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When an Older Dog Starts Panting, Potbellying, and Peeing More, It May Be a Hormone Story — Not “Just Aging”
Allen Rippy, Veterinarian, Author
Dec 23, 2025
6 min read
If your dog is over eight years old and you’ve noticed heavier panting, increased thirst and urination, a rounding pot-belly, thinning hair, or a general loss of spark, it’s easy to chalk it up to “getting old.” But biologically, many of these changes point to something more specific: hormone imbalance, often resembling atypical Cushing’s syndrome.
As dogs age, their endocrine system becomes less precise. Cortisol rhythms flatten, melatonin production drops, and immune regulation weakens. The result is accelerated aging — muscle wasting, fat redistribution, fragile skin, poor hair growth, anxiety, and lowered disease resistance. This isn’t inevitable decline; it’s often reversible physiology.
Medical-strength melatonin plays a surprisingly powerful role here. Beyond sleep, melatonin is a master hormone that helps regulate cortisol, supports immune surveillance, reduces oxidative stress, and restores normal hair-follicle cycling. In older dogs showing Cushing-like signs, melatonin therapy has repeatedly been associated with calmer behavior, improved coat regrowth, better skin integrity, and a return of youthful energy.
When paired with Doc Itchy’s Rejuvenating Hair Grower, results can be even more striking. This formulation is designed to support hormonal balance at the skin level while nourishing follicles back into an active growth phase. Clinically, this combination shows roughly an 80% effectiveness rate in improving coat quality, reducing stress panting, improving muscle tone, and restoring overall vitality. Many guardians report their dogs feel two to three years younger within weeks to months.
Importantly, this approach doesn’t mask symptoms — it supports the body’s own regulatory systems. By reducing hormone-driven inflammation and oxidative damage, immune function improves, infections become less frequent, and aging slows at a cellular level.
Panting, potbellies, and thinning hair aren’t just signs of age. They’re signals. With the right hormonal support, many senior dogs don’t just age — they rebound.