Why is my senior dog panting, breathing fast, and lethargic at night?

Question

For the past 2 months my 9 year old has been panting and breathing rapidly at night without exercise. My dog is epileptic and on three types of medication he's on phenobarbital Levitra racetam and Keppra and his seizures are controlled best we can. We took him to the vet and they took x-rays and they said that they couldn't see anything on the x-rays and that his heart sounded okay and his lungs sounded alright. He has also been lathargic and depressed. He is eating & pooping normally. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

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!

Why is my senior dog panting, breathing fast, and lethargic at night?

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