Dachshunds shake for many reasons, ranging from simply being cold or excited to serious conditions like spinal disc disease or low blood sugar. The breed’s small body, thin coat, and genetic predisposition to back problems make them more prone to shaking than many other dogs. Figuring out the cause comes down to context: when the shaking happens, how long it lasts, and what other symptoms show up alongside it.
Cold and Body Size
The simplest explanation is often the right one. Dachshunds are small dogs with short legs, thin coats (especially smooth-coated varieties), and relatively low body fat. That combination makes them poor at retaining heat. Shivering is an involuntary muscle response that generates warmth, and it kicks in faster in small-bodied dogs than in larger breeds. If your dachshund shakes after going outside in cool weather, after a bath, or in an air-conditioned room, temperature is the likely culprit.
A dog sweater or blanket solves the problem quickly. If the shaking stops once your dog warms up, there’s nothing more to worry about.
Excitement, Anxiety, and Fear
Emotional arousal causes shaking in many dogs, and dachshunds are not subtle about their feelings. Coming home after work, picking up a leash, or opening a treat bag can trigger visible trembling from pure excitement. This type of shaking is harmless and often paired with tail wagging, barking, or spinning. Some dogs grow out of it; for others, keeping your greetings brief and calm helps reduce the intensity. Training your dog to sit before getting attention can redirect that energy.
Fear and anxiety produce the same physical response but look different. Shaking during thunderstorms, fireworks, car rides, or vet visits points to stress. Separation anxiety can cause trembling that starts as soon as you reach for your keys. If you can identify the trigger, you can sometimes address it through gradual desensitization or environmental changes like background noise during storms. For dogs with severe anxiety, veterinary-prescribed anti-anxiety medication is an option.
Back Pain and IVDD
This is the cause dachshund owners should know about. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a spinal condition where the cushioning discs between vertebrae deteriorate and can bulge or rupture, pressing on the spinal cord. Dachshunds face 10 to 12 times the risk of IVDD compared to other breeds, and an estimated 19 to 24 percent will show clinical signs during their lifetime.
Shaking and trembling are recognized symptoms of IVDD, specifically because they signal pain. A dog with a disc problem may not yelp or cry out. Instead, the pain manifests as whole-body trembling, a hunched posture, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, stiffness in the neck or back, or a sudden change in how they walk. In more severe cases, a ruptured disc can cause difficulty walking, dragging of the hind legs, or loss of bladder control.
If your dachshund is shaking and also seems stiff, reluctant to move, sensitive to being picked up, or walking differently, a veterinary evaluation is important. IVDD can progress from mild pain to paralysis, and early intervention makes a significant difference in outcomes.
Low Blood Sugar
Miniature dachshunds and puppies are especially vulnerable to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Small-bodied dogs have less energy stored in reserve, so skipping a meal, heavy exercise, or stress can drop their blood sugar to levels that cause trembling. Clinical signs typically appear when blood glucose falls below about 40 to 50 mg/dL.
The shaking from low blood sugar usually comes with other noticeable changes: weakness, wobbliness, lethargy, confusion, or a sudden loss of interest in activity. Some dogs become restless or nervous. In severe cases, collapse or seizures can follow. If you suspect hypoglycemia, offering a small amount of food or a sugar source (like honey rubbed on the gums) can help in the short term, but recurring episodes need a veterinary workup to rule out underlying causes.
Idiopathic Head Tremors
Some dogs develop episodes of rhythmic head bobbing that look alarming but are considered benign. This condition, called idiopathic head tremor syndrome, involves involuntary head movements in a “yes” (vertical), “no” (horizontal), or rotational direction. The episodes start and stop on their own, typically last less than five minutes, and the dog remains fully alert and responsive throughout.
The key distinction from seizures is awareness. During a seizure, dogs typically lose consciousness, may paddle their legs, drool excessively, or lose bladder control. During a head tremor episode, 93 percent of affected dogs remain alert. In 87 percent of cases, simply distracting the dog (calling their name, offering a treat, making a noise) stops the tremor temporarily. Anti-seizure medications do not appear to be effective for this condition, which reinforces that it’s a separate phenomenon from epilepsy.
If your dachshund has episodes of head shaking where they seem otherwise completely normal, this syndrome is worth discussing with your vet for a proper distinction from seizure activity.
Poisoning and Toxin Exposure
Sudden, unexplained shaking, especially when paired with vomiting, stiffness, wobbliness, or unusual behavior, can indicate poisoning. Several common household toxins cause tremors in dogs:
- Slug and snail bait (contains metaldehyde), which causes tremors, stiffness, and overheating
- Moldy food from trash cans, which contains natural toxins that trigger gastrointestinal symptoms and tremors
- Flea and tick products containing pyrethrins, which can cause tremors, wobbliness, and seizures if misapplied or if a cat product is used on a dog
- Cigarettes or nicotine products, which cause vomiting and shaking after ingestion
- Human antidepressant medications, which can cause sedation or agitation, tremors, and seizures
Toxin-related tremors tend to come on suddenly and escalate. If your dachshund is shaking and you suspect they got into something they shouldn’t have, this is a veterinary emergency. Bring the packaging of whatever they may have consumed if you can identify it.
How to Read the Situation
Context tells you almost everything. A dachshund shaking on a cold morning after going outside is chilly. A dachshund shaking while you open the treat jar is excited. These situations resolve on their own or with simple fixes like a warm blanket or calm greetings.
The shaking that warrants closer attention is the kind that doesn’t match the situation. Trembling with no obvious trigger, shaking that persists for more than a few minutes, or shaking combined with other symptoms like pain, weakness, vomiting, difficulty walking, or changes in behavior all suggest something beyond cold or emotion. Given the dachshund’s high risk for spinal problems in particular, any combination of shaking with back stiffness, reluctance to move, or changes in gait deserves prompt attention.
Pay attention to patterns too. Shaking that happens every time after meals could point to something different than shaking that only occurs during storms. Keeping a mental note of when it happens, how long it lasts, and what else is going on gives your vet much more to work with than “my dog shakes sometimes.”