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Why is my Shih Tzu arching her back, trembling, and panting suddenly?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 5 years and 10 months old

I have a 7 year old Shih Zsu is arching her back trembling when I touch her or even go to touch her, and is panting heavily. Came on suddenly

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on July 25th, 2016

Arched back and trembling is a sign of abdominal pain, it could be pancreatitis , a foreign body in the intestines or an infection. you should take her to the vet to get treated ASAP.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on

    Poor pup! From your description, I would be concerned that she may have back pain due to a herniated disc or other sudden problem in this area, such as a blood clot or a muscle spasm. Since it sounds like she is extremely painful, I would recommend having her seen by a vet right away - he/she can palpate her back to check for any abnormalities, and may also need to take x-rays to help determine the problem. Once a diagnosis is made, your vet can prescribe medication to relieve the pain and treat the underlying cause.

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