Why does my Australian Shepherd shake?
An Australian Shepherd is an adorable dog breed that is normally equated to a cowboy life because of their exceptional ability in herding other animals. They are great pets that could get along well even with children. It is not hard to fall in love with this dog breed especially because they are affectionate and smart. This is why they make great family dogs.
As an Aussie-owner, one of the worst things that you could experience is to see your furbaby unwell. This is why seeing them shake or go through involuntary tremors could extremely be worrisome. But why does this happen?
Involuntary tremors among Australian Shepherd can be due to Hypomyelination. This is a condition where there may be insufficient myelin production in the body of your pet, the fatty tissues surrounding the axons, or the nerves. When this condition is present in your Aussie, then one visible symptom is the shaking of its rear legs and sometimes, even their forelegs. Also, there may notice an uncoordinated movement on your pet as they walk. The intensity of the muscle tremors for Aussie with Hypomyelination vary. While there are instances when they are barely visible, there are also times when the tremors get intense which affects the activities of your pet. There is no known treatment yet for this condition that can be caused by heredity, infection, and other issues. But Aussies who develop myelin as they mature are observed to not anymore experience the same tremors later on in their lives.
There are other medical conditions that lead to the involuntary tremors of your Australian Shepherd. Your Aussie may be suffering from seizures that can be attributed to low blood sugar and organ failure. It can be due to an idiopathic epilepsy which is hereditary among Aussie which starts at about 6 months to 3 years of age. Further, involuntary shaking could also be due to your pet suffering from distemper, poisoning, and even trauma. The best thing you can do when you begin noticing tremors and shaking on your pet is to bring it to the emergency room of your vet for a quick screening. Otherwise, this might result to complications that could be detrimental. Never attempt to self diagnose your Aussie because this could lead to more bad than good especially if you have observed the increasing frequency of the tremors. There are instance when the tremors could last only seconds. For cases like these, it is highly recommended for you to record the episodes so your vet could provide an accurate diagnosis. In that way, you can ensure the health and well-being of your furbaby.
