Chihuahuas most often tremble from:1. Fear (loud noises, unfamiliar people or dogs, unfamiliar places)2. Pain (diseases of the joints, liver, kidneys, pancreas, brain cause severe pain).3. Unrest. If the dog is facing unfamiliar movements, procedures, and so on.
Your actions: 1. Observe the dog when the trembling begins most often, under what circumstances.
2. Avoid these circumstances.
3. Complete a program with a zoopsychologist to help your dog adapt to unusual events.
4. Show your dog during puppyhood more people and dogs that are unfamiliar to him in a state that is not dangerous for the puppy. For example, you hold her in your arms and show her a new person, a child, a car, a non-aggressive dog.
5. You can use sedatives, such as Kotbayun.
6. See a doctor for research (you need to donate blood, urine, feces, and do an ECG).
Causes of Chihuahua trembling and how to resolve them
Chihuahua trembling is one of the common conditions of this breed. These little dogs have a fast metabolism. Trembling serves the purpose of heating, because they do not have enough adipose tissue in relation to muscle tissue. But if your pet shakes very often, then you shouldn’t attribute everything to physiology. This may be a sign of other conditions that require assistance from the owner and sometimes a veterinarian.
Cold
Cold is the most common reason Chihuahuas shiver. Dogs of this breed easily freeze and catch colds, therefore they require increased attention from their owner. So, starting from the off-season (the first periods of lowering the temperature outside), the pet should be walked in a suit or vest, which should become warmer as the weather gets colder and can be supplemented with special shoes.
In the cold winter, Chihuahuas can do without walking at all. They learn very well to go to the litter tray or diaper.
In cold weather, your Chihuahua needs to wear a warm suit.
Stress
Small Chihuahuas are very sensitive dogs. Any strong emotion can cause them to tremble simply from an overabundance of feelings. It can be equal parts joy and fear. Pets who have misbehaved may tremble, realizing that they are facing punishment. But even if they notice treats in the owner’s hand, Chihuahuas may begin to shake in anticipation of something tasty.
Positive stressful situations can be distinguished from negative ones by the position of the pet's tail - when frightened, he tucks it in. Fear can be caused by:
- any loud sounds (fireworks, car horns);
- a crowd of strangers in the house;
- hosts talking in a raised voice;
- expectation of punishment, if in a similar situation the pet has already had to “receive” from the owner.
Dog training specialists draw special attention to owners’ attention to the inadmissibility of physical punishment for Chihuahuas. Also, owners need to restrain their emotions and not even scold their pet loudly. Due to its size, which is very different from the owner’s height, a Chihuahua can be so frightened that it will subsequently always be afraid and tremble when a person appears.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, Chihuahuas may tremble more often under the influence of hormones, and at the end of gestation, trembling may indicate the onset of labor. But here it is important not to miss a condition that is dangerous to the health of the pet - eclampsia associated with a lack of calcium - which can lead to the death of the pet without treatment. The best decision in this case would be to consult a veterinarian.
Trembling can also be observed in Chihuahuas during estrus, also under the influence of hormones.
During pregnancy, Chihuahuas may tremble more often due to hormonal changes in the body.
Diseases
Chihuahua trembling is not always explained by their physiology or mental state. It may also indicate the development of a serious illness.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. More than 10% of Chihuahuas suffer from this disease. Trembling in this condition is associated with a sudden onset of weakness, and usually ends with convulsions. This is a chronic condition that requires a special diet and monitoring by a veterinarian. If you encounter it for the first time with your pet, forcefully give it sweetened water from a syringe and quickly take it to the veterinarian.
Poisoning
Due to their small body size, Chihuahuas are very easy to unintentionally poison. A couple of cubes of dark chocolate or a few grapes, detergent residue on the dishes is enough - and the dog begins to vomit with increased salivation, weakness and trembling. If you suspect poisoning, you need to give your dog any absorbent (at least an activated carbon tablet) and immediately go to the veterinarian.
Poisoning of a Chihuahua can be accompanied by severe weakness, which provokes trembling
For vomiting associated with poisoning, antiemetic drugs should not be given. Toxins also come out with vomit. But the dog must be forced to drink at least 3-5 ml every 15 minutes to prevent dehydration.
Allergic reaction
As an allergic reaction develops, your pet may begin to itch and shake. Allergies can be caused by external irritants (traces of powder on clothing or bedding) and internal ones (new food or a certain product). It is necessary to experimentally identify the allergen and remove it. To relieve the symptoms of an allergic reaction, antihistamines are used (the same as for humans, but in a dosage prescribed by a veterinarian).
Other diseases
Trembling can accompany a number of other diseases:
- urolithiasis;
- renal failure;
- otitis;
- injuries.
Before visiting the doctor, the owner should remember when the pet began to tremble, what event preceded it, and observe what other symptoms appear. All this will help to quickly make the correct diagnosis.
Video: why Chihuahuas tremble and how to help them
Chihuahua trembling can be explained by completely physiological reasons, but it can also be a sign of pathological conditions. If you are unsure why your pet is shaking or his behavior seems strange to you, contact your veterinarian who can help determine whether there is a risk to your pet's health.
Diseases that Chihuahuas suffer from
Chihuahuas have excellent health by nature, but still, if the dog exhibits symptoms of illness, then you need to take action immediately.
List of symptoms that should not be ignored:
- Temperature above 39 degrees;
- Diarrhea;
- Vomit;
- Strange substances are released from the nose;
- Poor appetite;
- Weight loss;
- Cough;
- Dandruff;
- Itching;
- Lameness;
- Parasites.
If your dog has one of these symptoms, then you need to take action quickly. It is better to consult a veterinarian rather than self-medicate.
When a dog exhibits allergy symptoms, it should be taken to the veterinarian. Here are the allergy symptoms:
- Itching on the skin. This may indicate that the Chihuahua has an infection, fleas, or ticks;
- Hair falls out. Most likely the dog has hypothyroidism, demodicosis or folliculitis;
- Ear discharge. This can be the cause of any allergy.
We suggest you read: How to find out the weight of livestock and young cattle without scales?
Table of livestock weights by measurements. Breath stinks. This indicates problems with the skin or the presence of mucus in the mouth;
Dandruff. It may indicate an allergy to any food.
What to do
To help a dog, the owner must first observe its behavior. It should be noted under what circumstances a Chihuahua begins to tremble and at what time of day. If possible, you should avoid situations that cause your pet to experience extreme stress and nervousness.
To help your dog cope with anxiety, you need to take him in your arms, stroke him and try to calm him down in a calm, gentle tone.
From a young age, it is necessary to take a decorative dog for walks, where it can adapt to the world around it. For normal and rapid socialization, you need to hold the baby in your arms and show him other animals, passers-by, cars. Thanks to this, the pet will understand that he has nothing to be afraid of on the street.
You can consult a zoopsychologist. It will also help the small dog adapt to its new environment. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe a sedative for the Chihuahua, for example, “Cat Bayun”.
If the dog is constantly cold, then the owner needs to warm it up. For walks, you can choose suitable dog clothes: overalls or a sweater. After a walk in the rain or snow, be sure to dry your pet with a hairdryer. This will not only warm him up, but also prevent a possible cold.
If the baby is cold and at home, then you need to insulate his lounger or house with an additional blanket. You can also install a heater for extra warmth. But in this case, you need to make sure that the Chihuahua does not get close to him. Do not leave the device turned on unattended.
If the owner has suspicions that his decorative dog is sick or poisoned, then he must urgently go to the hospital and take all the tests: blood, feces, urine. Perhaps even undergo an ECG and ultrasound. The veterinarian will examine the animal and prescribe treatment.
If a Chihuahua has low sugar levels in the body, then you need to choose a suitable diet, do not give the dog sweets and starchy foods, and do physical exercise. If your pet eats ready-made food, then you need to switch to a higher quality brand of food.
If a nursing bitch has eclampsia, then you need to give her foods containing calcium or add mineral supplements containing calcium and phosphorus to her food.
If you notice signs of allergies in your Chihuahua, remove suspicious foods from its diet or replace dry food. In any case, when you doubt the diagnosis or cannot help your dog cope with tremors yourself, consult a doctor.
If you liked the article, share it with your friends.
Fleas on Chihuahuas
No dog breed is immune to fleas. Likewise, Chihuahuas can develop these blood-sucking parasites. If a dog has fleas, its behavior changes greatly:
- The dog is nervous;
- Itches often;
- Bites the fur.
In this case, you need to carefully examine the animal’s body. The presence of fleas is indicated by red dots from bites.
To rid your pet of fleas, you need to use special products, of which there are many on sale.
Zooshampoo
Such shampoos contain substances that can rid your dog of fleas in a short time. For prevention, you can re-bathe her with this shampoo after 2-3 weeks.
Flea drops
In order not to subject your dog to water procedures again, you can use special drops. Just one drop on the dog’s withers is enough and within a day the fleas will disappear.
We suggest you read: Why cats love boxes and adore bags
Aerosols
You need to apply the aerosol and rub evenly over your entire body. The validity period of this product is about a month.
Flea collar
The collar contains substances that kill fleas. The skin is poisoned by this substance and when a flea bites a dog, it dies immediately. The collar can last about 3 months.
Determining the cause
Identifying the cause of your pet’s sudden trembling on your own is not always easy, and sometimes impossible..
This is especially true in cases where the dog begins to shake due to health problems.
If trembling is accompanied by other symptoms of illness, your pet should be taken to a veterinarian.
If the dog is shaking not because of illness, then you can try to determine the cause of the trembling yourself.:
- If it’s cold outside and your pet is walking without overalls or a blanket, it means he’s just cold.
- If some serious changes have occurred in the dog’s life, then trembling can be caused by severe stress.
- If a Chihuahua is frightened by a loud sound or a car passing nearby, the trembling is caused by fear.
- Did your pet start shaking when the owner returned home from work? This trembling is caused by excitement, nothing bad is happening.
- It happens that a dog begins to tremble for no reason, but at the same time looks healthy, active and cheerful. In this case, trembling is just a way to release pent-up energy.
Eye diseases
Chihuahuas have much larger eyeballs than other dogs. And because of this, the dog develops eye diseases. If your dog has redness, tearfulness, dullness in the eyes, or the dog blinks frequently, then it may have one of the following diseases:
- Glaucoma;
- Cataract;
- Glaucoma.
In this case, you need to immediately go to a canine ophthalmologist. The doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the required course of treatment for the dog.
We suggest you read: Training a Yorkshire Terrier puppy by month
Chihuahuas also have a problem with their eyes falling out of their sockets, this is due to the fact that the eyeballs are attached only to the eyelids. Signs that the eyes may be falling out include bleeding or the dog being afraid of light. You need to quickly take your dog to the hospital, but before that you should:
- Provide the dog with peace and make sure that it does not reach the eyes;
- Wipe your eyes with saline solution and apply ointment;
- Replacing the damage so that it is not cold.
What can you do to stop your dog from shaking?
Depending on what is causing the trembling, the Chihuahua owner can take one of the following steps::
In some cases, when trembling is caused by health problems, the dog needs to be given first aid immediately without waiting for the veterinarian to arrive.
So, in case of eclampsia, you should try to feed the dog several tablets of vitamin supplement containing calcium: this will help calm the trembling and prevent seizures.
And in case of hypoglycemia, before taking the dog to the clinic, you should try to give it sweetened water to drink.
Trembling in a Chihuahua, if its cause is an accelerated metabolism or the inability to release accumulated energy, is not a pathology and a threat to health, and, moreover, does not pose a threat to the dog’s life.
It’s another matter if the Chihuahua is shaking because the dog is sick and shaking is one of several symptoms of ill health.
In this case, it can be difficult to determine the cause of the animal’s condition on your own, and therefore it is best to take the pet to the clinic.
If the Chihuahua is trembling because he is cold or scared, then you need to warm the pet or calm him down.
