Why is my old, overweight dog suddenly scared and shaking at night?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If she is unvaccinated for distemper, I would potentially consider this as a possibility but in older animals, distemper is not commonly seen. She may be uncomfortable from something (painful) or an infection / systemic disease. If adjusting the temperature to keep her warm does not help, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maya. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Neck and back pain are common in small breed dogs. This is very painful and can cause shaking, panting and a reluctance to jump. Her veterinarian can detect this on her exam or another problem if that may be the case. In the meantime, keep her quiet. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be an indication of pain or discomfort. This could be due to a neurological issue or an orthopedic issue. Regardless, it does seem like he should see a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications if he seems unconfortable. Good luck and have a good night!

Sounds like Kaden has a pretty significant anxiety disorder. I suggest you speak to your vet about what treatments are available. Often times older dogs will change and start exhibiting behavior like this when their eyesight and/or hearing starts to get poor. That may be the problem. I don't know. You can refer this article for some options to help anxiety but it seems like the prescription medications work best. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety/ ) The bump on the leg is hard to see but it looks like it may be a lick granuloma. He could be licking that area because the underlying bone is hurting him or it could be from the anxiety. ( https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/acral-lick-dermatitis/ )

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This behavior could be due to older age and brain senile problems but also shivering and lethargy could be caused by arthritic pain. A visit at your local vets is recommended as Carly will probably benefit from medications to treat chronic pain or from medications that help for dementia.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Miss. Trembling can indicate pain in a dog. This could be belly pain especially if she has had any vomiting or diarrhea. It can be from muscle or joint pain or perhaps she is experiencing anxiety. Thunderstorms and fireworks are big causes for anxiety this time of year. If her symptoms continue, she will need to see her veterinarian to determine the cause. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Peanut. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. He will be carefully examined to determine if this is the case or if he has another problem. Based on these results and any diagnostic testing, treatment recommendations can be made. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!