Dog moaning while just lying down

[geha]

Hi, I have a ten year old black lab/springer spaniel.  About two months ago she started moaning a lot while she was just lying down.  Sometimes it is loud enough to wake us up at night.  It really does sound like she is in pain, and she is not the type of dog to ever whine or cry, she is very tough.  Prior to this, the only time she has ever cried from pain was when I accidentally closed the door on her tail.  It's not a constant moan, but somewhat frequent throughout the night or in the evening when we are watching tv.  

While upright she appears fine and not in pain, she plays and runs as much as usual, so much so that people still think she is a puppy even though she is over ten.  

I've been to the vet probably ten times in the past six weeks or so.  She's had multiple xrays to see if she's swallowed anything and to check her organs.  Everything looked fine in the xrays, the vet said the 'wall' of her liver may appear a bit thin (I believe that was the wording used).  She has had all her blood work done and everything came back fine.  

Of note, she had pancreatitis when she was younger and the test for that came back fine.  They also did a liver function test where she fasted, had blood work, ate, then later had blood work taken again and it was fine.  

Her joints all seem fine when the vet works them, just in case, we started Cartophen injections just over 4 weeks ago and have not seen any improvement yet, so thinking it does not have to do with joint pain.  

As per food, nothing has changed, she has been on Medi-cal gastro from the vet since she was about four.  In case it was a 'bad' bag that started it, I bought another bag with a different production code on it and started that, no change.

Any advice anyone else has or if you have experienced a similar problem thank you for the help.

[Deborama123]

Hello Suzedq and all.  I hope my post helps someone else.  My beloved 9 year old Golden/Lab mix Buddy started groaning while lying down about 4 or 5 months ago.  Since he had prior knee surgeries, we attributed it to arthritis pain and pretty much ignored it.  Three days ago he collapsed and we took him to the hospital.  After an ultrasound, and surgery to try and save him, he died. It turned out he had bloody fluid in his abdomen, from bleeding tumors on his spleen and liver. The groaning all those months was from abdominal pain from the tumors, which were compressed when he lay down.  Others please don't bury your head in the sand like we did hoping it was nothing serious.  I will never forgive myself for this.

[Hazel60]

Quick update
I swapped my dog's deluxe soft bed with very firm cushions from the sofa.
So far we are both getting the best nights sleep we've had in ages!
The noises have 95% stopped.

[Hazel60]

My border collie has been making a grumbly noise on and off for a year or so. It usually happens after she has lain down to go to sleep but before she is actually asleep. However it will sometimes start if she is lying there waiting to go out for a walk and I sometimes wonder if it's a protest of sorts. On these occasions she will actually stop doing it if I tell her. It's something in between a snore, a grumble and a moan! The vets can't say whether it is linked to her poor liver/kidney health and chronic bronchitis. Otherwise she is quite lively and agile for her age (14) and shows no sign of joint pain.
She used to sleep on the bed with me and now no longer wants to do this - don't know if it is linked. I've tried different dog beds and arrangements to no avail. It keeps me awake at night and I worry whether she is in pain but she looks settled - ie not making an effort to get comfortable like I do with my bad back!

[Moira8]

I think you might be right regarding the senility. He's now moaning again before falling to sleep. He is still eating very well which I'm told is good as usually not eating is a bad sign.

[Lisa_Brook]

My 11 year old Old English Sheepdog started doing the "moan" about 2 mos ago.  It's a deep low gutteral sound.  I have owned many dogs over my lifetime and know it is not a pain moan.  I thought  that it is senility setting in as someone in a prior post mentioned.  In people, they call it "Sundowners Syndrome"  in dementia patients.  

[Moira8]

Further update: Since making the appointment for the surgery to remove the so called tumour/anal gland I have been checking his anal gland and noticed both the swelling and infection has cleared. When I took him to the vet yesterday for the surgery I asked the vet to check again before operating as I didn't want him to suffer in any way by having the gland removed when it wasn't necessary. He sedated him to have a proper look and it would appear he has still got some infection but no tumour so he has prescribed him Antirobe. He will be on this for the next week and will be monitored closely by myself. I hope this will cure the infection completely and he will be my healthy old boy again soon. As for the groaning, it has reduced significantly.