes – Corticosteroids raise blood sugar and can even induce steroid-induced diabetes, especially in older or overweight dogs.

If your dog’s panting and trembling worsen despite being on medication, it may not be “just a side effect.” Instead, it could mean the underlying disease is progressing—or that a new problem has emerged.

Why It’s More Common at Night

Many dog owners report that panting and shaking seem to worsen after dark, even if their dog appears relatively calm during the day. This can be especially frustrating when you’re trying to sleep but your dog is restless, breathing heavily, and trembling at your bedside.

Several factors explain why nighttime tends to make steroid side effects more obvious:

1.A Quiet Setting Makes Symptoms More Noticeable

During the day, background noise and activity often distract both you and your dog. At night, when the household is calm, the sound of panting or the sight of trembling becomes far more noticeable.

Owners who are lying in bed are also more tuned in to subtle movements, making symptoms seem worse.

2. Medication Timing and Peak Drug Activity

If steroids like prednisone are given later in the afternoon or evening, their peak effect often aligns with nighttime hours.

Because corticosteroids stimulate metabolism and the nervous system, this can cause a restless, jittery state just as your dog is supposed to be winding down.

In some cases, simply shifting the medication to the morning—under veterinary guidance—can reduce nighttime agitation significantly.

3. Nighttime Heat Buildup in the House

Many homes retain heat into the evening, particularly upstairs bedrooms. Dogs already prone to panting from increased metabolism or anxiety may overheat more easily at night.

Flat-faced breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, or Shih Tzus are at even higher risk since they struggle to regulate temperature efficiently. This heat retention can make panting appear suddenly worse after sunset.

4. Anxiety or Difficulty Settling Down

Steroids often cause restlessness, pacing, and agitation. At night, this manifests as difficulty lying down or relaxing. Some dogs wander, pant heavily, or shake as though they’re uneasy.

This is partly due to the stimulating effect of the drug, but it may also reflect confusion—especially in older dogs with cognitive decline (canine dementia), where nighttime anxiety is already common.

5. Circadian Rhythm Disruption

Corticosteroids mimic cortisol, the body’s natural stress hormone. Normally, cortisol levels are highest in the morning and lower at night. Steroid medications can disrupt this rhythm, keeping dogs in a more “alert” state during nighttime hours.

This hormonal imbalance makes panting, pacing, and trembling more likely to appear when your dog should be resting.

6.Owner Presence and Monitoring

Dogs often pant and shake during the day too, but owners may be at work, busy, or distracted. At night, you’re physically present to witness the symptoms. This creates the impression that panting and trembling happen only at night, when in reality, they may be happening more frequently than noticed.

What You Can Do to Help

If your dog is panting and shaking while on steroids, here are steps that may ease discomfort:

1.Adjust Medication Timing – Ask your vet if prednisone can be given earlier in the day. This may reduce nighttime restlessness.

2. Keep the Environment Cool

Use a fan or air conditioning.
Provide cooling mats.
Keep fresh water accessible at all times.

3. Provide Reassurance and Comfort – Stay calm, as dogs can pick up on your stress. Offer a safe resting space where they feel secure.

4. Talk to Your Vet About Dosage – Sometimes lowering the dose or switching to every-other-day dosing can reduce side effects.

5. Explore Alternative Medications – Depending on your dog’s condition, alternatives to steroids may exist, such as NSAIDs, antihistamines, or immune-modulating drugs.

When to Call the Vet

Panting and shaking are often manageable side effects, but urgent veterinary help is needed if your dog shows:

Severe or continuous shaking
Labored breathing not related to heat
Swollen abdomen (possible fluid retention)
Refusal to eat or drink
Vomiting blood or passing black stools
Sudden collapse or weakness

These may indicate a serious reaction or complication of steroid use.

Key Takeaway

If your dog is panting and shaking on steroids, it is usually a medication side effect rather than a medical emergency. However, you should always keep your veterinarian informed, especially if symptoms worsen or interfere with your dog’s quality of life.

Steroids can provide life-changing relief for conditions like allergies, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases, but they come with side effects that require careful management.

By adjusting timing, creating a cool environment, and working with your vet, most dogs can remain comfortable while still benefiting from the medication.