White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
What is White Shaker Syndrome?
Tremors are involuntary and repetitive contractions of muscles. The tremors seen in white shaker syndrome can range from mild shivering to severe full body tremors that don’t seem to cause any pain. The syndrome generally develops suddenly in young, small to medium dogs between 6 months to 5 years of age. Often, the tremors are mistaken for being cold or nervous, but they can be a sign of a more serious nervous system problem. As such, if your dog is experiencing tremors, it is best to seek a veterinary opinion as soon as possible. White shaker syndrome is often harmless, but in rare cases, seizures can occur.
White shaker syndrome is a condition of generalized tremors that are present without any infectious or other known cause. It gets its name from the small white dogs it commonly affects, such as Terriers and Maltese, though it has been seen to affect other non-white and larger breeds. It is also called little white shakers syndrome or generalized tremor syndrome.
Symptoms of White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
  • Head and body muscle tremors
  • Shivering
  • Incoordination
  • Uncontrolled rapid eye movements 
  • Hypermetria, or when movement overreaches the intended goal
  • Head tilt
  • High-stepping gait
  • Difficulty walking
  • Loss of menace response 
  • Paralysis 
  • Seizures
Causes of White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
The true cause of white shaker syndrome is unknown, but there are some ideas as to why it can occur. It has been theorized to be caused by:
  • Inflammation of the cerebellum, which regulates voluntary muscle movements
  • Inflammation of the spinal cord and the covering of the brain 
  • Nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis
  • Neurotransmitter deficiency mediated by the immune system that affects the levels of melanin, dopamine and norepinephrine
  • Congenital condition
White shaker syndrome seems to affects certain breeds more frequently, so there may be a genetic component to this condition. Breeds commonly affected have included:
  • Maltese 
  • West Highland White Terrier
  • Bichon Frise
  • Poodle
  • Samoyed 
  • Dachshund
  • Boston Terrier
  • Lhasa Apso
Diagnosis of White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
Tremors can be the result of a myriad of causes, such as congenital diseases, metabolic conditions, various intoxications, bacteria and viruses, or from a mycotoxin. Your veterinarian will perform several exams and tests to determine the cause of your dog’s tremors. A diagnosis of white shaker syndrome is often based on ruling out all other causes through diagnostic testing. Relay to your veterinarian a complete history of the symptoms, as well as any behavioral changes or possible exposures to toxins or infectious agents. Your veterinarian will then conduct a physical, orthopedic, and neurological exam. 
Tests can include a urinalysis, complete blood counts and a biochemistry analysis to assess metabolic functions, look for infectious agents, and reveal inflammation. Electromyography (EMG) uses electrical signals to assess muscle and nerve health. Muscle or nerve biopsies may also be taken and analyzed. An MRI or CT scan may be used to look at the state of the brain. Finally, cerebrospinal fluid is often collected through a spinal tap, then analyzed to determine the functionality of the nervous system, as well as to look for inflammation and infectious disease. As other possible causes are ruled out, a diagnosis of white shaker syndrome can be given when no other cause can be determined.
Treatment of White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
Treatment is primarily through medication. Many dogs can have their tremors completely disappear with the administration of a combination of immunosuppressive corticosteroids, which can suppress inflammation, and benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that helps anxiety by reducing nerve activity. These are generally started at high doses that are tapered to a lower dose or discontinued over time.
Tremors have been known to cease within a few days to two weeks of treatment, but the drugs are given for several months to prevent them from recurring. If treatment is discontinued and the tremors return, your dog may need continued therapy. While for many animals, this treatment is quite effective, some dogs may need a continued low dose drug regiment throughout their lives. 
Treatment is most often given at home, but severe cases may require hospitalization. Additional medications, such as barbiturates or anticonvulsants, may be given to help eliminate the tremors. 
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Recovery of White Shaker Syndrome in Dogs
Recovery is generally good for most dogs affected by this syndrome. You will be given medications to administer to your dog at home, and will need to bring your dog in to your veterinarian every few weeks during treatment to monitor his progress, change dosage levels, and check for any side effects from the medications. On average, treatment can help tremors to cease within days, and your dog will be able to discontinue treatments after several months. A relapse can occur, in which case treatment is continued, and may be needed throughout your dog’s life to control the tremors. There is not enough known about the hereditary implications of white shaker syndrome, but breeding affected dogs is still discouraged.
White Shaker Syndrome Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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mixed terrier
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Choochi
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8 Years
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10 found this helpful

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10 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Shaking And Tremors
My dog started shaking at age one, and she's now 8 years old. Her symptoms didn't include seizures or inability to walk or function well otherwise. She can shake violently when she is excited. I decided to not treat her because my vet didn't think it was a good idea to prescribe cortisone if it wasn't absolutely necessary. I am not wondering if I should try cortisone so she's just more comfortable overall. I'm not sure whether I'm projecting onto her, but I do feel badly about her affliction and it would be great if she didn't have to go through this for her whole life. Is it ever "too late" to treat this condition?
June 22, 2018
10 Recommendations
You should try to treat the condition if it is white shaker syndrome (breed etc…), however you should discuss with your Veterinarian regarding treatment with prednisone and see how she responds; response to treatment is usually favourable but each case is different and she has been affected for the past seven years. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2004/spring/tremors.htm
June 23, 2018
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Cavoodle
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Skye
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6 Months
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8 found this helpful

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8 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Does white shakers syndrome cause puppy not to eat or drink? My puppy is being treated for white shakers and has not eaten or drunk anything for over 48hrs and if she does she throws up.
Oct. 24, 2017
8 Recommendations
Some medications used to treat white shaker syndrome may cause a loss of appetite, but you should try to encourage drinking and eating; try to syringe water into the mouth to see if Skye will swallow any and try to encourage eating by giving some wet food which has been slightly warmed. If there is no success in getting her to drink or eat visit your Veterinarian again. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Oct. 24, 2017
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Bullmastiff and staffy
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Mr windle
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7 Years
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5 found this helpful

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5 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Weight Loss
Head Shaking
Straining To Defecate
Loss Of Appetite
His head just started shaking/spasming today lasting a minute or so at a time he is fully function while this is happening he has resently lost weight and shivers/shakes his breathing suggest pain, this is not all the time tho
July 26, 2017
5 Recommendations
Idiopathic head tremors may occur in any bull breed of dog; idiopathic meaning we don’t know the cause. Other causes can be due to neck muscle pain, vestibular disorders or a type of seizure; I would recommend to visit your Veterinarian to rule out any serious causes. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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