Rat terrier shaking is normally and issue because rat terriers are active dogs that were selectively bred to hunt rats but became human companions due to their personalities, so let’s discuss rat terrier shaking in detail.
There are lots of reasons for rat terrier shaking which I will be discussing in this post so keep reading…
Some reasons for rat terrier shaking can be controlled by their owners while others will need the help of a veterinarian.
Without wasting much of your time let me start listing and explaining the most common reasons for rat terrier shaking!
Reasons for rat terrier shaking
A serious disease, such as poisoning, cold symptoms, arthritis, generalized tremor syndrome, renal failure, or injury, may cause rat terriers to shake.
Look for further signs like vomiting, diarrhea, or limping if your rat terrier starts to tremble, and then call your veterinarian right once.
You should be aware of the following causes of rat terrier shaking:
1. Your rat terrier is feeling cold
Rat terriers can still be cold despite having short, dense coats, but it all depends on where you live.
Your rat terrier may begin shaking if the local temperature drops too low for your dog to handle.
In order to determine whether the temperature in your environment is too low for your dog, check it if your rat terrier begins to shake.
Because a rat terrier’s normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 °C, your dog will be affected if the temperature in the room or surroundings drops.
2. Hypoglycemia symptom
Your rat terrier can shake due to hypoglycemia, which happens when their blood sugar levels decrease rapidly.
There is a recognized tendency for hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in some rat terriers.
If your dog is underfed or overstimulated, this shaking can also happen.
This issue, which is often marked by sleepiness followed by violent shaking, may be brought on by insulin used to treat diabetes.
If you don’t treat it, your rat terrier might have a seizure or fall into a coma.
If left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead your rat terrier to pass out or, in the worst case scenario, end in death.
3. Rat terriers shake when excited
Rat terriers are highly pleased when a family member gets home since they were bred to thrive on human interaction.
Occasionally, you could see rat terriers shivering in reaction to this enthusiasm, but this is not a sign of fear or illness.
Similar to this, rat terriers are known to shake before eating their favorite food or playing with their favorite toy.
When their owners arrive home late at night, some rat terriers may tremble, howl, and even pee out of excitement; this is not an indication of illness.
Despite the fact that some of these characteristics are common in companion dogs, such as rat terriers, you may assist your rat terrier relax by offering calm, brief greetings.
4. Signs if seizure
Large and tiny dogs, as well as other animals, can experience epilepsy, a neurological condition that causes collapse and jerking in certain canines.
Aberrant brain activity, which can occur in rat terriers, is the main factor in canine seizures.
The incidents, as they are known, occur over time and are always accompanied by a dog’s entire body trembling violently.
Even while the dog may not experience pain when having seizures, the dog might still get hurt if it trips or knocks something over and on top of itself.
As soon as your rat terrier begins having seizures, call your veterinarian. Medication to stop seizures can be used to treat this.
5. Fear
Fear is one of the most common reasons why rat terriers shake.
It’s crucial to remember that each dog is unique, so what frightens one dog might not frighten another.
For instance, rat terrier owners frequently lift and carry their dogs.
Your rat terrier’s greatest fear is heights, which may surprise you.
Keep an eye out for signs of discomfort and pay attention to your rat terrier’s environmental signals.
Gunshots, pyrotechnics, thunder, and other loud noises should be kept away from the rat terrier since they might shock her.
6. Sign of distemper
Distemper is a virus that typically affects young dogs and pups that have not received all of their vaccines.
Trembling and shaking are indications of distemper in rat terriers.
Flushing from the nose and eyes, fever, and coughing are further symptoms.
The digestive, neurological, and respiratory systems are all affected by the distemper virus.
The signs and symptoms of distemper often result in the death of dogs of all sizes, including rat terriers.
The good news is that because rat terriers are completely inoculated, distemper seldom affects them.
Always keep in mind that shaking is a characteristic sign of canine distemper; it’s important to keep that in mind.
7. Sign of poisoning
While nicotine in cigarettes is unhealthy, chewing gum frequently contains xylitol, a sugar substitute.
In small dogs like rat terriers, these toxins or chemicals can induce severe trembling.
A bee sting, a snake bite, severe food sickness, or scorpion stings may cause your rat terrier to tremble.
This is a major concern even if you don’t witness your rat terrier come into touch with something harmful or toxic.
As a result, keep your rat terrier away from things and animals that might be dangerous.
If you believe your rat terrier may have swallowed anything harmful or was bitten by a small animal, please take him to the veterinarian.
Other signs of rat terriers toxin consumption include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting
- Disorientation
- Fainting
8. Sign of Generalized Tremor Syndrome
Compared to other tiny breeds, rat terriers, Pugs, Boston terriers, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas are more prone to experience generalized tremor syndrome.
Full-body tremors that are similar to what a dog feels cold cause this illness, also known as shaker syndrome.
Although the symptoms of generalized tremor syndrome vary from dog to dog, rat terriers are most usually affected between the ages of three and five.
Widespread tremor syndrome’s specific cause is unclear, however it is generally acknowledged that it has no deadly consequences.
If your rat terrier continues to tremble for no apparent cause, always consult your veterinarian.
9. Sign of old age
The rat terrier is one of the small dog breeds with one of the longest life spans, with some individuals surviving to be 15 years or more.
They have health problems as they age and live longer than other breeds, which makes their legs weak and can cause tremors.
There isn’t much you can do to treat an aged rat terrier that shivers or tremors until you consult with your veterinarian.
Their joints are weak and old, no longer able to carry the weight of their bodies due to a number of aging-related health issues.
The back and front limb tremors that can make it difficult for senior rat terriers to walk normally and produce trembling or shivering are more common in these dogs.
10. Chronic canine arthritis
If your older rat terrier shakes or trembles, especially in the hindquarters, he may be exhibiting one of the signs of canine arthritis.
Infections, injuries, and even dental issues are among the painful ailments that can plague small canines like rat terriers.
Your veterinarian may suggest additional diagnostic investigations or pain medication if your dog is in discomfort, which might have a variety of different reasons.
Shaking, shivering, and muscular tremors may indicate serious illnesses including distemper, hypoglycemia, Addison’s disease, and inflammatory brain disease in addition to more typical diseases like a stomachache.
If you notice your rat terrier trembling uncontrollably, pay close attention to him or her since excessive discomfort may cause them to shake constantly.
Read more: 9 Signs Of Rat Terrier Separation Anxiety With Tips.
Rat terrier shaking and vomiting
The rat terrier can shiver and throw up because of an upset stomach brought on by whatever it ate, such as a hazardous substance, an onion ball, a garlic ball, or a harmful plant.
Additionally, pancreatitis, a renal disease, or an enlarged stomach might be to fault.
Your rat terrier’s trembling and vomiting are signs of an illness, therefore you should get them to the vet as soon as you can.
Observe their frequency of vomiting as well as the volume and color of their poop.
Make an immediate phone call to your veterinarian if it doesn’t cease after a few hours.
Rat terrier shaking and panting
Rat terriers may pant and shiver excessively for a variety of reasons, including stress, worsening pain, discomfort, poisoning, renal illness, injury, allergic responses, toxins, bites, and stings.
If your rat terrier shakes, especially if it’s not due to excitement, schedule a visit with your veterinarian.
Rat terrier shaking legs
Patellar luxation or generalized tremor syndrome, which is prevalent in breeds like French Bulldogs, miniature pinschers, and Chihuahuas, might be the reason why the back legs of Rat Terriers shake.
If your dog occasionally shakes, do not be frightened; shaking does not always signify a neck or spine injury or a neurological problem.
The most common culprits are aging-related symptoms like anxiety, colds, or tremors.
A frequent condition that affects many dogs’ rear legs is patellar luxation, often known as sliding or floating kneecaps, especially in tiny breeds like the rat terriers.
A kneecap is known medically as the patella, and the term “luxation” merely denotes that it has shifted.
Rat terrier shaking head
Numerous medical disorders, including as ear infections, flea bites on the scalp, allergies, and head tremors as a result of head trauma, can cause rat terrier head shaking.
However, the rat terrier’s head shaking might be brought on by age or other health issues.
The most typical ailments for which owners bring their dogs to the vet each year are ear infections, which are more common in rat terriers because of the shape of their ears.
The head shaking of a rat terrier might be a sign of an ear infection, ear mites, parasites, allergies, hematoma, toxins, or even balance issues as they become older.
If after inspecting their ears, nothing looks abnormal but the behavior continues, contact your veterinarian.
