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Why do my dog's legs shake?

This is a question that we often get from sitter and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!

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Often, dogs will shake or shiver if they are in pain or suffering from some kind of sickness — just like we might tremble due to a cold or fever.

If your dog is older, shaking legs is probably due to weakness and diminishing joint and muscle health. If your dog is younger, it could be due to being cold (dogs shiver too!) or pain/discomfort. Make sure your dog is getting ample exercise to keep their body active and healthy.

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I was worried about this in my dog as well. My rescue dog ended up having a damaged spine (before I got her) that never healed properly -- this caused her hips to stiffen and her legs to shake. It also could be from weak muscles. Call your vet and give them the low down. There are a number of reasons this could be happening dependent on other behaviors associated -- pay close attention and don't stress, your pup will appreciate you noticing!

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Often depends on the breed. It's not uncommon for some smaller dogs to shiver because of temperature, try a sweater! If the pup seems to be in discomfort I would try a body exam, checking movement of limbs and neck, applying a little bit of pressure along the spine. If there is any indication of discormfort upon the exam I would recommend visiting your vet.