Why is my 9-year-old dog panting hard, not eating, and throwing up?

It is very concerning that Romo is suddenly lethargic, and now won't eat or drink as well as heavy panting. At his age, these signs could be symptomatic of a serious illness such as heart disease, systemic illness, or organ failure. Any breathing problems should be considered an emergency. Given his older age and the sudden onset of symptoms, the best thing to do is having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. The vet can diagnose what is causing his symptoms and how best to treat him.

Panting heavily when it is not hot in the environment is usually a sign of pain or discomfort. If Mia has had a poor appetite for a few days, it is possible that she has a chronic condition such as liver or kidney disease that can be diagnosed on routine screening bloodwork. Unfortunately at age 12, especially for a large breed dog, serious/not curable conditions such as cancer (usually diagnosed on chest/abdominal X-rays) is a possibility as well. Less scary possible causes of the panting could be discomfort from pancreatitis which is often caused by table food and treated with fluid therapy +/- anti-nausea medication, or pain from arthritis which can be treated with pain meds pending screening bloodwork to rule out pre-existing liver/kidney issues. Especially since Mia seems uncomfortable, it would be best to bring her to your vet for an evaluation. Good luck!

While panting is a way dogs expel heat, there could be something else going on with him that is making him pant heavily. Panting can be a sign of discomfort or pain. It also can be do to an underlying metabolic problem. I would recommend taking Trouble in to your vet for an exam to see if he needs blood work or potentially pain medication for discomfort.

This may be due to allergies, infection, laryngeal paralysis or hyperthermia just to name a few causes. In an older dog, heart disease cannot be ruled out. Respiratory distress should be addressed as soon as possible by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. If it is hot outside or inside, remove Burt to a cooler area. Use a fan and cool cloths to gradually cool him off.

Excessive panting can be a sign of overheating, but also a sign of pain, or an endocrine disease such as Cushing's disease, especially in an old dog like yours, Arthritis is high on the list, as at that age your dog will definitely have arthritic changes that can be highly painful. Cushing;s disease is also on the list, especially if your dog developed a pot belly, drinks and urinates more than usual, pants heavily even when it is not hot, and maybe loses some hair. Both of these conditions need to be checked out by your veterinarian, in order to ensure a good quality of life for your dog. Arthritis pain can be treated well with a medication called Carprofen and/or other pain medications. Cushings symptoms can be treated with special medication that reduces the production of cortisone. A blood test can rule out Cushing's disease. I suggest you schedule an exam with your vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A high resp rate may be related to heat, anxiety, or excitement. Of course there are other, worrisome things that it could be too, including heart disease, pneumonia. or other infection. However, theses dogs usually are not playful and excited for exercise. Same for the picky eating- it could be totally normal for him or it could be a sign of infection or other problem. Long story short, if you’re worried about Xerxes checked out by a vet just to make sure we’re not missing something important. Best wishes to you and Xerxes!

Unfortunately I can't open this link that you sent me, but I would be concerned about Piru. He is an old dog, and this panting can be a sign of congestive heart failure, which can be common in senior dogs. It can also be a sign of a hormonal disorder such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. Finally, it could also be due to cancer in his lungs, either primary or secondary tumors. I wouldn't say this is an emergency, but he does need to see a vet for it. I recommend having a geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and chest x-rays done. These tests will help the vet diagnose what is causing his panting, and then can discuss treatment options with you. I would take Piru into the vet first thing Monday morning.