My senior dog pants and wakes up restless only at night. What's wrong?

Question

My English Bulldog, Matilda, is 9 years old. Over the last month or so she has starting waking up in the middle of the night panting. We keep our house very cool and have water ready. She does not do this during the day. Pet's info: Dog | Bulldog | Female | spayed | 9 years old | 50 lbs

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

She may have one of several problems: 1) congestive heart disease. This causes pulmonary edema and moist coughs and breathing problems at night, and later on will cause shortness of breath and exercise intolerance. Your veterinarian can easily diagnose this with an exam, x-ray and/or ultrasound. Treatment varies, but includes diuretics to clear up the pulmonary edema, and medication to improve heart function. 2) Canine cognitive disfunction (senility). Older dogs can get senile, often wake up at night and do not remember where they are and get scared. This can cause panting, whining, pacing, restlessness. Your vet will need to give your dog an exam and if the diagnosis is canine cognitive disfunction, he will prescribe medication to help your dog remember and calm down. 3) Cushing Syndrome/disease. Dogs with an overactive adrenal gland caused by either a pituitary or adrenal tumor often pant excessively, drink and urinate excessively, develop a pot belly, hair thinning and/or other symptoms. This can be diagnosed easily via the clinical signs as well as a blood test. Treatment consists of adrenal gland function depressing drugs. I suggest you take Matilda to your veterinarian for an exam.

My senior dog pants and wakes up restless only at night. What's wrong?

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