Why is my senior dog panting, whining, and shaking at bedtime?

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.

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!

Hi there. So sorry that Kage is having this issue. Based on your description it sounds like seizure activity or a pain response (orthopedic pain like arthritis). I suggest you video an episode if it happens again so you can show your vet. Did the vet just examine him or was any testing done? If no blood testing was done that should be the next step. If the blood testing is normal then your vet can prescribe an anti-seizure medication or pain medication (depending on what they think after seeing the video) that will likely help. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Gibson! As dogs age, they can develop canine cognitive dysfunction (similar to dementia in humans) or decreases in their hearing and sight, which can result in anxiety and behavioral changes. Restlessness, panting and sudden jumping could also be a sign of pain. At this point, your best bet is to take Gibson to his vet for evaluation to determine if he has any apparent sources of pain, which could be managed with pain medication. If not, your vet will be able to discuss some of the different medication options to try to manage cognitive dysfunction, but these are not always overly effective. I hope that all goes well!

Poor guy! In a senior dog, I would be very concerned that his huge bump is a malignant tumor that has now spread to his lungs causing his problems with breathing. Cancer can also affect his walking. I would have him seen by a vet right away. This bump needs to be diagnosed with a fine needle aspirate to see if he does have a malignant tumor, and x-rays need to be done of his chest to see his heart and lungs. Once the cause of this bump and difficulty breathing and walking is diagnosed, the vet can discuss if there are any treatment options for him.

Sounds like Kringle is in some level of distress. Whether or not it is manifesting from pain or true cardiopulmonary pathology is unclear. He should be taken into your veterinarian and examined soon. If you feel he is having any difficulty breathing, which generally does sound like the description you are offering, he should be seen on an emergency basis. The doctors will want to x-ray the chest to assess the presence of a respiratory infection, or a primary cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary disease process. Hope this makes sense.

Buster may be in pain as shaking and panting is often a sign of pain. Excessive panting is also often a sign of Cushing's disease. I suggest you take Buster to a veterinarian for an exam. Dachshunds are prone to intervertebrate disk disease due to their long back and short legs, and that would be very painful. An x-ray can rule this out. Cushing's disease can be ruled out with a blood test. Please find a way to schedule an appointment with your vet for Buster.