Your dog has the same reaction after each bath: A head-to-toe shake that sends water droplets flying in every direction. Their reaction is more than just comical (and messy). Researchers have used high-speed cameras to track the speed of the “wet dog shake” and found that shaking helps

The difference between a dog shaking and seizing

Seizures are different than shaking. Seizures in dogs aren’t uncommon but less than 1% of the canine population suffers from epilepsy.2 This is a neurological condition that can cause spontaneous muscle movement, loss of muscle tone or rigid muscles, facial twitching, drooling, urination, defecation or vomiting.2,3

In some dogs, seizures last for seconds to minutes or can occur as a cluster of several seizures in a short time. Seizures lasting longer than 5 minutes or seizures that happen one after another always require medical attention.3

The major difference between shaking and seizing is consciousness. Pets that are just shaking are still aware of their surroundings and should respond to commands and to their name. On the other hand, a seizing pet will usually lose all or partial consciousness.

Seizures are generally more concerning than shaking. If you are struggling to differentiate between the two, always consult a veterinary professional. Shaking, on the other hand, may not be neurological and can be a symptom of an underlying issue that may improve with treatment.

If you’ve ever wondered, “why is my dog shaking?” these nine possible causes could be behind it.

1. Old age

Inevitably, as pets age, they can lose some muscle mass and experience deteriorations in fine motor control. The combination of these two things can lead to tremors, especially in the hind end and when standing.

You might also notice your senior dog shaking more often when it’s cold outside. Older dogs have a harder time regulating their body temperatures, causing them to shiver.4

What you can do: Be sure to rule out arthritis pain as a cause for shaking and tremors. Shaking related to loss of fine motor control and muscle weakness shouldn’t be painful and may not require intervention or treatment. If it’s cold, consider dressing your senior canine companion in a warm sweater for walks or bundling them up in a blanket in the house should stop the shivering.

2. Ear infection

Frequent head shaking is a telltale sign that a dog is suffering from a painful or itchy ear infection. Scratching, whining, odor, discharge and hair loss around the ears are other common symptoms of an ear infection in dogs.5

Although ear infections can be diagnosed in any breed, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, West Highland Terriers and other dog breeds with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections.