Why do Chihuahuas shake?

Question

I am house-sitting for a friend who has a pet Chihuahua and the little thing seems to be constantly shivering. I thought the old cliché about Chihuahua’s shaking was a bit of an urban legend, but you should see this poor little thing shake! It’s making me paranoid. Is he sick? Is he scared? Is he cold? I want to take good care of him, but I just don’t know why do Chihuahuas shake?

Answer 1

It sounds a bit strange, but apparently Chihuahua’s can be susceptible to low blood sugar (AKA hypoglycemia). If the dog is warm, safe and dry, but is still shaking, try feeding him smaller meals but more regularly instead of one big bowl in the morning and another at night, try 4-5 small bowlfuls throughout the day. If this makes a difference, then make sure you pass this information on to the owner when they get back (they may not have been aware of the problem).

Answer 2

One of the most common reasons why do Chihuahuas shake is because of body temperature. The tiny little things weigh hardly anything, so they don’t have a lot of muscle mass to keep them warm. They also don’t have thick coats, so they really feel it when it’s cold. Does your friend have any little coats for the dog? Try putting one of these on and see if that helps. Other options include putting a space heater near its bed, drying it off immediately if it goes outside in the wet or giving it extra blankets or bedding. If all else fails, give it a cuddle – your body temperature will help to warm it up.

Answer 3

I used to have a Chihuahua that would shake when it was scared (especially if other, bigger dogs were nearby). Does the shaking happen when you take him for a walk? If so, try picking him up when you encounter other dogs and see if this helps.