What's causing my dogs' sudden anxiety, shaking, and strange episodes?

Ruling out an underlying health issue such as pain or illness is always a good first step when your pet experiences a sudden behavior change. As seven is the start of the senior years, it is possible there is some pain from laying in the bed, or arthritis causing problems. if Milou checks out health, trying to find if there is a pattern to the "attacks" may be helpful- does it happen the same time every night? Same spot? Same triggers? Is the neighbor arriving home in a noisy car at that time, etc? This may help you figure out what is triggering it so you can make some adjustments- IE moving the bed somewhere quieter, making sure your dog is fast asleep prior to that time, getting out excess energy before bed, feeding a treat to keep the stomach from becoming too empty and causing growling/discomfort, etc. If you can't seem to find any pattern at all, taking a video of the even to bring to your vet or a local trainer may be helpful in better identifying what is going on, and finding a solution.

Whining is an attention seeking behavior and can be a sign of anxiety, pain or potentially boredom. The shaking can also be a sign of pain or anxiety. If you think he might be in pain you should see a veterinarian to see if they can localize the pain to a specific area. If you think he may be anxious it could help to try to identify what might be triggering the anxiety - some dogs have storm or noise phobias, or he might be anxious about a change in routine or environment.

That sounds quite confusing. I wonder if it could be behavior rather than medical. Start journaling what is going around in Doc's environment when these episodes start. Depending on the frequency, he may benefit from anti-anxiety medications or another treatment. You could also seek out an evaluation with a veterinary behaviorist. You may also want to talk to your vet about cognitive dysfunction. https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-signs-of-cognitive-dysfunction-in-dogs/

Shivering us usually a sign of pain or anxiety. Since she's fine and it's on a regular schedule I would check for activity or noise that is causing the anxiety. Beeping electronic sounds can do it or perhaps there is a school noise or other sound in the area at a specific time. Dogs can hear sounds that we can't so you may have to be a detective to figure out the cause. I recommend having music on to see if that helps, and distract her with play and treats to help her relax. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Twix.

Shaking is usually a sign of pain, It could be related to the disc herniation, it could be something totally different, it's very hard to know without checking him. I would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP, this is obviously not a normal behaviour and this needs to be investigated and treated quickly.

Poor Grace! If you can't find an obvious cause for anxiety, it's best to have her checked out for pain as pain can make pets behavior this way as well. Pain can be in many forms including back pain, pain from the pancreas or bladder pain. Since she can't talk and tell you why she is acting this way, it's best to play it safe. Try to keep her quiet and keep the house quiet and non-stimulating and pay close attention to her eating/drinking/bathroom habits until you get her in for her exam. I hope she starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Aww, I’m sorry to hear about Daisy! I see this commonly with either pain or anxiety. These little guys can easily injure their backs and legs which can cause changes in behavior and the way they stand- as well as shaking. You may also notice Daisy avoiding the dog door or refusing to jump on beds/couches as she normally does. I recommend taking her in for a good physical exam to see if this might be the case. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Daisy!