Why is my senior dog anxious, in pain, shaking, and refusing to eat?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rio, it sounds like he may be exhibiting this reaction due to pain. Some pets will display similar behavior if they are experiencing pain of the neck/back, abdomen, or mouth (dental). You are correct that these types of reactions can be due to severe anxiety, but this would most likely not affect his appetite and attitude when people are not interacting with him. I would recommend having him thoroughly evaluated by his veterinarian to see if the pain can be localized. Based on the physical examination findings, additional diagnostics may be recommended (complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis), and treatments can be tailored based on findings.

Poor guy. Stomach upset is a possible cause; however, with such vague symptoms of being uncomfortable and decreased appetite, there are other potential internal issues. I notice that he is intact also, so a prostate issue could also cause a sudden pain response and decreased appetite as well. If he does not seem to be improving on his own within the next 1-2 days, then it is best to get him fully examined by your veterinarian for any other sources of his pain (prostate, joints, etc). I hope that your furry friend feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

Ruling out an underlying health issue such as pain or illness is always a good first step when your pet experiences a sudden behavior change. As seven is the start of the senior years, it is possible there is some pain from laying in the bed, or arthritis causing problems. if Milou checks out health, trying to find if there is a pattern to the "attacks" may be helpful- does it happen the same time every night? Same spot? Same triggers? Is the neighbor arriving home in a noisy car at that time, etc? This may help you figure out what is triggering it so you can make some adjustments- IE moving the bed somewhere quieter, making sure your dog is fast asleep prior to that time, getting out excess energy before bed, feeding a treat to keep the stomach from becoming too empty and causing growling/discomfort, etc. If you can't seem to find any pattern at all, taking a video of the even to bring to your vet or a local trainer may be helpful in better identifying what is going on, and finding a solution.

Poor Niko! I am not sure if he is still having problems but it sounds like he could be experiencing some pain. He could have back/neck pain or possibly dental disease and pain while eating. Have your vet examine him to determine the cause and treat. He may need an anti-inflammatory and pain medications to help. Hope he is feeling better soon!

Poor Milo! He sounds quite ill at the moment, and his symptoms could be caused by a severe GI illness, liver disease, eating something rotten, a foreign body, kidney failure, or even cancer. It's best given his old age and his symptoms that he is seen by a vet as soon as possible for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays. These tests can help the vet diagnose what is causing his symptoms so treatment can be discussed and started.

In an unneutered male dog the likely problem is an enlarged prostate. When it enlarges, it pushes on the colon and can make defecation painful. He should see a vet for an exam. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/prostatic-disease-in-dogs

Poor guy. He certainly sounds like he may either be in pain or has some underyling neurological disorder going on here. Your vet should know where to start looking once a complete physical examination is done, because much more information can be gathered here. They will certainly want to start with some baseline bloodwork and possibly some x-rays if he seems to have any musculoskeletal issues as well. Some possible causes for these symptoms would be an underlying neurological disorder (i.e. IVDD), Addison's disease (disease of the adrenal gland), a toxin ingestion, or just pain from something internal. I do hope that your pet starts to feel better soon! Best of luck tonight at the vet. Take care.