I remember the first time my Italian Greyhound started trembling like a leaf in a wind tunnel. I thought he was dying. I Googled everything from hypothermia to heart failure in five minutes flat.
But here’s the twist: He wasn’t sick. He wasn’t scared. He was just… being an Italian Greyhound.
If you’ve ever stared at your shivering Iggy and thought, “Do I need a vet or just a really tiny sweater?”—you’re in the right place.
Let’s unpack the real reasons your Italian Greyhound is a certified shaking machine, and when it’s worth worrying (spoiler: most of the time, it’s just Iggy things).
1. They’re Basically Skinny Nerves Wrapped in Velvet
Italian Greyhounds have almost no fat. They’re all angles, elegance, and espresso-level alertness. So when they get cold (which is often), they shiver like miniature haunted chandeliers.
Normal shaking causes:
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Chilly air (even inside)
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Stressful new sounds
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Excitement before a walk or meal
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Just woke up from a nap
🧥 Fix it: Keep them in sweaters, heated beds, or under blankets—even in summer if your AC is strong. Think of them like permanently cold influencers.
2. Excitement Looks Exactly Like Panic (Because They're Dramatic)
Here’s where it gets confusing: your Iggy might shake when you come home, grab a leash, or pull out the treat jar. It’s not fear. It’s emotional overload in a 10-pound frame.
Imagine if every time you got happy, your whole nervous system short-circuited. That’s your Greyhound, basically.
🐾 Tip: Try narrating your routines in a calm voice. They pick up more from tone than words.
3. Yes, Sometimes It Is Fear—But You Can Spot the Difference
Fear-shaking is usually paired with other signs:
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Tail tucked
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Ears pinned back
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Avoiding eye contact
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Bolting to hide under the bed
This often happens during fireworks, vet visits, or loud chaos like vacuuming or… the wind.
🚩 When to act: If the shaking escalates to freezing up, hiding, or refusing to eat—your dog isn’t just cold. They’re overwhelmed.
Use calming tools:
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Snug shirts (Thundershirts work wonders)
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Lavender dog sprays
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White noise machines
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And yes, snuggling helps (but don’t force it)
4. Some Shaking Is Neurological—But It’s Rare
Let’s get the scary part out of the way. Constant, uncontrollable shaking that doesn’t stop might mean something deeper:
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Neurological disorders (e.g., tremor syndromes)
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Hypoglycemia (more common in puppies)
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Pain or injury
But these are the exception, not the rule.
📞 Call your vet if:
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Your dog shakes even when sleeping
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Shaking is accompanied by vomiting, stiffness, or confusion
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They seem “off” or stop acting like themselves
5. Here's the Wild Part: Sometimes They Just… Shake
Because Italian Greyhounds are weird little beings who don’t play by the dog rulebook.
Some shake when:
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The floor is too shiny
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You change the furniture
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They remember they’re overdue for dinner (even if they’re not)
It’s just… part of the breed. Over-responsive nervous systems + high sensitivity + zero chill = the perpetual tremble.
📌 As long as your Iggy eats, poops, plays, and naps normally, don’t sweat a few daily shivers.
🐾 Final Thought: Shaking Isn’t a Flaw—It’s an Iggy Feature
Your Italian Greyhound isn’t broken. They’re not too sensitive. They’re not “too much.”
They’re just built like living, breathing tuning forks—vibrating with cold, joy, fear, and mystery. They don’t need to be “fixed”—they need to be understood, cushioned in fleece, and loved exactly as they are.
So the next time your Iggy starts trembling, take a breath. Maybe offer a blanket. And know that in their own odd little way, they’re just trying to feel safe in a world that’s a bit too loud, bright, and breezy for their little deer bones.
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