What is “dog shaker syndrome”?
Shaker syndrome is the most common disorder found in dogs. This syndrome is more likely to affect young puppies. The specific term used for shaker syndrome is “tremor.” You might have seen little white breeds like Maltese that are more commonly vulnerable to this tremor.
Tremor is a condition where repetitive, rhythmic, and involuntary action causes the muscles to shake, giving a shivering appearance. Sometimes, this shaker syndrome is restricted to a particular part of the puppy’s body, like the head, tail, or ear. However, a puppy can also get full-body shaker syndrome. The article will explain why this syndrome exists and how to overcome it.
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What are the symptoms of shaker syndrome?
Frequent trembling is the major sign a dog displays if he has shaker syndrome. Yet, it is not exclusive, as several other disorders cause trembling in dogs. So, it is quite important to know whether your dog is trembling due to an ailment or if he is suffering from a normal shiver.
Other symptoms a puppy may exhibit include decreased vision and back-and-forth movement of the legs, which are uncommon.
Dogs’ tremor becomes worsen due to excitement and prolonged engagement with strenuous exercise. The dog does not have any other disease besides shaker syndrome, so it seems perfectly fine while resting or sleeping.
What are the causes of shaker syndrome?
Some breeds are more likely to get this condition; these include the
- Golden Retriever
- Chow Chow
- Maltese
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Australian Silky Spaniel.
Other breeds, including the mixed breed, can also get shaker syndrome. Although both sexes (male and female) can develop shaker syndrome, male puppies are more susceptible in this regard.
Nevertheless, the prime cause behind shaker syndrome is still unknown, as different veterinarians offer different theories.
How do you diagnose shaker syndrome?
Diagnosing shaker syndrome is not as easy as it seems. One must go to a veterinarian, and he will perform different tests, including blood tests and urinary analyses. These tests are not used to diagnose shaker syndrome but rather to rule out other diseases, such as neurological disorders and central nervous system ailments. The major test to perform in this regard is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
If all the tests are clear and there is no neurological ailment in your dog, then the veterinarian can go ahead with treating shaker syndrome disorder.
What should a veterinarian do if a puppy has shaker syndrome?
To treat shaker syndrome or tremors in dogs, vets rely on prednisone. It is a steroid that works with the immune system to overcome tremors. Usually, it starts responding in two to three weeks, and soon your dog gets rid of this disorder.
When your dog starts to recover, the veterinarian reduces the dose of the prednisone so it will not affect the other organs.
Common side effects of prednisone involve increased hunger, increased thirst, and frequent urination. However, prolonged use of this drug can affect the skin and endocrine system, which stimulates different hormones.
Other medications in this regard include;
- Leflunomide
- Mycophenolate
- Cytosar
Yet, these medications are not used in first-line treatment.
What is the recovery of dogs from shaker syndrome?
While most dogs get well within a week, others never do. The use of corticosteroids will be gradually decreased and eventually stopped. Even if your dog doesn’t have any symptoms, therapy will resume if they do. Some people must get corticosteroid therapy for an extended time or for the rest of their lives.
You will need to arrange repeated analysis after the first diagnosis and course of corticosteroid therapy to track your dog’s health. Monitoring for negative side effects, such as vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, diarrhea, and ulcers, is one reason for this.
Is shaking in young pups normal?
Just so you know, it’s natural for a puppy to shake. They can tremble for various reasons, including being too cold or wet, terrified, or even shaking off some tension or excitement. They figuratively try to shake it off!
What is cerebral hypoplasia?
Cerebellar hypoplasia, a disorder brought on by the cerebellum’s inadequate development, can make dogs tremble. To coordinate and control voluntary muscular action, this area of the brain is in charge. The following symptoms are first noticed in pups beginning to walk:
- Bobs of the head
- Moves or eating can make limb tremors worse, but sleeping can cure them
- Unsteadiness or clumsiness while standing with a broad base
- Failure to recognize distance and imbalance, which causes a fall or tip-over
Frequently asked questions.
Your dog might shake to keep himself warm in cold winter or be well exercised. So, if you want to prevent your dog from frequent shaking, it is better to take him for a morning walk and keep him warm. So that he will not shake his body frequently to do so. nevertheless, there are some breeds that are more susceptible to generalized tremor syndrome, which is incurable yet.
Normally dogs shake their body if they are suffering from anxiety. Licking their lips and paws, heavy panting, and whimpering are all signs of dog anxiousness. It may be due to over-excitement and fear of something.
There are different toxins that can cause shaking in a dog’s body. These include;
- Contaminating compost.
- Mycotoxins that are usually found in moldy food or garbage.
- Some antidepressants.
- Amphetamines on prescription (used to treat ADD/ADHD in people)
- Metaldehydes use to kill snails and slugs.
- Mouse-rat-poison (called as bromethalin)
Final thoughts:
Shaker syndrome is common in adults and small dogs. Yet, it is curable. One should follow certain precautions in this regard. The article will enrich you with detail of shaker syndrome.
