shaking in a puppy is that normal? is he cold? he is 12 weeks old

by glenys
(surrey bc)

our 12 week old puppy is shaking, is this normal?


Hi Glenys
This question doesn't have a simple 'yes or no' answer I'm afraid and whether or not this shaking is something to worry about depends on several things.

If he's a very small or tiny breed pup, and you've only just got him, then the shaking could be a sign of anxiety or fear. Some little dogs seem to 'quake' at the slightest thing, especially when puppies. Even pups of the medium to large size can shake if they're scared or anxious.

Also, tiny breeds can get chilled pretty easily, so if you're running the AC (and he's not used to it yet) it's possible that he's cold, but I'd think that is the least likely scenario.

But, if you've had your puppy for a while now and this is a new behavior, then it needs to be checked out. It could mean that he's in pain or distress (perhaps due to an injury or dog illness), or he could have a fever (again a sign of illness).

Small and tiny breeds also can have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels, resulting in hypoglycemia. This can cause shaking, lethargy, head-bobbing, weakness and so on.

Any behavior which isn't normally seen in a pup should be evaluated by a vet, so if you have any concerns have your pup examined.

I wish you the best of luck and hope your pup is doing just fine soon.