Why does my dog wake up panting at night then go back to sleep?

There could be a couple of reasons why Carly is panting in her sleep. Normal reasons include being hot, such as if she was sleeping next to a heat source or in the sun, or in response to dreams she is having. Abnormal reasons include heart disease and respiratory disease. Because I can't see her in person to say if this behavior is normal or not, the best thing to do is having her seen by a vet for a health check. I recommend taking her in sometime this coming week. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Panting can be a sign of excitement in a dog, so he may be excited to go outside and then come to bed. Given this is the only time he does this, and the fact that letting him stops the panting, I would not worry about it :-)

This is pretty non-specific behavior, so it's hard to know exactly what's going on. Hero may be having some gastrointestinal issues at night, like vomiting or diarrhea, and is asking go outside to the bathroom. Or, she could be worried about something going on in the neighborhood like other dogs barking. Or, she could be having neurologic issues at night like a small seizure that wakes her up and worries her. Or, this could be purely behavioral, like if she is going into heat and there are intact male dogs in the neighborhood. I recommend a full exam by a veterinarian to make sure she looks healthy and has no underlying health concerns.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Noel. I do recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. She could be painful somewhere that was causing her to pant and pace. Neck and/or back pain are common in small breed dogs. If this is not the cause, nighttime anxiety can develop in older dogs. It is similar to the anxiety experienced by human Alzheimer's patients. It would be best to have her seen so you can both get some sleep to tonight. I hope this information helps!

I see that Stella is an old girl, and she could be suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction. This is related to aging in the dog's brain. It causes changes in their sleep cycle, where they are awake at night, and sleep the most during the day. I would take Stella into the vet for an exam, who can diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction, and discuss treatment options with you. There is no cure for it, but there are medications and behavioral things you can do to help improve her cognitive functioning.

Pacing and panting could be a sign of discomfort/pain but it may also just be a sign of old age. Dogs often get a type of dementia that can cause this type of behavior. I suggest you take Mali to your vet for an exam. There are medications available to treat for both things if needed. Best wishes.

Hello. If Bella's breathing appears normal when she sleeps, then this is not too concerning, but it would not hurt to have her evaluated just to be sure. She is too young for most chronic conditions, but if she is not on any heartworm preventative, this would be a good thing to check on. Hopefully all is well & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.