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Why Is My Dog Shaking In His Sleep?
Written By Alex Olsson
Published: 01/19/2016Updated: 01/28/2025
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
Help! My dog is shaking and twitching in his sleep – but why?
Picture this: it’s the middle of the night, and you suddenly notice your dog twitching, shaking, or even kicking in his sleep. Is this normal, or is something seriously wrong?
Many pet parents worry when they see their pup trembling during rest, but in most cases, it’s actually nothing to be alarmed about. Though, some types of shaking could indicate an underlying medical issue.
Let’s dive into why your dog may be shaking in his sleep, and when you should be concerned.
My dog’s twitching in his sleep — should I be worried?
Involuntary muscle trembling (also known as myoclonus) is any repetitive muscle movement that’s impossible for your pup to control. It can affect a single, isolated limb, or it can be a generalized movement that includes the entire body. These shakes and twitches can happen when your dog is resting or moving.
Dogs, just like us humans, go through different sleep cycles, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this stage, dogs dream, and their bodies may respond with small twitches, tail flicks, or even soft barks. These movements are typically harmless and a sign that your pup is deep in dreamland.
However, excessive shaking, prolonged stiffness, or repetitive myoclonus could indicate an underlying medical condition.
Differentiating between normal twitching and more serious signs of distress is key to understanding whether your dog needs to take a trip to the vet.
Symptoms to look out for
Key symptoms of more serious underlying issues may include:
- Repetitive or rhythmic twitching
- Uncontrolled muscle movements while awake
- Loss of coordination or difficulty walking
- Signs of pain or discomfort accompanying the tremors
- Behavioral changes, especially increased anxiety related to movement
- Inability or difficulty completing normal tasks, such as jumping onto the couch or climbing stairs
- The appearance of seizures
- Prolonged rigidity or full-body stiffness
- Foaming at the mouth or excessive drooling
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty waking up after an episode
- Unusual vocalizations of distress
If you start noticing symptoms like these in your furry friend, giving your vet a call might be a good idea to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
What’s causing your dog to twitch in his sleep?
Like we mentioned earlier, during REM sleep, your dog’s brain activity increases, sometimes causing muscle twitches, tail wags, or paw movements. This is completely normal and indicates a healthy sleep cycle.
But there are other reasons this might be occurring, too.
But there are other reasons this might be occurring, too.
Hypnic jerks — a common sleep phenomenon
A hypnic jerk is a sudden, involuntary muscle spasm that happens as a dog transitions into sleep. Similar to what humans experience, this can cause your dog to shake momentarily — but luckily, these aren’t a cause for concern.
Neurological conditions and underlying disorders
Sometimes, shaking during sleep can indicate a deeper issue, such as:- Canine epilepsy — Seizures during sleep can resemble excessive twitching or full-body convulsions.
- Degenerative myelopathy — A progressive spinal condition that may cause nighttime trembling.
- Distemper or neurological infections — Viral infections affecting nerve control and muscle coordination.
Other causes to watch out for
- Cold temperatures — Shivering may be your dog’s way of keeping warm
- Pain or discomfort — Arthritis or joint pain can cause tremors
- Metabolic disorders — Issues like hypoglycemia can affect nerve function and lead to shaking
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Diagnosing your dog’s shaking
If your dog’s shaking seems excessive, sudden, or is accompanied by other symptoms (like loss of coordination or distress), it’s best to get a vet’s opinion.
Vet tests for muscle trembling and twitching
To diagnose the issue, a vet may perform the following tests:- Neurological exams — Checking for nervous system abnormalities
- Blood tests — Ruling out metabolic disorders
- Video recordings — Capturing sleep episodes to analyze movement patterns
Treating your dog’s shaking
Depending on what’s causing your dog’s shaking, your treatment options will look slightly different:
Managing normal sleep twitching in dogs
If your dog’s shaking is due to normal REM sleep movements or hypnic jerks, no treatment is needed — good news! But, in these cases, you can create a comfortable sleep environment by:
- Providing a warm, soft bed
- Reducing household noise and stress
- Ensuring your pup gets adequate exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day
Treatment for underlying conditions
For dogs with medical causes of shaking, treatment may include:
- Medication — Anti-seizure drugs for epilepsy or neurological disorders
- Dietary adjustments — Ensuring proper nutrition to avoid deficiencies
- Pain management — Joint supplements or anti-inflammatory medication for arthritis
A healthy diet goes a long way. But how do you choose the best dog food for your pup? Read our guide to find out how to pick the right food for your furry friend.
Home remedies to reduce sleep trembling
- Gentle massage to ease muscle tension
- Adding omega-3 fatty acids to support neurological health
- Providing a heated dog bed for warmth
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Can my dog recover from shaking and trembling?
Depending on the cause, treatment can significantly reduce or eliminate excessive shaking. Dogs with conditions like epilepsy may require ongoing medication, while environmental adjustments can help those with pain-related twitching.
Preventing future sleep-related shaking in your dog
Be sure to schedule regular vet check-ups to make sure that your dog isn’t suffering from any underlying diseases or conditions.You can also help prevent these tremors by maintaining a healthy sleep routine for your dog, and further monitoring them for recurring symptoms. And remember — don’t hesitate to call your vet if you have any questions.
Why Is My Dog Shaking In His Sleep? Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Chiuhuahua
Two Years
14 found this helpful
14 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking And Can'T Walk
She Has Been Shaking And Can't Walk For 1 Day Already What Are Some Medications And What Caused It??
Feb. 11, 2021
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
14 Recommendations
I'm so sorry to hear she cannot walk.
This is a true emergency and she needs to see a vet urgently.
There are several potential causes including a slipped disc, muscle strain, fractured bone, dislocated bone, neurological disorder.
We need to run some tests such as a neurological exam and xrays to know what is going on and start the most appropriate treatment.
Feb. 11, 2021
Was this question and answer helpful?
Australian Shepherd
One Year
41 found this helpful
41 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Hi- my one year old Australian Shepard mix sometimes has leg tremors. It’s only one leg at a time but has been all four legs never just the front of back. The tremors happen when his legs are fully extended only, so either standing and one limb will start to shake and be done with in a matter of seconds. Or it has been when he is asleep legs fully extended in the bed and one will involuntary twitch and stop. Just wondering if this is something to be concerned about, he never whines or cries with the tremors.
Dec. 6, 2020
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
41 Recommendations
Some dogs legs will tremor and are just fine. If he is not painful and otherwise acting normal I wouldn’t worry.
Dec. 6, 2020
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Great Dane
Three Years
11 found this helpful
11 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Involuntary Twitching
He just randomly twitches sometimes during his sleep which we didn't think was anything, but then randomly his leg starts twitching in his leg while he's sitting and just resting with us awake.
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
11 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Large breed dogs like Great Danes are prone to bone and joint diseases, and this may be the first signs of a problem. It would be a good idea to have him examined closely by your veterinarian, as they will be able to assess his bone and joint function and see if there is anything that needs attention or treatment.
I hope that all goes well for him.
Oct. 5, 2020
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Chihuahua Pug
Two Years
13 found this helpful
13 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking With Arms Sticking Upright
My dog was shaking when I picked him up and his arms were stuck straight up in the air next to his head. He is fine now, and there’s no following symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting.
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
13 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
It is possible that he had a seizure of some sort, although it is difficult for me to say without more information. It would be best to monitor him, and if he has any more of these kinds of episodes, have him seen by a veterinarian. They may want to run some lab work to make sure that he is okay.
Oct. 9, 2020
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Chowpit
Eight Years
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing, Shaking, Lameness
My 8.5 yr old Chow Pit mix was a street dog for the first 4 yrs of her life. When I got her we treated her for severe heartworm disease. Now she snorts & breathes heavy while laying down & her back legs tremor & shake. She often chews on her front feet & limps on her back legs. She alternates between using just the left or right back leg and will bunny hop at times. She usually tries to stand to eat alternating legs & then lays down or gives up on eating. My vet is trying to convince me that her pain isn't too bad & that fish oil & losing 7 or 8 pounds will help. Is it her time?
Sept. 25, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
8 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
From your description, she does sound very painful, and it is common for larger dogs to have arthritis and joint pain as they age. While most OTC medications are quite toxic to dogs, there are many very safe medications, like Carprofen, that your veterinarian can prescribe for her to help her. Many dogs do very well on these medications for years. It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 20, 2020
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Great Dane
Harleyquin
10 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Twitching Shaking
Hi My 10 month old puppy just tonight her head started twitching and shaking when she was laying on her back and looked up to see my daughter coming down the stairs and it happened a few times but never happened before until tonight. We did take her for a bath this morning. She is sleeping now and hasn't done it while sleeping. But it was just her head while she was awake. When she sleeps her hind legs twitch.
Aspin
Samson
4 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tremors
My dog started to have tremors on his leg 3 days ago. But before that we thought he was injured because he will start to cry and start barking whenever we touched the leg. I did Cold compress(not sure if that is applicable to a dog) but still it was not effective he can't still use his leg to walk and it makes me worried. And then 3 days later which is until today he has already tremors on his leg even when he is at rest and even when he walks(still can't use the leg to walk).
Smooth Fox Terrier
Loki
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tremors
Resting Tremors
My Loki's tremors started around the 1.5 years mark. He was a rescue, so his vet's guess when I originally found him he was around 1. he's around 8 years now, and the tremors are always when he's at rest and during sleep. when they started it was just a small section of one of his front legs. it was barely noticeble. now it's more noticeable, usually in one of the whole front legs. in the begining, it was just at rest, but now it's even during sleep. before when I would pet him or rub them it would stop, but it's becoming more pronounced and less controllable (if it ever was). oh, and he has become overweight which I'm sure isn't helping. He is currently on Bravecto and Interceptor, but it started before. none of the meds he's taken had made any difference good or bad...
Pug
Coco
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Twitching
My dog had symptoms of peripheral vestibular disease a week ago ( ataxia, nystagmus and head tilt). Now only head tilt is still present. A couple of days ago I noticed twitching behind his ear, it stopped after some hours. Today since morning his right shoulder/ neck muscle seems to be twitching even when resting. He’s on Cefixime 400 mg for amid ear infection. Please help. Is this due to muscle strain from head tilt? Otherwise doesn’t seem to be in pain.
ACD/Labrador mix
Rocky
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tremor
I've had my dog, Rocky, since he was 7 weeks old. Within a couple of weeks after getting him, I noticed that he was trembling while resting. I could put my hand on him to reassure him, which seemed to make the tremors stop. He is now 2 years 7 1/2 months old, and the tremors seem to be getting worse, both in frequency and strength.
Rocky is an Australian Cattle Dog/Lab Retriever mix. How can I help him with this problem?
