Why is my senior dog with asthma panting rapidly after medication?

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!

Heavy panting can be a sign of distress or pain. If Pixel was just at the vet this morning, it is possible she is still stressed out from the visit and travel, and may need an hour or two to help settle back down at home and let the pain medications begin working. I would monitor her for a bit to see if she settles in. If the heavy panting continues or worsens, she seems in severe pain, has blue or pale gums, or won't settle/seems very uncomfortable after a few hours, calling your vet to let them know what is going on, or seeking care from an urgent care vet may be best.

Poor Estrellita. It sounds like her issue may be in her upper airway. Sometimes airway diseases are hard to diagnose with standard radiographs. It may be worth considering having an MRI or CT scan done to help determine if there are any masses in her upper airway (nasal passage, larynx, trachea). If there is a mass there, then that is not a good prognosis for her unfortunately. This is a tough spot to be in. It may be worth considering steroids, antibiotics, and pain medication to help stabilize her somewhat. If her quality of life is too poor, then humane euthanasia may be considered. Poor girl. I wish you all the best in the next few days and making a decision concerning Estrellita's care moving forward. Take care.

I am so sorry your older dog Miss Mattie is experiencing breathing issues and also seem uncomfortable. These symptoms are very worrisome and b/c of the breathing problems alone, I highly recommend having her seen by your vet right away. She could have a number of things going on including: heart disease, an infection, bronchitis, or even just pain from an internal organ issue. We need more information and testing to determine what the underlying problem is so that we can best help her moving forward. I do hope that you can take Miss Mattie in to the vet soon for proper testing and treatment and hope that she can feel well soon! Best of luck moving forward. Take care.

I am sorry missy is not feeling well. With her older age I would be concerned about heart disease, lung disease, heartworm disease and pain. Unfortunately pain can cause increase in respiratory rate. I would recommend considering a second opinion to re check her heart and lungs and start her on proper pain medications. Also the diarrhea can be secondary to the above issues. I would recommend some basic bloodwork to make sure missy doesn't have any internal problems that can lead to the diarrhea.

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!

I'm sorry to hear Chiquita isn't doing well. If she's seeming in distress, unable to breathe or is very pale/turning blue, or seems in discomfort or is disoriented, it would be best to bring her to a vet ASAP for care. Stress or pain can also sometimes cause these symptoms. Making sure there isn't a sudden stressor causing, or removing any sources of stress may help her to calm down, however if the symptoms continue or worsen, or new ones appear, seeking vet care is best.