My senior dog is suddenly anxious, panting, restless, and hiding. Why?

These types of behaviors could be caused by pain, anxiety, internal medical issues, cognitive dysfunction from old age, seizures, etc. Without seeing a vet, it is hard to tell what could be going on and I can't really make any specific recommendations. Be available to comfort him. You can also try doggie pheromones like Comfort Zone or Adaptil.

Sounds like Kaden has a pretty significant anxiety disorder. I suggest you speak to your vet about what treatments are available. Often times older dogs will change and start exhibiting behavior like this when their eyesight and/or hearing starts to get poor. That may be the problem. I don't know. You can refer this article for some options to help anxiety but it seems like the prescription medications work best. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety/ ) The bump on the leg is hard to see but it looks like it may be a lick granuloma. He could be licking that area because the underlying bone is hurting him or it could be from the anxiety. ( https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/acral-lick-dermatitis/ )

Thank you for your question! The increased panting could be due to a number of things. Based on your location, the outside temperature could be making things a bit more warm for Reese and as he is an older guy, he most likely does not tolerate the heat as well as he used to. Due to his age, I would certainly want a basic blood panel run on Reese to see if there are any systemic causes of the panting. I know this is not necessarily a low cost option but it would give you the most information to start with. If the cataracts are causing blindness and consequently causing anxiety due to this, there unfortunately is not much for a low cost option to help with the cataracts. I would see if putting a fan nearby reduces his panting. For anxiety, you can try an Adaptil collar and diffuser (all available online) to see if this helps with anxiety and the panting. If no improvement, I would definitely get in to see your regular veterinarian for a further, more detailed workup. Hope this helps and do feel free to contact me with any further questions / concerns you may have.

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!

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!

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.

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.