My old dog is lethargic, won't eat or drink, and panting. Emergency?

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!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would recommend a visit to the vet. A week of inappetance, lethargy, and now panting is concerning for many different conditions, some fatal without treatment. Concerns would be a foreign object stuck in his gut, severe gastritis, heart disease, infection/sepsis, etc. Lethargy and inappetance (not eating) are vague clinical signs that can be associated with many disease conditions. Your vet will do an exam, and likely run some bloodwork, and might have to take some x-rays. Best of luck with Alfie, I hope he feels better soon!

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.

Difficulty breathing and panting could be a sign of heart disease or respiratory disease. Congestive heart failure would be the most common heart problem, while pneumonia, bronchitis, pleural effusion/fluid in the lungs would be some common respiratory problems. I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible if you feel Rex is having trouble breathing.

Unfortunately I can't open this link that you sent me, but I would be concerned about Piru. He is an old dog, and this panting can be a sign of congestive heart failure, which can be common in senior dogs. It can also be a sign of a hormonal disorder such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. Finally, it could also be due to cancer in his lungs, either primary or secondary tumors. I wouldn't say this is an emergency, but he does need to see a vet for it. I recommend having a geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and chest x-rays done. These tests will help the vet diagnose what is causing his panting, and then can discuss treatment options with you. I would take Piru into the vet first thing Monday morning.

Poor Rosco sounds very ill at the moment, and unfortunately without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. He could have liver failure, kidney failure, a systemic illness, or even cancer among other causes. The only way to know for certain is to have him seen by a vet, and based on the symptoms you described, he should see a vet immediately. I would consider this an emergency. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Good luck!

I strongly recommend you schedule a full health check and blood panel as soon as possible - heart, kidney and hormonal conditions can all cause similar signs and older dogs can sometimes also suffer a dementia like condition. All of these can be managed medically if diagnosed early