Why is my senior lab panting heavily and refusing to eat or drink?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 9 years and 11 months old | 80 lbs
Sudden onset of heavy panting, wont eat or drink. 10 year old yellow lab.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 13th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Dakota! I would have her seen by a Vet today due to her age. There are many things that can cause an older lab to stop eating and start panting. I worry about heart failure, pneumonia, cancer or anemia from a bleeding mass in the belly. Even a fever can cause these signs. I would have her examined and see if chest and belly X-rays needs to be done. They may also recommend blood work as well. I hope this helps and I wish Dakota the best!
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on March 21st, 2017
Hi there! That is a worry for sure! I wonder if she is having issues with her heart. Or, some sort of panic reaction? If this continues, I would suggest that you take her to see your vet, as she may need some medication to calm her, or some tests to find out if she is having heart issues.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on March 17th, 2018
Panting can be associated with pain and with anxiety as well as metabolic problems. Is she drinking more water than normal? Did it just seem to start? I would worry about diabetes, pyometra, and Cushings disease however there are certainly other possibilities. If blood work has not been run yet then I would encourage you to have your veterinarian run a chemistry panel and CBC on Monday to look for evidence of any of these problems. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on August 29th, 2017
Yes, those things could be related. Most likely cause would be an underlying heart condition - with her breed and age I would guess a mitral valve insufficiency. I would recommend you take her to your vet for an exam. They may also recommend some bloodwork and x-rays which would also be a good idea. Remember, she is close to 70 years old in "people" years so of course things could be not working as well now versus when she was younger. That is why yearly or twice yearly vet exams are so important in older animals. Hope this answers your question. If not, feel free to post again! Best wishes!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
My lab is about 12 yrs old. I feed her home cooked food. She has not wanted to eat for 3 days. She did have some canned food yesterday but not much. She is drinking. Now she us panting quickly and loudly. It's very hot during day but not so much at m
So I have a lab she’s 11. She’s panting with no exertion, you can feel her and see her backbone, the kids say she is not eating and she is bleeding like she has her period. I was not concerned but she’s just not acting herself.she also shivers like s
My lab is 7/8years old stopped eating, hard time walking, very weak. She won't open her mouth, lives outside with other farm animals
Hello, my 11 year old black lab is usually a very healthy and active dog. Last night he was normal, but this morning he was walking very slow. Now he won't get up at all and I can't get him to eat or drink at all. He doesn't have any noticeable sores
My 12 year old labrador retriever isn't herself. Shes been heaving constantly all day and really lethargic. She has eaten some food.
My Labrador is panting, has no appetite, struggles lying down and keeps groaning/growling, shes not herself and has been like this for 3 days
My dog is 14 years old, a chocolate Labrador and the past day or so he's gotten really lethargic, staying in certain places and not really moving a lot and today he's started eating slowly which is very unlike him (but he is actually still eating) an
Trying to decide if we need to take our 10 y/o lab to the ER vet. She only stops panting for brief moments and is having trouble opening her eyes. We thought she might have conjunctivitis, but why would this make her pant uncontrollably? She also won
I have a 8 year old chocolate lab and she started panting, shaking and not eating or drinking. Took her to vet and they xrayed her belly and did blood work. Nothing on xray and only abnormal blood is ALKP. They didn't seem worried and sent me home. L
my dog is not eating, drinking and is having trouble getting around. A few days ago she was covered in a whole body red rash, and itching terribly (no fleas) the redness and itching are gone now but she is not eating, drinking and can barely walk as
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
