When an old dog is hacking and shaking, it’s a sign their body is under stress. These symptoms can appear suddenly or worsen gradually, and because senior dogs have weaker immune systems, they often struggle to cope with conditions younger dogs recover from easily.
We outline the common causes of hacking and shaking in old dogs, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Old Dog Hacking and Shaking — Why It Happens
An old dog hacking and shaking is usually reacting to irritation in the airways, infection, heart problems, pain, nausea, anxiety, or age-related health decline.
Hacking is the body’s attempt to clear mucus or inflammation from the throat, and shaking often appears alongside it because the dog feels cold, stressed, weak, or feverish. These symptoms frequently overlap in senior dogs, making it especially important to identify the cause early to prevent worsening illness.
Old Dog Hacking and Shaking: Common Causes
Respiratory Infections
Senior dogs are more vulnerable to respiratory infections—even minor ones—because their immunity naturally decreases with age. Conditions like kennel cough or tracheal irritation can cause persistent hacking that sounds dry, honking, or congested.
Shaking begins when the infection makes the dog feel chilled or feverish, or when breathing becomes more difficult. Older dogs tire easily, so even light coughing can exhaust their body and lead to trembling.
Respiratory infections escalate faster in senior dogs and can progress from mild irritation to pneumonia without quick treatment.
Read more: Old Dog Hacking Cough (What it means)
Collapsing Trachea
A collapsing trachea is a frequent cause of hacking in older dogs, especially small breeds like Yorkies, Pomeranians, and Chihuahuas. The airway weakens with age, causing the trachea to flatten when the dog breathes in or becomes excited.
This leads to:
• A honking cough.
• Hacking after drinking water.
• Trouble breathing during activity.
• Shaking when the dog. struggles to pull in enough air.
The shaking happens because the dog becomes anxious from not being able to breathe comfortably. It can also be triggered by pain or oxygen stress.
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart disease is one of the most serious causes of hacking and trembling in older dogs.
When the heart cannot pump efficiently, fluid builds up around the lungs, triggering a chronic cough that often worsens at night or after activity.
Shaking occurs when the heart struggles to circulate enough oxygenated blood, making the dog feel weak, cold, and distressed.
Dogs with heart failure may also pace at night, breathe rapidly, or struggle to lie down comfortably. Immediate veterinary evaluation is crucial for senior dogs with these symptoms.
Pain or Arthritis Flare-Ups
Senior dogs experiencing joint pain, spine discomfort, abdominal pain, or inflammation often tremble because their muscles tighten in response to discomfort.
While pain alone doesn’t cause hacking, pain-triggered stress can intensify breathing and irritate the throat—leading to intermittent coughing or hacking.
You may notice:
• Stiffness after resting.
• Reluctance to climb or walk.
• Trembling during movement.
• Occasional coughing from tension.
Shaking due to pain is often misread as coldness or anxiety, but it is one of the most common symptoms in older dogs dealing with chronic discomfort.
Nausea or Gastrointestinal Upset
Many older dogs hack when they feel nauseous, especially if acid reflux, pancreatitis, or an upset stomach is present. Nausea tightens the diaphragm and triggers gagging or hacking even when nothing comes up.
Shaking often accompanies nausea because the dog feels unsettled, dizzy, or uncomfortable. You may notice lip licking, drooling, pacing, or refusing food.
Because vomiting episodes become riskier with age, nausea paired with hacking and shaking should always be monitored closely.
Anxiety, Stress, or Cognitive Decline
Senior dogs commonly experience age-related anxiety, nighttime pacing, or canine cognitive dysfunction. These conditions make them more sensitive to noises, separation, or confusion in familiar environments.
Shaking is a classic stress response. Hacking can surface when anxious breathing becomes rapid or when stress irritates the throat.
If the shaking and coughing worsen during storms, fireworks, or nighttime, anxiety may be the primary trigger.
Fever or Illness Causing Whole-Body Shaking
Any illness that raises body temperature or causes chills will prompt a senior dog to shake. Paired with hacking, this often points to infections—respiratory, urinary, skin, or internal.
Old dogs with fever may look:
• Listless
• Shaky
• Warm to the touch
• Uninterested in food
• Tired after mild coughing
Because senior dogs decline quickly with fever, this combination of symptoms should be taken seriously.
What to Do If Your Old Dog Is Hacking and Shaking
Start by keeping your dog calm and warm. Supportive care is essential for old dogs because stress or overexertion can worsen symptoms. Encourage your dog to rest in a quiet, comfortable area away from cold air or drafts, as cool temperatures can trigger trembling and worsen coughing.
Offer small amounts of fresh water and monitor their breathing closely. Notice whether the hacking sounds dry, wet, honking, or gag-like—this helps indicate whether the cause is respiratory or something deeper, like heart disease or nausea.
If you suspect throat irritation, limit activities like barking or vigorous exercise, as these can escalate hacking.
Avoid home remedies, human medications, or over-the-counter cough suppressants. Senior dogs are more sensitive to inappropriate treatments, and certain medications can dangerously worsen conditions like heart disease.
If symptoms continue beyond a few hours, worsen, or change in character, your dog likely needs veterinary care to identify the underlying issue.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Contact a veterinarian immediately if your old dog:
• Is struggling to breathe.
• Has blue or pale gums.
• Collapses or appears extremely weak.
• Hacks at night or after lying down.
• Shakes uncontrollably or seems cold despite warmth.
• Refuses food.
• Has a moist, productive cough.
• Has a fever, lethargy, or fast breathing.
These symptoms can signal heart failure, pneumonia, or illness requiring urgent intervention. Even mild coughing combined with shaking in an old dog should be evaluated sooner rather than later.
Read more: Old Dog Coughing and Gagging (Why it happens)
Key Takeaway
Old dogs hack and shake when something is irritating the airways, weakening the lungs, causing pain, or making the body work harder than it should.
Because senior dogs deteriorate quickly, these symptoms always deserve attention—especially when they occur together.
Monitor your dog closely, provide gentle comfort, and contact your veterinarian early to ensure your dog receives the care needed to stay comfortable and safe.