Constant Panting

[happyclappy]

I have an Irish Setter who is now approaching 11 years old, I got him on his 4th Birthday.

For a little while now, he has been panting almost constantly day and night, and during the night tends to walk around a lot. He has slowed down very slightly and started struggling slightly to get into the car, but is fine when come home! I don;t think he is over hot. He had his heart checked a few months ago. I am getting slightly concerned and yes will take him to the vets soon, but does anyone have any ideas what might be the problem? It was suggested he may have a heart problem.

 

[PucciNPoni]

Sounds like a heart thing to me - but I dunno. Not a vet. Good luck, so hard when they get old.

 

[Moobli]

It could be down to a number of things - such as respiratory or cardiovascular disorders, hormonal imbalances, or it could mean your dog is in pain.

We have been enjoying warmer weather - so it may be something as simple as your older dog can't regulate his body temperature as easily as when he was younger and may be feeling the heat?

Definitely an MOT at the vet is in order, sooner rather than later. I hope all is ok. It is a worry as they get older.

 

[happyclappy]

Thanks, yes off to the vetry soon, need an appointment asap

 

[wren123]

I was going to say panting can be a sign of pain.
Good luck at the vet.

 

[Moobli]

Thanks, yes off to the vetry soon, need an appointment asap

Hope it is nothing to worry about. Let us know how you get on. The oldies are very dear.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

fingers crossed its nothing serious. with my old setter the panting and restlessness was down to a bit of discomfort in his back end-metacam gave him relief along with a new comfy bed.

 

[happyclappy]

Will try to remember to update you when I have been to the vets

 

[happyclappy]

Result. It is a week since I took my boy to the vet. Sorry been away
Anyhow, he had a very thorough examination but she could find nothing wrong anywhere at all
She wants to be sure and check his kidneys, and has given him two weeks trial of a drug to check his cognitive behiour at night. So far no change at night. I will try to remember to update you again.

 

[Micky]

Panting is a sign of pain, either something like arthritis in an aged dog, or heart condition or stress... Did your vet take bloods? If he's slowed up a bit, his joints might be hurting him, surprised she didn't pick up on that...

 

[twiggy2]

Panting is a sign of pain, either something like arthritis in an aged dog, or heart condition or stress... Did your vet take bloods? If he's slowed up a bit, his joints might be hurting him, surprised she didn't pick up on that...

I agree with this and the panting can also be the result of anxiety which can have many causes one of which is dementia but I wonder if that is what the meds you are trying are for

 

[turkana]

I agree with this and the panting can also be the result of anxiety which can have many causes one of which is dementia but I wonder if that is what the meds you are trying are for

My old boy started panting in the evenings (really deep raspy pants) & pacing, I was worried about pain or a heart problem, he was on metacam & tramadol for his arthritis - I was thinking if we couldn't manage his pain it would be time to call it a day.
We went to the vet, his heart & lungs seemed fine but she said that excesive panting can be a sign of dementia, so he was put on medication for the dementia which did the trick; no more pacing & panting, he was 15 at the time & only lived for a short time afterwards but I'm so glad the drugs gave him a good quality of life for his last few weeks.
He wasn't showing any other signs of dementia, just pacing, panting & staring at me in the evening.

 

[happyclappy]

Little update. Rang the vet today, his kidneys are fine, o not running any blood tests, he has shown by n difference on his tablets that it is not dementia, so he is going to try him on anti-inflammatories for two weeks, to check arthritis, not Metacam as I expeted, but some tablets, (forgot name)