My dog is panting, not eating, drinking, and has skin sores. Why?

He may be [too hot](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-signs-your-dog-is-overheating), especially if it is hot outside (or inside). If so, he should be treated immediately. Move him to a cooler area. Moisten his paws and ears with cool water. Check his[ gum color](https://www.petcoach.co/article/capillary-refill-time-crt-in-dogs-cats). It should be bubble gum pink and moist. If his gums are pale or blue, seek veterinary attention immediately as this may indicate bleeding or a lack of oxygen. If his gums are sticky or dry, seek veterinary attention. He may be dehydrated. [Pain](https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-signs-your-pet-is-in-pain) could be the cause of the symptoms you have described. Check him over for any obvious wounds or injuries. If the symptoms continue or worsen, he should be physically examined by your [veterinarian](https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-10-warning-signs-that-require-a-veterinary-visit/) or at the nearest veterinary ER.

102.5 is the normal temperature for dogs. But panting can be a sign of discomfort. If she is acting painful and having trouble walking I recomend a veterinarian check Lilly over. She may have an injury to her back or abdominal pain causing her to act abnormally.

Dehydration isn’t usually painful. It makes dogs lethargic and they don’t want to eat or drink. If he’s in hat much pain I’d be concerned about an injury, pancreatitis or an intestinal obstruction. You are correct that he’s also at risk of dehydration if he’s not eating or drinking normally. I recommend a veterinary exam soon so he can recover quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sammy.

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!

If you have a thermometer you can take her temperature to check if she is overheated. You can lubricate the thermometer with vaseline/ky jelly/ or similar lubricant and insert about an inch into the rectum. If her temperature is over 102.5 then it is high. If she is acting lethargic and not eating or drinking well then these symptoms are concerning and should be investigated by a vet. There are many possibilities for these symptoms because they are so general. The vet may be able to narrow down causes with an exam, or they may need to do bloodwork on your dog for a better idea of the cause. If her temperature is high then she could have a fever or if it is very warm in your house could be suffering from heat stroke. You have done the right thing bathing her in cool water and providing a fan but she still needs to see a vet because there can be long term consequences such as severe GI irritation and infection if a dog has suffered heat stroke.

Hello, sorry to hear about Shep. The panting may be associated to discomfort from his GI tract or other abdominal organs such as his pancreas. Additionally, given his breed, Shep may also be having back pain and he is unwilling to eat because of pain. If this is associated with his GI tract, he would also potentially be having soft stools, vomiting or regurgitation, lethargy, and anorexia. If this is associated with his back, then he would most likely be reluctant to move, avoid stairs or going up/down from the bed, may be hear yelping/whining/crying when moving, or being carried, or may even be unwilling to turn his neck. However, certain signs with this may overlap occasionally as each dog may experience pain/discomfort differently. For this reason, it would be best o have Shep evaluated by his veterinarian today. He may need additional diagnostics such as bloodwork and x-rays to begin. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello, sorry to hear about your pup. There are several causes for increased drinking and decreased appetite. However, it may be that he is just a bit cold. Some other causes could include anxiety. Finally underlying metabolic diseases such as kidney disease, cushings, hypothyroidism, or other forms of GI disease may cause this as well. If he continues to do this then he should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Diagnostics may include bloodwork, an abdominal x-ray, or even an ultrasound. Hope this helps and best of luck.