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Vomiting and Shaking in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 06/19/2017Updated: 09/13/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
What is Vomiting and Shaking?
A dog who is vomiting and shaking at the same time may be suffering from a set of problems that are different from vomiting or shaking alone. It can be somewhat common for dogs to vomit bile occasionally, and they may regurgitate their food if they eat too fast or too much. It's also normal for a dog to shiver when they're cold.
However, if your dog simultaneously vomits and shakes (or shivers), you may be facing a more serious problem that requires medical intervention. Common causes of simultaneous vomiting and shaking in dogs include:
- Emotional upset
- Glucose imbalance
- Poisoning
- Metabolic disease
Vomiting and shaking together indicate an overall imbalance in your dog’s physical condition. If the cause is anxiety, fear, or excitement, the vomiting and shaking should subside within 30 to 60 minutes of the stimulus being removed.
Glucose imbalance may be a sign of a much more serious condition.
Poisoning and metabolic disease are very serious health disorders. Without immediate medical intervention, both conditions can be fatal.
Why Vomiting and Shaking Occurs in Dogs
Your dog may simultaneously vomit and shake from either an emotional or a physical disorder. Emotional disturbances typically don't last as long as symptoms caused by an underlying condition.
Emotional disturbance
Smaller dog breeds and puppies are most likely to respond to anxiety, fear, or excitement by vomiting and shaking. For example, a toy Poodle who's sensitive to the sounds of fireworks, skateboards, and other loud noises might respond by vomiting and shaking.
Diabetes
Glucose imbalance can cause your dog to vomit and shake. When this occurs because the dog has gone too long without eating, adjusting the dog's feeding schedule may solve the problem.
However, vomiting and shaking may also be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a very dangerous complication from diabetes. Diabetes is more likely to occur in female dogs who are middle-aged and overweight, and especially in Schnauzers, Dachshunds, and Poodles.
Poisoning
Many foods that are safe for humans are poisonous for dogs. Chocolate, grapes, and raisins are common examples. Rat poison and snail bait are poisonous for anyone. Your dog may also ingest things you might not consider, such as poinsettia plants at the holiday season, petroleum products, or antifreeze that's leaked from a car.
Metabolic Disease
Diseases of the organs can be acute or chronic. Acute organ disease might come on suddenly, but may be treatable. Older dogs can develop more chronic forms of organ disease, and some signs can be managed.
What to do if your Dog is Vomiting and Shaking
If your dog is vomiting and shaking because of an emotional upset, they'll need some time to calm down. Watch your dog carefully to see if their symptoms subside, continue, or even worsen. Check your dog's gums by pressing them gently with your finger. Unless there's a physical problem, their normal pink color should return within two seconds.
If any other symptoms are present, such as difficulty breathing, changes in the dog’s pulse, or loss of consciousness, there's likely something else wrong. If the vomiting and shaking don't subside within about half an hour or your dog experiences other symptoms, go to the vet immediately.
Diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests and urinalysis. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, your veterinarian will discuss treatment and prescribe a home care routine, which will include daily insulin injections, regular blood glucose readings, a specific diet, and regular exercise.
If poisoning is suspected, your veterinarian may try to clear the dog’s stomach, depending on the timing. To get a more accurate treatment plan for a specific toxin, your vet may contact poison control.
Lab testing will likely be needed to determine metabolic disease, whether acute or chronic. Your dog will likely be hospitalized to receive fluid therapy and medications, and your veterinarian will advise you on what to expect.
Prevention of Vomiting and Shaking
If you know that your dog responds to excitement, anxiety, or fear with vomiting and shaking, take care to minimize their exposure to situations that trigger these emotions.
Diabetes is less likely to develop if you keep your dog at a healthy weight. Keep all toxins and poisons safely stored out of your dog's reach.
The causes of vomiting and shaking can be expensive to treat. To protect your dog and prevent high vet care costs, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
Cost of Vomiting and Shaking
The cost of treating vomiting and shaking depends on the cause. Your dog may be prescribed a drug for anxiety, but your vet may also recommend training methods to keep your dog calm in triggering situations. The cost of treating diabetes can range from $500 to $3,000. Treatment of poisoning varies between $150 to $1,500.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Vomiting and Shaking Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Labrador Retriever
Eight Weeks
10 found this helpful
10 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Eating
She is not eating, shaking, and vomiting. She ate this morning but now nothing. She moving slowly too
Dec. 10, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
10 Recommendations
I'm sorry she is so unwell.
Vomiting can have many causes including toxin ingestion, an obstruction, parasites, an infection etc.
Puppies need to eat 3 to 4 times a day or are at risk of hypoglycaemia and dehydration.
It sounds as though she is very unwell indeed so should go to a vet right away.
Dec. 10, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
French Bulldog
Three Weeks
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Throwing Up And Moving Uncontrollably
My puppy is just 3 weeks old and doesn’t seem to want to latch on to the moms nipples, he just threw up & was shaking uncontrollably like if he was having a seizure
Nov. 23, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
3 Recommendations
This is very abnormal and the pup could have a congenital issue or low blood sugar from a failure to feed. They need to be seen by a vet immediately and may need bottle feeding going forward.
Nov. 23, 2020
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Australian Shepherd
Three Years
45 found this helpful
45 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
She’s thrown up four times in the last two hours and shaking like she’s freezing cold
Nov. 17, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
45 Recommendations
I'm sorry to hear this.
Vomiting can have many causes. Shaking can occur due to nausea, pain, stress, toxicity etc.
I would want to know if she has eaten something she shouldn't or had a change in diet?
The risk with excessive vomiting is that she may be come dehydrated or develop low blood sugar or abnormal salt levels.
She should be checked over and may well benefit from medicine such as an anti-nausea injection.
Nov. 17, 2020
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Siberian Husky
Four Months
13 found this helpful
13 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Throwing up, peeing while unconscious, whining in sleep, and wobbling
Nov. 17, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
13 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. It sounds like she may have gotten into a toxin of some type, I think it would be best to take her to the ER right away, as they will be able to evaluate her and see what might be going on. Once they know more, they will be able to let you know what treatment she needs.
Nov. 17, 2020
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Other
Four Months
18 found this helpful
18 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting Shaking
My puppy is vomiting and shaking I don’t know what’s wrong.
Nov. 1, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
18 Recommendations
Thank you for your question, I'm sorry that your puppy is not feeling well. Puppies are very prone to parasites and intestinal infections like Parvo virus. If your puppy threw up three times today and is still shaking and not feeling better, there are not really any home remedies, and it would probably be best to have your puppy seen as soon as possible by a veterinarian. They will be able to examine your puppy and see what's going on, and let you know any treatments that might be needed.
Nov. 1, 2020
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German Shepherd
Auggie
6 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Lethargy
Vomiting
My 6 month old German Shepherd was completely normal today until he started throwing up, shaking and appearing super lethargic. I gave hime a few small pieces of pastrami earlier as a special treat for behaving and later my mom gave him a salmon jerky stick and seemed fine. Then this happened all of a sudden. He has had a cold and is on medicine for that as well as giardia...but I’m very concerned because he has never had an experience with shaking. I called the vet and asked if I need to take him to the hospital and they said wait a few hours and try to give him some food and water. They said if he doesn’t improve by tomorrow take him to the hospital but I’m wondering if waiting that long is ok or if I should get him checked out now.
Chihuahua
Bella
6 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Screaming
Panting
Restless
Hiding
Vommiting
My dog, Bella, started screaming,panting, hiding under my bed, and recently just started to vomit.
My mother and I are starting to get worried about our dog, we just can't figure what it is.
She screams every 5-10 minutes in pain and my mom tried to help by giving her a very small dose of something (can't think of the name), but she just vomited it back up. Any suggestions on what could be wrong with her.
(Shes also been shaking very bad). Shes also 6 years in human years.
Pug
Lucy
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Vomiting
Puking
my dog fell off the couch when it was trying to jump onto it and started shaking and vomiting and it went in my room and started puking vomiting and was shaking
Border Collie
Zoey
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Vomiting
Tremor
I have a border collie that is 2 years old. She started vomiting 2 nights ago. on the first night she was puking up food and yellow bile. last night it was just yellow bile. she has started to have a tremor in her head. it is not constant. but it comes on and off from time to time. just the head, shaking left to right. her ears look clean. no discoloration in her eyes. her poop and pee is normal with no blood. no blood in vomit either. she is playing fine. waging her tail / playing with a ball. i haven't seen her eat anything out of the ordinary. my husband just started a job 2 days ago, and they are very close, i would say her best companion. he has been gone now for about an hour and she is now sleeping and i haven't seen any shaking/tremor in about 30 minutes. she did have parvo when she was about 6 months old, and was hospitalized and cured.
Border Collie
Zoey
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Vomiting
I have a border collie that is 2 years old. She started vomiting 2 nights ago. on the first night she was puking up food and yellow bile. last night it was just yellow bile. she has started to have a tremor in her head. it is not constant. but it comes on and off from time to time. just the head, shaking left to right. her ears look clean. no discoloration in her eyes. her poop and pee is normal with no blood. no blood in vomit either. she is playing fine. waging her tail / playing with a ball. i haven't seen her eat anything out of the ordinary. no wheezing when she breaths. i put my ear up to her stomach and listened, i didn't hear anything that sounded like a blockage. my husband(her best companion) has just started a job 2 days ago which is when the symptoms started. She did have parvo when she was about a half a year old and was hospitalized and cured.
