My old dog won't sleep at night. Why is she restless and panting?

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.

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'd have Gomez seen by a vet for this problem. It could be he is suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction, which can cause dogs to not sleep at night. If he does have it, the vet can diagnose it and can discuss things to do to help with it.

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!

I recommend to have Rosie examined by the veterinarian to rule out pain from a back or neck issue, an anal gland issue or a bladder infection. Dementia can also cause restlessness at night. Since she can't talk and tell you why this is happening, play it safe with an exam. I hope this 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!

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.