Veterinarians explained the frequent trembling in small dogs

Small dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas, do tremble more often. However, veterinary experts say that cold is only one of the possible causes. This was reported by Popular Science magazine on February 22.

According to Carlo Syracuse, an animal behavior specialist at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, owners of small dogs are more likely to observe tremors in their pets. Although there are no direct comparative studies on the size of breeds, in clinical practice, small dogs do tremble more often.

Syracuse explains this by the peculiarities of thermoregulation. Small dogs lose heat faster due to the high ratio of surface area to body weight. The specialist clarified that such rocks dissipate a lot of heat through their small body. At the same time, more energy is required to compensate for losses.

John Speakman, Professor of Biology at the University of Aberdeen, previously found that small dogs consume about 60% more energy per 1 g of body tissue compared to large breeds.

"A large dog doesn't need to start shivering until it gets very cold, whereas a small dog has to shiver much earlier," the specialist explained.

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Syracuse added that small dogs live closer to the floor, where cold air accumulates. In addition, the temperature that is comfortable for humans may be low for a small breed. According to the recommendations of the US Department of Agriculture, for dwarf breeds, the temperature should not fall below +10 degrees — this is above the threshold for large dogs.

It is specified that the trembling of a dog in a calm environment during rest may indicate hypothermia. In such cases, experts recommend providing a heat source. If the trembling does not go away after warming up, the reason may be different.

According to Syracuse, tremors can be caused by neurological problems or side effects of medications. There is also the "idiopathic generalized tremor" syndrome, formerly called small white shaking dog syndrome, which is more common in breeds such as Maltese Lapdogs and West Highland White Terriers.

Stress can be another reason, as small dogs are more likely to be picked up and their alarms ignored. During fear, stress hormones are released, muscles contract, and the animal begins to tremble. At the same time, scientists emphasize that there are no systematic studies confirming a more frequent tremor in small breeds. If the trembling continues, experts advise contacting a veterinarian.

On February 6, Vladimir Golubev, President of the Russian Cynological Federation, spoke about the dog's recognition of human fear. According to him, the animal senses emotion by smell. At the same time, the specialist stressed that this does not mean that it will necessarily react with aggression.

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