my sisters dog

Question
My sisters dog is a 13 year old husky. She lives with me and every night since she has been here i have noticed that she breath very heavy at night, shakes all over when she is sleeping, ( i thought she was dreaming but i noticed that her eyes were rolled in the back of her head) she is always panting and it isnt hot out it is very cold out. she is always laying down, only gets up to go to the bathroom or maybe something to eat or drink.even then she has a hard time getting up. Im worried for her and my sister that she may be dying. But im no expert. I need answere befor we decided to do something.

Answer
Nora -

The best thing for you to do is to have the dog evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.  Elderly dogs have some of the same issues that older people do - arthritis, heart problems, etc.  Your veterinarian will give her a physical exam to determine if she has joint pain and can give meds if she is uncomfortable. There are a number of medications that can help your dog be free of pain.  Once she gets her meds, most likely you will see a different dog.  She will become more responsive and more willing to interact with the family

You vet may also recommend blood work to assess liver and kidney function.  

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM