My Rat Terrier is panting and pacing. Is she sick or in pain?

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Shivering and panting can have many medical reasons behind these symptoms. It is hard to say what the cause is without examining Abby first and running some blood work on her at the very least. Cushing's disease can present with similar symptoms but so can pain, lung disease, heart diseases, organ dysfunction, and other medical causes. Sometimes endocrine disorders such as Cushing's disease can have a genetic component to them. My recommendation would be to schedule Abby for a veterinary exam, blood work, and perhaps an x-ray to help determine a diagnosis. Best wishes to you and Abby and best of luck! Thanks again for posting.

These are vague signs that could indicate several things like anxiety or pain. If there is something they could be making him anxious (rain, thunder, fireworks, new people, etc), then he will calm down afterwards. Just give him some extra attention. If there is nothing you can think that is making him anxious he could be in discomfort. I would have your vet do an exam to make sure he doesn't need any pain medication. I would not give net human pain meds as most of these are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps!

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear she may be having issues. Panting in dogs may be due to a variety of reasons, including stress, heat, heart issues, pain, or another underlying issue. If the panting continues, or if she starts to display other symptoms, such as vomiting or inappetence, I would reach out to her regular veterinarian to see if any underlying issues need to be addressed. I would also recommend reaching out to her owner to see if she has any known underlying medical conditions. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear Chiquita isn't doing well. If she's seeming in distress, unable to breathe or is very pale/turning blue, or seems in discomfort or is disoriented, it would be best to bring her to a vet ASAP for care. Stress or pain can also sometimes cause these symptoms. Making sure there isn't a sudden stressor causing, or removing any sources of stress may help her to calm down, however if the symptoms continue or worsen, or new ones appear, seeking vet care is best.

That is not the type of reaction I would expect from a bug bite. I would be concerned about pain first and foremost. If she's still pacing, panting, or acting erratic, I would recommend taking her to a vet right away for evaluation. They will likely do a physical exam and take some x-rays, maybe run some blood work. I hope she's feeling better soon!

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.