Daisy

Question
QUESTION: My 8 yr old cocker spaniel, Daisy, has been shaking, kind of like shivering on and off.  I notice it at night when she is laying next to me but if I cover her she gets up and moves.  She also does this if she is excited, like if she thinks she is going to get a treat. Any idea what this might be?  
Thank you.

ANSWER: Usually in a senior dog shaking/shivering is a sign of pain or discomfort.  Are you noticing her having any difficulty going up stairs or getting on the bed?
I'd like to know how she is on her walks - how is her appetite - and if this only happens at night (other than the "quivering" before a treat)?  And how long has this been happening?
Have you taken her temperature?  Tried putting a doggie sweater on her at night?
And when did she last have a Wellness exam?  At 8 this should happen annually..and with a full blood panel.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She acts the same as she always has.  She can jump on and off the bed just fine. No problem with the couch either.  She has lost some weight, which she needed to lose. But I have not cut back on her food.  She has recently had a well check, with blood work.  She also had her teeth cleaned.  Can dogs have any type of palsy?

Answer
Has Daisy ever had her thyroid checked?  The weight loss plus the shaking is a BIG red flag !

A thyroid test is nothing for Daisy - just a small blood draw.  But the test must be sent to either Antech or Michigan State for analysis.  Do NOT let your vet run an in-house T4 - you need a full 6 panel test sent to either of those two labs.  Regular labs don't have the equipment to run the test using equilibrium dialyses..so insist on it.

The weight loss plus the shivering is a combination that would send me directly to the vet for a thyroid test.  Very common with cockers - easy test and easy fix with daily meds.
Delores