Dog hunched back and shaking is sometimes a sign of illnesses that affect your dog’s long-term health.
Many dogs shiver even when it’s not cold. This condition can occur in any species at any age, making dog owners extremely worried. So what is the cause?
Scroll down and get the answer.
Why Is Your Dog Hunched Back And Shaking?

Dog hunching back and shaking can occur at any age. They suddenly lowered their heads, arched their backs, and began to tremble.
The cause may be due to neurological disorders such as fear or stress, either due to physical trauma or a sign of a medical condition.
Nausea
Vomiting is a digestive disorder in dogs, which is a way for dogs to get rid of food and undigested substances in the stomach or intestines.
Vomiting can also be a clinical sign of an underlying health issue. There are many causes of this condition:
- Eating indigestible objects such as grass, leaves, flowers, and poisonous fruits irritates a dog’s stomach.
- Pets eat spoiled food, things from the trash, or food that is too greasy.
- Because the dog eats too much or quickly, the food is not digested in time, causing bloating and reflux into the mouth.
- Due to being unable to adapt to the new diet and not being able to tolerate fresh foods, he vomited.
- Extremely hot weather also causes your dog to vomit and vomit – this is a sign of heat stroke.
- When swallowed by dogs, foreign bodies can get stuck in the throat or float down the stomach, making them feel entangled and uncomfortable and find ways to vomit.
- Pets can also vomit because of motion sickness, just like humans.
- It is a clinical sign of dangerous medical issues such as Parvo, liver dysfunction, kidney disease, enteritis, and Addison’s disease.
Gastric Dilatation And Volvulus
Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) is a medical emergency commonly found in large breeds and can be life-threatening.
The cause of this condition is an overload of food or air inside the stomach.
This causes the dog’s stomach to expand and dislocate, cutting off blood flow to other parts of the abdominal cavity.
When the stomach presses cannot escape, the tissues may rupture and then become necrotic.
Stomach expansion also seriously affects the heart and lungs, causing difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat.
GDV is a horror to many pet parents because pets can die after a few hours. Even with prompt treatment, the mortality rate remains 25-33%.
According to veterinarians, dogs eat too much, are full of stomachs along with strong activity, and play and walk right after eating.
Highly fermented food, rich in hydrocarbons, is the main cause of disease.
Signs of bloating may include dog back arched and shaking, rapid breathing, abdominal pain and swelling, dry vomiting, and profuse drooling.
Additional signs of shock may also occur, such as cyanosis of the mouth, arrhythmia, and spleen swelling.
Rectal Prolapse In Dogs

Rectal prolapse is one of the common diseases affecting the health of dogs.
The rectum is the terminal area of the large intestine, and the extension of the rectum is the anus, where digestive waste leaves the body.
Rectal prolapse is when one or more layers of the rectum move through the anal glands. Dog owners can easily recognize it with the naked eye.
Pet poop is when you can see a mass protruding from the anus, which is red. This protrusion will be blue or black when the disease is more advanced.
Your dog starts hunched over and shaking, abdominal pain, running around, barking unusually.
This disease is scary and painful when your dog gets it. You will see how difficult and painful it is every time you go to the toilet. It can happen due to many reasons:
- Persistent constipation, difficulty urinating or defecating
- Digestive disorders, the appearance of worms or parasites in the stomach
- Anal sac disorder
- Dogs don’t clean their anus after every bowel movement
- Tumors in the intestines, rectum, or anal glands
Spinal Injury
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is when the vertebrae degenerate and swell, putting pressure on nerves and causing pain, numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the hind legs.
It doesn’t just happen in humans but also in dogs.
IVDD can occur in any breed but tends to be greater in long-bodied species such as Corgis, Beagles, Dachshunds, Shih Tzu, or Basset Hounds.
Affected dogs experience pain, difficulty walking, and behavioral changes.
Not all cases of Intervertebral Disc Disease require surgical intervention, but dog owners should be aware of this and the potential problems it can cause.
Symptoms of IVDD in dogs are usually:
- Signs of pain in dogs and weakness in the hind limbs
- Lazy to exercise, sluggish
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle spasms in the neck or back
- Hunched over and shaking
- Anorexia, stop eating, become moody
- Spinal pain
Any strong impact, such as landing and jumping, can cause discs to rupture and affect the spinal cord.
The discs that become hard and fibrous over a long period break down, bulge, and compress the spinal cord.
Fear
Dogs communicate primarily with body language. Gestures like baring teeth or wagging tails are obvious body language in dogs.
However, dogs also have some other subtle body language.
When a dog is scared, it can also show physical signs it can’t control, like arching its back and shaking.
Like humans, pets also have their fears. According to experts, some of the most common causes for them to panic.
It can be loud sounds such as thunder, fireworks, car horns, etc. Phonophobia can be hereditary.
Dogs also often feel fear and panic when going to the doctor. Although taking pets to the vet is good for their health, they don’t understand it and feel stressed.
Of the situations that can occur and cause a dog to panic, being left behind by pet parents is the most stressful for them.
Some little friends may suffer from extreme separation anxiety, causing them to panic when you are away or meeting strangers.
According to the latest research, pets, especially men, can suffer from fear of strangers.
This is even more evident when they have to go through some unforgettable memories with humans,
Injury
Dogs are hyperactive animals; they often run and play with each other.
In the process of operation, being injured by accidents or fights is not uncommon because dogs are inherently aggressive.
What Do I Do When My Dog Is Hunched Over And Shaking?

It’s not fun to see your best friend sick. The appropriate treatment depends on the cause. The first step to take is to stay calm and determine the severity of their problem.
Some cases of illness can be carefully cared for at home; others require immediate veterinary supervision.
Don’t be afraid to call your doctor whenever you’re unsure. Sometimes, it’s a matter of life and death.
Please keep track of their daily activities, record when the dog goes to the toilet, when symptoms occur, when they eat and drink, etc.
This is also useful information for your veterinarian to diagnose your dog’s illness.
Conclusion
There are many reasons for your dog hunched back and shaking, ranging from natural defenses to problematic ones.
Many causes are difficult to identify, but they are important for finding the most effective treatment. Pay close attention if your pet shows this symptom.