Q:  I have Chihuahua named Peanut. He is 3 years old and a wonderful dog. Does his shaking indicate that he is cold or could it also be excitement?

A:  Small dogs do tend to be more prone to shaking, and often they can shake due the cold, being nervous or being excited. While, in my experience, most cases of small dogs’ shaking are due to one of these three things, there are also cases of shaking that can be due to more serious problems such as portosystemic shunts, hypoglycemia, metabolic diseases or tumors. However, often these more serious causes of shaking also produce additional symptoms other than simply shaking. As a final note, if you suspect that your dog is cold, it is best to get him a jacket and sometimes even boots to protect his feet. Look for a coat that covers from the base of your dog’s tail to the top of his neck (turtleneck-style) and that wraps around your dog’s belly to provide better insulation. However, also remember that dogs lose a lot of heat from the body areas that coats don’t cover (ears for example), so don’t expect a coat to make your dog totally cold-resistant.   

Your question has been answered by the following veterinarian:
Daniel Lauridia, DVM

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