When your dog is shivering and panting not eating, it’s a combination that suggests discomfort, pain, or illness.
While panting can be a normal response to heat or exertion, when it’s paired with shivering and appetite loss, it often points to something more serious going on internally.
These symptoms together are your dog’s way of saying something is wrong—and it’s up to you to pay attention and act accordingly.
We outline the common causes of this behavior, what it might indicate, and the steps you should take to keep your dog safe and healthy.
Dog Shivering and Panting Not Eating: Why It Happens
A dog shivering and panting not eating is usually showing signs of pain, illness, or emotional distress. This combination of symptoms may be caused by gastrointestinal upset, fever, poisoning, anxiety, injury, or underlying disease.
Shivering may signal pain or temperature dysregulation, while panting often reflects stress or breathing difficulties.
Appetite loss is commonly linked to nausea or internal discomfort. Together, these symptoms are strong indicators that your dog needs immediate attention.
Dog Shivering Panting and Not Eating: Common Causes
1. Pain or Internal Discomfort
Shivering and panting are common signs of pain in dogs.
Whether it’s due to arthritis, a soft tissue injury, pancreatitis, or abdominal bloating, pain causes both trembling and fast breathing.
Your dog may avoid food because the discomfort is too overwhelming.
This is especially relevant in older dogs—an old dog shivering and not eating with heavy panting may have chronic pain that has flared up.
Related: Dog shivering and not eating (Causes and what to do)
2. Fever or Infection
If your dog has a fever due to an infection (like an upper respiratory or systemic infection), they may shiver from chills, pant from temperature spikes, and refuse food due to nausea.
This trio of symptoms often shows up early in illnesses like kennel cough, leptospirosis, or parvovirus.
Take your dog’s temperature if possible—anything above 102.5°F (39.2°C) is a sign of fever.
3. Heatstroke
Excessive panting combined with shivering and appetite loss can be an early sign of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, especially in hot climates or poorly ventilated spaces.
Dogs cool themselves through panting, but if they can’t regulate body temperature, they may begin to shake, collapse, or become lethargic.
Flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs are especially vulnerable to overheating.
4. Gastrointestinal Trouble
Digestive issues like gastritis, food intolerance, or ingestion of foreign objects can lead to stomach pain.
Dogs in this state often tremble, breathe fast, and skip meals.
If vomiting or diarrhea is also present, this may point to GI upset or obstruction.
Related: Dog shivering and not eating and vomiting
5. Anxiety or Stress
Dogs pant and shiver when they’re scared, anxious, or under emotional stress.
If your dog also refuses to eat, it may be due to fear or a disrupted routine.
Fireworks, vet visits, travel, or separation anxiety can all trigger this cluster of symptoms.
Some dogs may also drool, pace, or try to hide in these situations.
6. Toxin Exposure
Panting, shivering, and appetite loss are classic symptoms of poisoning or toxin ingestion.
If your dog has ingested chocolate, xylitol, household cleaners, or any unsafe human medication, these symptoms may appear quickly and worsen without treatment.
This is an emergency—vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or extreme weakness may follow.
7. Medication Side Effects
If your dog recently started a new medication, these symptoms could be side effects.
Some medications may upset the stomach or affect temperature regulation, leading to tremors, heavy breathing, and appetite changes.
Always report these symptoms to your vet if they begin soon after a medication change.
How Serious Is It?
Shivering and panting are clear signals that your dog is physically or emotionally distressed.
When paired with a refusal to eat, the seriousness increases.
This is not something to “wait out”—dogs can’t tell us exactly what’s wrong, so we must act based on the clues they give us.
This is especially critical in:
Puppies or senior dogs
Dogs who haven’t eaten for 24 hours
Dogs showing additional symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or limping
What to Do If Your Dog Is Shivering, Panting, and Not Eating
1. Move Them to a Cool, Quiet Area
If your dog might be overheating, get them to a shaded, cool area and offer water.
Use a fan or cool (not cold) damp towels on their body. Overheating can be fatal if not addressed quickly.
If they’re anxious, reduce stimulation—turn off loud sounds, dim the lights, and sit calmly near them.
2. Check for Pain
Observe how they move. Are they limping, holding up a paw, hunching their back, or reluctant to sit or lie down?
Gently run your hands over their body to detect any flinching, swelling, or heat that could suggest injury.
Painful areas should not be pressed repeatedly—if you find one, contact your vet.
3. Avoid Feeding Right Away
Don’t try to feed your dog immediately if they’re visibly unwell.
Offer clean, fresh water first. If they vomit after drinking or refuse water, that’s a sign the situation is worsening.
Later, you may offer bland food like boiled chicken and rice—but only if vomiting hasn’t occurred for at least 6–12 hours.
4. Take Their Temperature
Use a rectal thermometer if you have one. Temperatures above 102.5°F (39.2°C) or below 99°F (37.2°C) are dangerous.
Call your vet with this information—it can help determine whether a fever, infection, or heatstroke is involved.
5. Call Your Veterinarian
Don’t delay a vet visit if your dog is:
Panting and shivering excessively
Refusing food for more than 24 hours
Vomiting or having diarrhea
Weak or struggling to stand
Bleeding, bloated, or disoriented
These symptoms combined are not typical and usually point to underlying illness or distress that needs professional care.
Read more:
- Dog shivering not eating lethargic (Explained)
- Dog shivering and not eating and diarrhea (Causes and what to do)
Key Takeaway
Shivering and panting are signs that your dog is in trouble—either physically, emotionally, or both. When your dog is also not eating, the stakes get higher. These symptoms together suggest pain, fever, stress, or illness, and they should never be ignored.
Don’t wait too long to act—monitor your dog closely, remove them from stressful or hot environments, and call your vet if symptoms persist. Trust your gut—if your dog doesn’t seem like themselves, there’s probably a reason.