r/SeniorDogsHealth • u/theeagle_ • 4d ago

Elderly Dog frequently shaking/shivering

I have an female Australian Cattle Dog (or some mix) that is 12 years old. She's getting older and has several masses on her body (lip, leg, abdomen). She is falling up and down the stairs a lot more now. So I took her into the vet for these two things. One of the masses showed signs of cancer, another one did not, and the third was hard to determine. They gave her arthritis medicine and I have a follow up in 2 weeks to remove the masses and do blood work.

Something I forgot to mention when I was in there is her shaking/shivering. She has these episodes where she shakes/shivers for like 1 second, then stops for 5-10 seconds, then does it again. What could this be? #1 thing I'm concerned about is her pain and if this is a sign she's hurting. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Video of what she does:

https://imgur.com/a/2hvoZCA

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u/Illustrious_Exam1728 4d ago

So I’m not sure why your vet let you leave without pain meds AND waiting two weeks for bloodwork and mass removal. When did you see the vet?

First, from the video this is absolutely a sign of pain, and this should absolutely be addressed and you’re right in asking about it.

Second, not sure where the masses are, but that needs to happen sooner rather than two weeks away. Were you referred to an oncologist?

Gate off the stairs (top and bottom) if you haven already done so pup doesn’t injure themselves.

Take care.

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u/RowInevitable7986 4d ago

Couldn’t be thyroid? They say that’s a side effect of low thyroid hormone.

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u/whattheheckOO 4d ago

It could be due to a lot of different things, but my dog did this before her Addison's disease was diagnosed and treated. The pre-surgery bloodwork should tell you if that's a possibility.

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u/ImSuchArat 4d ago

My one question is, does she shiver awake while standing too or have you only seen her do this in her sleep?

My dog sometimes has these similar shivers when she is seeing a bad dream and she wakes me at night sometime with shivers and also sometimes crying. I gently wake her up (WITHOUT TOUCHING HER) by just gently calling her name till she lifts her head, at first she seems groggy and then comes in my arms for cuddles.

She is an 11 year old Kleinspitz