Skip to content

Shaking and shivering

Behavioral Issues
  • I've noticed a strange behavior in the past couple of month, where when I come home from work or guests comes over to the house Chance starts shivering. I can link this to excitement, anxiety and sometimes cold weather. Anyone has experienced same with their older basenji and got any tips to stop the behavior other than sitting with him and petting him or distracting with a treat or a game? Chance is 8 now.

  • Alex, the first thing I would do immediately-- if you haven't done one recently-- is get a full thyroid panel. At 8, he's not that old I don't think for fat loss/cold to be the issue. But thyroid can mess with everything from behaviors to handling heat or cold. Obviously he isn't anxious about you, but new shivering sounds strange. For guests... have you tried a thundershirt? It's one way to comfort without you actively assuring him -- which can in turn assure him he is RIGHT to be concerned. There is a lot of research behind them, btw. Really interesting starting with a scientist who has autism and developed the squeeze shoots for cattle to calm them because squeezing calmed HER. And she was right, it works very often.

  • @DebraDownSouth Chance just had a full panel done a week ago, everything is good. Thudershirt is what we use and it does work. Having said that, he has been on seizure medication (zonisomide and keppra) for over a year now, so that is maybe having a side effect.

    Alex

  • Oh gosh, Alex, yeah could be the meds. :( Do you belong to any of the canine seizure groups? They might be much more helpful.

Suggested Topics

  • Destructive behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    1k Views
    elbrantE
    I was a little pre-occupied earlier today, and Doodle displayed her displeasure at my constant delays... how? She got up on the sofa and did this little prancing-dancing thing. Like she was saying, "haha, look at me misbehaving". LOL oh yeah.... if that is her "breaking bad", I'm in trouble, she's got my heart!
  • Aggressive towards other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    3k Views
    J
    Sparkle Barkle came into heat in April. Logan went nuts! I was traveling so my wife was saddled with the mayhem. Mayhem doesn't begin to describe the situation. Sparkle should be coming in again within days, I hope, and unfortunately, he won't get any love this time either. He's gonna be a massive handful for at least a MONTH. I'm not traveling this time, so it's all on me. Cross your fingers for Tri females. I want three!
  • Scared of people / crowds

    Behavioral Issues
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    @sarahmiri - I would say no to carrying him.... don't pick him up, but get down to his level as Zande pointed out in her response.
  • Started peeing in the crate again

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    1 Votes
    9 Posts
    1k Views
    S
    Just thought I'd share an update on this. I removed the blankets from the crate and replaced them with a mattress. We have been strict about her only staying in the crate at night. When we have had accidents I have cleaned up, with a dog urine killing spray, and placed her back in the crate. Everything is progressing smoothly, not had any accidents for over a week now. So it's been a rather quick turnaround, lovely to have her properly crate trained again. Thank you all for sharing advice on the situation.
  • Shivering

    Behavioral Issues
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    18k Views
    Buddys PalB
    Shivering in a young dog vs older where it may be pain is 'fear' As the thread started out with a young dog, I was wondering if you can recall the circumstances before the actual shivering. Also remember that dogs' noses can be 10,000 times stronger than ours, hearing 'way better', and recall the animals that could tell when a tsunami hit, or bad storm, (barometric pressure for example or thunder way, way out there) the vibrations: of a train, a gun shot, a backfire of an engine, the list can go on. The fear is just something they are not understanding as it is not a (sound) that they are sensitized to, esp young dogs in a new home (up to a year….) Hope this helps (here is a link http://dogs.about.com/od/dogbehaviorproblems/a/signs-of-fear-in-dogs.htm )
  • Shiver Me Timbers!

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Get you dog a coat for outside and a sweater for inside. My 2 live in the Sally Wallis sweaters in the winter. Its not snowing outside usually but the damp cold isn't fun for my 2 so I make sure they have the sweaters on them when the temp drops.