My Labrador Legs Are Shaking: Various causes can cause your Labrador to shake and tremble, such as cold, nervous, stressed, anxiety, overexcited, old age, and pain. A shivering and shaking sensation, especially in the back legs, can indicate something more serious – such as an infection, kidney failure, or trauma.
If your Lab begins to shake or cry suddenly, then you should pay attention to any other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or hobbling. If you see several symptoms together, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Common Causes and Treatments Dog Leg Shaking
Shaking, tremors, or trembling in Labradors may be caused by:
| Cold | Anxiety |
| Excited | Old age |
| Addison’s disease | Nausea |
| Distemper | Poisoning |
Cold
Your Labrador might just be trembling because it is cold outside. Assume that your Labrador is cold too if the temperature outside is cold and you are feeling cold yourself. Whenever your Lab feels cold, he will shiver, which is just a symptom of that.
Bring your Lab inside from the backyard if they are outside. As an alternative, consider taking your Labrador for a short walk or even to an indoor dog park (if there are any near you) to keep them active during the cold weather.
Unlike many dog breeds with thick coats for keeping warm outside, the poor Labrador doesn’t have that luxury. They would probably benefit from an extra winter jacket, preventing them from shivering in the cold.
Anxiety
Your Labrador can’t communicate with you easily when something upsets them. In order to help your Labrador cope with problems like anxiety, you should be aware of the symptoms. If your Labrador shakes its legs or body, it is probably anxious. If this is the case, there are recognizable signs and medications which can help relieve your Labs anxiety. There are three types of anxiety they could experience:
| Fear of loud noises | Your Lab can be scared of thunder and fireworks. As a result, they sometimes become nervous when a storm is approaching. |
| Separation anxiety | Separation anxiety occurs when your Lab does not want to be separated from you, this is by far the most common anxiety that dogs experience. |
| Changes in environment | Some less common causes of anxiety are changes in the environment, such as traveling to a veterinarian or in a new car. You may even need to change your working hours if you’re not used to them. An abrupt change to the daily routine is more or less likely to cause anxiety. Changes in environment |
Symptoms of anxiety
| Legs and body shaking. | Destroying furniture |
| Restlessness | Self-harm |
| Not eating | Escaping the yard |
| Urinating more frequently | Running away and/or cowering in the corner of a house |
| Panting and pacing | Barking or howling |
Treating anxiety
| Behavioral training | You can help your dog overcome separation anxiety by offering them something they enjoy playing with during the day to distract them from its negative relation to being lonely. |
| Medical treatment | Veterinary drugs or natural therapies can be prescribed if your Lab exhibits a severe anxiety condition. SSRIs and antidepressants are usually given to anxious dogs, such as fluoxetine or clomipramine. |
Excited
Labradors will shake/tremor, jump up and down continually, run in circles, and bark excessively when overexcited.
When your Lab is working off this excess energy in this way, it may look like they are shaking all over, and you may even think it is normal for them to act that way. Yet, as a Labrador owner, it is important to remember that an over-excited Labrador is not necessarily happy.
Symptoms of a over excited Labrador
| Legs and body shaking. | Relentless barking |
| Spinning in circles | Pacing |
| Repeatedly jumping around | Panting |
| Dilated pupils | Tense body |
| Fast heart rate | Fast breathing |
Treating over excited Labrador
| See Your Vet | Several medical conditions can cause stress and anxiety, which may result in higher levels of excitement. Seeing a veterinarian is always a good idea to rule out any medical problems. |
| Exercise/Mental Stimulation | Exercising the body and relaxing the mind will help lower excitement levels to practice calming behaviors. |
| Identify the Triggers | Until you know exactly what triggers or circumstances are causing your Labs’ high levels of excitement, you cannot reduce them. Identify when your Labrador starts to get the most excited and what was happening at the time. |
| Desensitize to the Triggers | Desensitization involves introducing triggers that cause excitement in your Lab in a less active way. Learn how to reduce the intensity of triggers and conditions. |
Old Age
A Labrador is about the same age as a 72-year-old human at 14 years old. As your Lab reaches this age, several things might cause them to shake in the legs and body. In the event that your Lab is shaking or trembling unexpectedly, it is unlikely to be a natural age-related transition and will require veterinary examination.
Symptoms Of Old Age
| Legs and body shaking | Sensitivity to adrenaline |
| Addison’s disease | Muscles weakness |
| Pain | Arthritis |
| The nervous system |
Old Age Treatment
Depending on the underlying cause of age-related issues, treatments will differ significantly. Your veterinarian will be able to inform you of your options for treating your Lab after they have been evaluated and the appropriate diagnostic tests have been run.
Addison’s disease
Hypoadrenocorticism, also known as Addison’s disease, is a disorder with serious consequences for you, Lab. Addison’s disease happens when the adrenal glands don’t produce the hormones they need for your Labrador to function.
Symptoms Of Addison’s disease
| Legs and body shaking. | Dehydration |
| Weak pulse | Irregular heart rate |
| Vomiting | Hair loss |
| Increased thirst | Diarrhea |
| Weight loss | Bloody stools |
Addison’s disease Treatment
Addison’s disease is treated as an emergency by your vet, who will stabilize your Lab as quickly as possible. Your Labrador will be admitted to the hospital and treated for the effects of the disease. Your veterinarian may prescribe substitute hormone drugs to help your Lab cope with the disorder when it is not in imminent danger.
Nausea
You can expect your Labrador to vomit when it has consumed too much food or something unpleasant. Vomiting may also indicate a more serious problem. It is possible that your Lab has ingested a poisonous substance and needs emergency medical help. There are also gastrointestinal and neurological conditions that can cause nausea, which a veterinarian should be able to treat.
Symptoms Of Nausea
| Legs and body shaking. | Diarrhea |
| Lethargy | Blood in vomit |
| Weight loss | Change in appetite |
| Dehydration | Increase or decrease in thirst |
Nausea Treatment
Depending on your dog’s age, medical background, physical assessment, and unique conditions, your veterinarian may choose to perform a variety of diagnostic tests. Occasionally, your Lab may need fluid treatment, antibiotics, dietary changes, antiemetics, or other medications. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions regarding proper care.
Distemper
Canine distemper is a highly infectious and often deadly disease that can affect your dog. Contagious, it is often spread by contact with clothes, brushes, food, water bowls, or other shared items. Fresh urine or blood can also spread it. Distemper has no proven treatment, and young dogs who have not been vaccinated as well as unimmunized elderly dogs are at greater risk.
| Legs and body shaking. | Clear nasal discharge |
| Fever | Anorexia |
| Vomiting | Diarrhea |
| Difficulty breathing | Head tilt |
| Muscle twitching | Death |
Distemper Treatment
Canine distemper is not treatable. Several clinical symptoms and laboratory tests are used to diagnose distemper. When it is diagnosed, only supportive treatment is given. In addition to treating diarrhea, nausea, and neurological symptoms, veterinarians aim to prevent infections and dehydration. To prevent the spread of the infection, most veterinarians recommend treating your Lab and isolating him from other dogs.
Poisoning
Educating yourself about the symptoms of dog poisoning may one day save your Labrador. Here are some warning signs of potential toxic reactions and when to seek medical attention immediately if you see symptoms that your Lab has been poisoned.
Symptoms Of Poisoning
| Legs and body shaking. | Nosebleeds |
| Diarrhea | Vomiting |
| Seizures | Loss of appetite |
| Irregular heartbeat | Inability to urinate |
Distemper Treatment
A veterinarian will evaluate your Labrador’s condition before prescribing a treatment. Before any medical tests or procedures are performed, your vet’s objective is to stabilize your Lab. The treatment can be diverse, including endoscopy and removal of things like bates and induced vomiting, or in severe cases, surgery.
There are also antidotes for some poisons, such as adder venom, some rat poisons, and antifreeze, but not all of them. Your dog’s symptoms will be treated in most cases, so their organs are not badly affected. With appropriate care, dogs with Addison’s disease are likely to live normal lives.
