Why is my 10-year-old Shih Tzu mix panting and shaking?

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.

These can be symptoms of many serious medical issues, anxiety, fear, pain, neurologic disease, infection, etc. I would recommend that you have him checked out by a vet to see what could be going on. After a thorough physical exam and discussion of his recent history, the vet may recommend diagnostics, such as blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. to diagnose the cause.

Hello! I'm sorry to hear that Eleanor might not be feeling well. There are several things that I think of when I hear about dogs that are trembling or shaking. First, dogs that tremble and shake may be experiencing pain. Conditions like luxating patellas (kneecaps that pop out of place) and back injuries come to mind with smaller dogs like Bichons and Shih-tzus. You may not have seen the initial injury, but if they "tweak" an old or chronic injury, it can make them shake, pant, and want to be clingy, as they don't understand why they are hurting. Next, behavior changes in middle-aged dogs could be caused by metabolic disorders, like hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. I would also expect to see other symptoms with these disorders, like weight changes and a poor hair coat, so if you see any other physical changes, this could account for Eleanor's shaking. Lastly, stress can also cause shaking and trembling behavior (like from storms or major construction going on in the neighborhood). I definitely recommend having Eleanor evaluated by a veterinarian for pain and/or other disorders before chalking her trembling up to a behavioral issue, as many conditions like pain and hypothyroidism can be managed with treatment, and she'll be much happier for it. Good luck, and I hope that Eleanor gets better soon!

This is a quite generic but concerning sign. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. A check up is needed if these vague signs last for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

Sounds like Kringle is in some level of distress. Whether or not it is manifesting from pain or true cardiopulmonary pathology is unclear. He should be taken into your veterinarian and examined soon. If you feel he is having any difficulty breathing, which generally does sound like the description you are offering, he should be seen on an emergency basis. The doctors will want to x-ray the chest to assess the presence of a respiratory infection, or a primary cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary disease process. Hope this makes sense.

Buster may be in pain as shaking and panting is often a sign of pain. Excessive panting is also often a sign of Cushing's disease. I suggest you take Buster to a veterinarian for an exam. Dachshunds are prone to intervertebrate disk disease due to their long back and short legs, and that would be very painful. An x-ray can rule this out. Cushing's disease can be ruled out with a blood test. Please find a way to schedule an appointment with your vet for Buster.

Hello. Making any kind of assumption or diagnosis is very difficult just based on panting & shivering, but I can tell you this can be typical signs of pain & an elevated temperature. Since he has periods of normal behavior, my concerns is there is some underlying pain that JosLouis is experiencing. It could be from any area, so even if he quits the behavior, I would recommend having your vet check him out, just to make sure. Hope all is well soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.