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Shivering

BostonGirl

BostonGirl

Well-known member
I'm starting to become concerned. Bella shivers often as though she's cold and I'm wondering if this is normal. She's 9 months old now and often wakes up in the morning shivering even when its not cold out. She sleeps in bed with us on our down comforter and I often try to cover her in some of the covers to keep her warm but she ends up getting out from under them during the night. There was a couple week period where it was a bit chilly in the apartment and it seemed understandable but the weather has been quite nice in Boston lately (in the 70s) and she is still shivering. I actually brought her to work with me today because she was shivering a lot this morning and yelped a few times when I went to pick her up and I was too worried to leave her. I felt her over and nothing seems to be causing her pain... it was really strange. She just seems really bummed out today. She is eating fine and is not vomiting or having diarrea. I hate to rush her to the vet again as I feel like I over react too often over minor things that always just go away on there on but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if could be something serious. Any thoughts are much appreciated.
 
I'd definitely talk to your vet. Shivering like this, so often, isn't normal (though very small dogs apparently can get the shivers for unknown reasons -- but I've never heard of this is a cavalier). Especially as her general behaviour isn't normal (seeming bummed out, which I'd guess means a bit lethargic and depressed?), this should be checked. If your vet can't find anything (such as a disk problem perhaps?) I'd be asking for a referral to a specialist, probably a neurologist and/or orthopedist. Hopefully things will check out fine. But dogs shiver when they are afraid, in pain, or cold, so there are a number of things that could be happening. Because of the connection to pain -- and because you are seeing Bella shiver when the weather/cold is not a factor -- and because she has been yelping when touched -- another sign of pain -- I'd personally want a referral to a neurologist if your vet cannot find any problems. Good luck and let us know what happens. :flwr:

Here's one vet's advice on a tremoring dog:

There are a lot of other possible causes of tremoring. Many of them are pretty obscure diseases and it is a good idea to consider asking your vet about referral to a neurologist if that is an option in your area. It is always a good idea to check a general blood panel and have a good exam done by your vet in case this is symptom of a general sytemic problem that your vet may recognize. Canine distemper, liver disease, kidney disease, some hormonal diseases and other systemic or organ system problems can lead to tremoring.
Click to expand...

You can read a set of various tremor/shivering questions here: http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dtremor.html

Also: wasn't she also having some limb weakness and limping without a specific cause having been found, some time back? If I remember nothing came up on xray and they guessed it might be soft tissue damage. Given this mix of things now, I'd really be inclined to ask for a neurology referral if your vet cannot find a specific cause for these newer symptoms. If you see one, I'd definitely talk to the neurologist about the previous episode of pain.
 
Keeping my fingers crossed for your precious Bella. Please keep us up-to-date. Judy and Dixie
 
Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Deep down I don't think its a major problem though - I really just think she gets cold alot. I posted with the curiousity of knowing if anyone else's cavs do this. I know some small dogs breeds do and maybe some more petite cavaliers do as well?? I read alot of info on the information Karlin gave me and it doesn't seem like she has any of these major issues. She is really just a tiny thing and I think she just gets cold alot?? After I snuggle with her for a while she stops shivering. She never shivered in the summer but has started doing it now that the weather has gotten chillier. She seems better this morning - no shivering, no yelping, and her spirits seemed up. I left her with our down comforter to snuggle up in so I'm hoping she's cozy today. It was a chilly rainy day here yesterday so maybe she just got chilled and bummed out from the weather?? I will certainly keep a close eye on her the next few days and if she still seems to be acting odd I will get her into the vet.

Karlin - I guess I never followed up on the limping a while back. Turns out it was just some soft tissue damage. The day after we took her to the vet the limping completely stopped. Thank god it wasnt that horrible rare disease!! She hasn't limped since and is totally fine. What must have happened was we had her at a puppy socialization class the night before the limping started and a bigger puppy slammed her on the ground once and she yelped. I think it just cause some bruising on her back end and it being her first experience with pain she was very dramatic about it :) I swear - Bella is such a fragile little thing and might just be playing me for more attention cause she knows I'm a sucker :)

I will let you all know how she's doing in a few days. Again, thanks for the concern!
 
Sounds like she does just get cold, might be worth investing in a little doggy jumper for her to sleep in maybe? :slp:
 
Maija and Hermie, both 9 months old, shiver a lot too. They are very petite and don't have thick coats (yet - I hope they will get a bit thicker!) and seem to get cold really easily. They also shiver if they are frightened. I'm thinking of getting them little coats for the winter. We were in Devon last week, walking a lot on the moors, and although they loved the moors they were cold and should have had the coats there already. But they do shiver a lot, have always done even though they are completely healthy and active and energetic. Good luck! :)
 
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