My old dog is panting and pacing at night. Is it a health issue?

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!

It's possible that this behavior is not entirely pain related if Emily is not responding to medications. Many older dogs will show signs of cognitive dysfunction and panting and pacing at night along with disorientation can be some of the signs. You could try a calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure (if they are available near you), or you could try a diet like Purina Bright Minds. Pain might still be playing a role as well so you may want to call your vet to see if a different pain medication might help. Finally, it's possible that these symptoms are related to another underlying illness so if she still isn't improving you may want to find a way to have her rechecked by your vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mugsy. As they age, some pets can experience something known as canine cognitive dysfunction. It is characterized by pacing, accidents in the home, vocalizing more, mixing up their days and nights as well as becoming disoriented. Some pets will get stuck under chairs, in corners or in small rooms such as bathrooms and closets. The disorder becomes increasingly common the older the pet gets. It is somewhat comparable to Alzheimer's disease in people. I recommend that Mugsy sees his veterinarian to see if this is the cause of his recent symptoms or if something else is bothering him. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Onyx. I would recommend bloodwork to look for any underlying disease that can cause panting. Cushing's disease for example, is an adrenal gland disorder that will cause the dog to pant excessively. In middle age to older patients panting can also be the result of canine cognitive dysfunction. This is a disorder somewhat similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. There is no specific test for this, it is determined by your veterinarian asking you questions. Finally, anxiety can result in panting. There are anti-anxiety medications available help if this is the case. I hope this information helps!

this could be caused by several problems. The pacing in the evenings could be caused by dementia, the panting and excessive drinking could be caused by kidney disease, diabetes and /or Cushings disease. You will need to take Toby to your vet for some blood work which will show up whether he suffers from any of those diseases. He can then also be assessed for dementia. Please make an appointment for a veterinary visit soon.

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.

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