Why Is My Dog Panting So Much? When You Should Worry

Panting is a common behavior in dogs that helps them regulate their body temperature. You've likely seen your pup happily panting after playtime in the yard on a hot day. But excessive or abnormal panting when your dog is not active or hot can be a red flag for underlying issues. Read on to learn what's normal, what's not, and how to help an overheated dog cool down safely.

We've all seen dogs panting happily after running and playing outside on a hot summer day. Panting is perfectly normal dog behavior - it's how they circulate air and release heat since they don't have sweat glands like people do.

But if you notice your four-legged friend panting heavily even when they're not active or hot, it could be a sign of a medical problem requiring veterinary attention. Excessive panting can indicate heatstroke, pain, respiratory distress, heart issues, poisoning, parasites, anxiety, and more.

When Is Dog Panting Considered Excessive?

To determine if your dog's panting is excessive, pay attention to when and how long they are panting, as well as the intensity. Panting that occurs frequently throughout the day or persists for longer than 10-20 minutes when your dog is calm likely falls outside the range of normal panting behavior.

Panting that is rapid or involves deep, heaving breaths is also a red flag. Dogs normally pant with shallow, rapid breaths. If your dog is panting intensely for no obvious reason, it's time to call the vet.

Common Causes of Excessive Panting in Dogs

There are many possible medical explanations for sudden excessive panting in dogs. Here are some of the most common causes:

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a dog's body temperature rises above the normal range of 100-102.5°F. As heatstroke progresses, a dog's ability to regulate their temperature becomes overwhelmed.

Left untreated, heatstroke can lead to organ failure, brain damage, and death. So if you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, take immediate action to cool them down and contact your vet right away.

Dogs are especially vulnerable to heatstroke when exercising on hot days or left in cars. But heatstroke can also happen when a dog is confined in a hot room in your home with poor ventilation.

Some signs of heatstroke include:

• Panting excessively
• Rapid heart rate
• Reddened gums
• Thick, sticky saliva
• Dizziness, weakness, or collapse
• Vomiting or diarrhea

If your dog shows these signs, get them out of the heat, wet their coat with cool water, offer sips of water, and take them to the vet immediately. Acting quickly can save your dog's life.

Pain

Dogs can't tell us when they are hurting - panting and other signs of distress are often the only outward symptoms of pain. If your dog is panting heavily and you haven't identified another obvious cause, pain could be the culprit.

Some possible sources of pain that can cause panting include:

• Arthritis, joint, or muscle injuries
• Dental issues like gum infection or fractured teeth
• Internal issues like bladder stones, intestinal blockage, or pancreatitis
• Recent surgery or trauma

Panting from pain often comes on suddenly and may be accompanied by other signs like whining, aggression, appetite changes, or reluctance to move. If pain seems like a likely cause, get your dog checked out right away to determine the source and proper treatment.

Respiratory Distress

Respiratory diseases like kennel cough, asthma, pneumonia, and fluid in the lungs can cause breathing difficulty and heavy panting. Dogs with these conditions often show other symptoms like coughing, wheezing, lethargy, or blue-tinged gums.

Panting from respiratory troubles tends to be persistent and worsen over time without treatment. Left untreated, some respiratory issues can become life-threatening. So if your dog shows any signs of respiratory distress along with excessive panting, make an appointment with your vet.

Anxiety

Like humans, dogs can pant excessively when frightened or anxious. New environments, loud noises, travel, or separation from owners can all trigger anxiety. If you've recently moved, traveled, boarded your dog, or changed their daily routine, panting may signal stress.

Look for other body language cues like trembling, hiding, whining, lip licking, or a lowered tail. If anxiety seems to be the cause, try calming your dog with a Thundershirt, pheromone diffuser, or calming treats. But seek help from your vet or trainer if their anxious panting persists.

Poisoning

Ingesting toxic substances like antifreeze, human medications, or tainted foods can all result in poisoning that leads to abnormal panting. Other signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and collapse.

If you have any reason to suspect your dog may have ingested something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Rapid treatment is critical for the best chance of recovery.

Allergic Reaction

Dogs can experience life-threatening allergic reactions to things like bee stings, vaccines, certain foods, and medications. Anaphylactic shock can cause facial swelling, hives, vomiting, collapse, and heavy panting.

If your dog shows these acute allergic reaction symptoms, it is a veterinary emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Delaying treatment with epinephrine and steroids dramatically reduces the chances of survival.

Heart Issues

Some types of heart disease and heart defects can prevent a dog's cardiovascular system from meeting the increased oxygen demands of panting. So dogs with heart problems may pant heavily even with mild exercise or heat.

Panting from heart issues tends to worsen over time. It may occur alongside other symptoms like weakness, coughing, or swollen abdomen. Diagnostic tests like x-rays, EKG, and ultrasound can identify the underlying problem.

Parasites

Parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms can infest a dog's intestinal tract, lungs, or heart, leading to panting and breathing trouble. Young puppies are especially vulnerable to heavy roundworm infections that can cause pneumonia and respiratory distress.

Regular deworming and heartworm preventative medication help protect your dog from parasitic infestations. If you suspect parasites may be causing your dog's excessive panting and lethargy, a fecal exam and blood test can diagnose a problem.

Pregnancy or Labor

As gestation progresses, pregnant dogs often pant more to increase oxygen flow for their growing puppies. Panting is also normal during the birthing process. But excessive panting in a pregnant dog can potentially indicate a problem like eclampsia or uterine infection.

Contact your vet if your pregnant dog pants heavily for longer than 15-20 minutes. They can assess fetal health, run tests, and prescribe medication as needed to protect mom and pups.

What to Do If Your Dog Is Overheated and Panting

If your dog is overheated and panting heavily, it's important to act quickly to cool them down and prevent heat exhaustion. Here are some first aid steps you can take at home to lower their body temperature:

• Move to a cooler area - Get them into an air-conditioned room or shady spot immediately.

• Offer cool drinking water - Allow them to drink small amounts frequently to rehydrate.

• Wet their coat - Use cool water, not cold, to wet their neck, armpits, and groin area where blood vessels are close to the skin.

• Drape cool wet towels over their back to help transfer heat away from their body.

• Allow swimming - If you have access to a kiddie pool, lake, or stream, let your dog take a dip to cool down.

• Use a fan - Direct air flow over your dog's body to accelerate evaporative cooling.

• Rub alcohol on paws - Applying rubbing alcohol to paw pads can help cool down body temperature.

• Avoid extreme cold - Don't use ice packs or freeze injured pets. Extreme cold restricts blood vessels and prevents heat loss.

Monitor your dog closely for improvement. If their heavy panting persists longer than 10-15 minutes, or you notice symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, get them to the vet immediately.

Left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to organ damage, seizures, coma, and death. So prompt first aid and veterinary treatment are crucial.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion Requiring Emergency Treatment

Heat exhaustion, also known as hyperthermia, occurs when a dog's body temperature climbs above the normal range of 100-102.5°F and their cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed.

If heat exhaustion progresses to heat stroke, it becomes a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate veterinary treatment to prevent lasting organ damage or death.

Take your dog to the vet or emergency clinic right away if they show any of these signs of heatstroke:

• Heavy panting that persists after attempts to cool them down
• Bright red, purple, or pale gums
• Collapsing or inability to stand
• Seizures
• Vomiting or bloody diarrhea
• Thick, sticky saliva
• Loss of consciousness

The vet will check body temperature, blood pressure, blood cell counts, electrolytes, and oxygen levels. They may give IV fluids, oxygen therapy, medication, and take steps to rapidly cool your dog down.

In severe cases, dogs may require hospitalization in intensive care for organ support, like dialysis. Sadly, even with aggressive treatment, some dogs do not survive heat stroke.

That's why it's so important to take steps to prevent heat exhaustion on hot days. Never leave your dog in a parked car, even with the windows cracked. Make sure they have constant access to shade and fresh water on sunny days. And limit exercise to early morning or evening on extremely hot days.