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Why is my senior dog shivering and losing hair after vaccine?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed

Hi, my 13 year old dog was vaccinated by Vetco almost 2 months and recieved a haircut shortly after. But she constantly shivers after the shot, and her hair has been falling out. What could be the issue?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on May 7th, 2018

Hi there! There are many things that can cause these symptoms, especially in an older dog, so it's hard to say what might be going on without being able to examine her and run some tests. This is probably not related to her vaccine two months ago, as these are not typically signs of a vaccine reaction or other vaccine-induced problem.

Shivering can be caused by any kind of pain or discomfort - arthritis, nausea, back pain, etc. It can also be due to anxiety, a hormonal problem like hypothyroidism, or even just being cold due to her shorter hair coat. Hair loss can be caused by allergies, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange).

I would recommend taking Lacy to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do some diagnostic testing if needed to help determine the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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