Why Is My French Bulldog Shaking? Normal vs. Worrying Signs

Part of our complete guide French Bulldog Health: The Complete Guide to Common Problems and Care →

A trembling Frenchie is hard to ignore. A lot of shaking is harmless: a chilly morning, a doorbell, the leash coming off the hook. But shaking can also signal pain, nausea or poisoning, and it can look like a seizure. If you are asking “why is my French Bulldog shaking?”, the most useful clues are what was happening just before it started, whether your dog is still alert and responsive, and what else you notice alongside it.

Why is my French Bulldog shaking? Start with the context

The American Kennel Club lists causes ranging from excitement and stress to pain, nausea, low blood sugar, poisoning and seizures. Ask yourself:

• Is there an obvious trigger? Cold air, a bath, a visitor, fireworks or a trip to the vet.
• Does it stop? Normal shaking fades within minutes once your dog is warm, calm or has what they were excited about.
• What else is going on? Vomiting, weakness, wobbliness, heavy breathing, hiding or crying out all change the picture.

If you cannot work out why your Frenchie is shaking, the AKC advises contacting your vet.

Normal reasons a French Bulldog shakes

Feeling cold

French Bulldogs have a short, fine coat and little protection against chilly, wet weather. Shivering after a winter walk, a bath or a nap on a cold floor is usually just your dog trying to warm up. Dry them off and offer a warm bed away from drafts; the shivering should settle quickly.

Excitement

Some Frenchies quiver with happy anticipation when you pick up the leash, open the treat cupboard or come home. The AKC describes this kind of trembling as resolving once the dog gets access to whatever they were excited about.

Fear, stress and anxiety

The AKC calls shaking “a classic symptom of stress in dogs.” Storms, fireworks, car rides and vet visits can all set it off, often with panting, lip licking, yawning or hiding. If your Frenchie trembles mainly when you leave the house, our guide to French Bulldog separation anxiety covers gentle, reward-based ways to help.

Dreaming

Brief, loose twitches and paddling legs during sleep are normal dreaming, and a dreaming dog wakes normally if you quietly say their name. If your dog’s limbs are stiff and rigid, the movements are violent, or you cannot rouse them, treat it as a possible seizure (see below).

Worrying reasons for shaking

Pain, especially back pain

The AKC notes that shivering can be a sign of pain. In French Bulldogs, back pain from intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a particular concern. Watch for shaking with a hunched back, reluctance to jump or use stairs, a low-held head, or crying out when picked up. Sudden wobbliness, weakness in the back legs or being unable to walk is an emergency. Our IVDD and back problems guide explains the signs and what to do while you get help.

Nausea and tummy upset

According to the AKC, nausea can also cause a dog to shake. Look for drooling, lip licking, swallowing repeatedly, restlessness or vomiting. Repeated vomiting or a dog who seems very unwell needs a vet.

Poisoning

Several common household items can cause trembling, tremors or seizures in dogs:

• Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters, baked goods, chewable vitamins and mouthwash. VCA Animal Hospitals explains that it can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar as soon as 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating it, with weakness, wobbliness, tremors and seizures, and in higher amounts liver damage.
• Chocolate, especially cocoa powder, baking chocolate and dark chocolate. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists restlessness, hyperactivity, rapid breathing, tremors and seizures among the signs, which usually appear within 6 to 12 hours of eating it, so a dog can seem fine at first.
• Cigarette butts, which the AKC also lists as toxic.

If you think your Frenchie has eaten something toxic, call your vet, an emergency clinic or a pet poison hotline (such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; a fee may apply) right away, even if your dog looks normal. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. With xylitol, VCA warns that some dogs may already have low blood sugar, and vomiting can make things worse. Keep the packaging.

Low blood sugar in young puppies

The AKC notes that young puppies and toy and small breeds are most prone to hypoglycemia, which can cause shaking. Regular meals on a routine schedule help prevent it. A puppy who is weak, floppy, unsteady or seizing needs a vet straight away.

Fever and illness

Shivering can come with fever and general illness, typically with other signs like lethargy, a poor appetite or vomiting. If your dog is shaking and seems “off” in other ways, call your vet.

Seizures vs. tremors

A tremor is rhythmic shaking in a dog who is usually still aware of you: they may look at you, respond to their name or even try to walk. The AKC notes that seizures can look like uncontrollable shaking but can also show up as muscle contractions, jerking and collapse. In a typical generalized seizure, a dog falls onto their side and cannot be roused, the legs go stiff and then paddle, and they may drool or lose bladder or bowel control. Afterward, many dogs are confused and wobbly for a while. PDSA notes that most seizures last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

French Bulldog shaking and breathing heavy

Shaking and heavy breathing together deserve more attention than either alone. Common causes:

• Anxiety. Fireworks or a vet visit can cause both; it should ease once the stress ends.
• Pain. A dog who pants and shivers while lying still, cannot get comfortable or keeps changing position may be hurting, often from back pain.
• Heatstroke. The RSPCA notes that overheated dogs can have muscle spasms that look like “shivering and shaking despite the high temperatures,” alongside rapid breathing, excessive drooling, weakness, vomiting, confusion and collapse.
• Breathing distress. Many Frenchies have BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome). A dog who is struggling to breathe may become anxious and trembly. Our BOAS guide explains the signs.

Red flags: get emergency help now if shaking and heavy breathing come with any of these: blue, gray or very pale gums; collapse or inability to stand; loud, struggling or gasping breaths; a high body temperature or a recent hot day or exercise; confusion; or a seizure. For more on breathing alone, see why your French Bulldog may be panting so much.

If you suspect heatstroke

Follow the RSPCA’s rule: cool first, transport second. Move your dog into shade, pour cool or cold water over their body (especially the neck, belly and inner thighs), and fan them. The RSPCA notes that cold water rarely causes shock in overheating dogs. Do not drape wet towels over them, as that can trap heat. Call your vet while you cool, then go straight there in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned car.

What you see, what it may mean, what to do

What to do if your Frenchie has a seizure

• Stay calm and keep them safe. Move furniture or other objects away, and keep your dog away from stairs and water. The RSPCA advises not restraining your pet, keeping the area quiet, dimming the lights and avoiding bright or flickering lights.
• Keep your hands away from the mouth. Dogs do not swallow their tongues, and you could be bitten.
• Time it. The RSPCA advises timing the seizure and contacting your vet. PDSA advises calling your vet immediately if a seizure lasts more than two minutes, and notes that a seizure lasting more than five minutes can cause permanent damage to the brain and other vital organs, so treat a long seizure as an emergency.
• Do not transport your dog during the seizure unless your vet tells you to (PDSA).
• Afterward, keep your dog quiet and comfortable, and call your vet even if it was short. A phone video helps your vet.

FAQ

Why is my French Bulldog shaking and hiding?

Hiding plus shaking often points to fear, such as from storms or fireworks, but it can also be a sign of pain or feeling unwell. If there is no obvious scary trigger, or your dog also seems stiff, sore or off their food, call your vet.

Is it normal for a Frenchie puppy to shake?

Puppies shiver from cold or excitement like adults, but a trembling puppy who is weak, wobbly or has not eaten needs a vet promptly.

When is shaking an emergency?

Go to a vet now if your Frenchie may have eaten something toxic, has a seizure, collapses, struggles to breathe, shows signs of heatstroke, or suddenly cannot walk properly.