My Dog's Heavy Panting: What's Causing It
Dec 17,2024 | puaintapets
As a dog owner, it can be quite concerning when you notice your furry friend panting heavily. Panting is a normal behavior for dogs, but when it becomes excessive, it often indicates that something is amiss. Dogs pant for various reasons. On one hand, normal physiological processes can lead to heavy panting. Additionally, excitement or stress can also cause a dog to pant more than usual. When they anticipate a fun activity like going for a car ride or seeing their favorite human, their breathing might quicken in anticipation.However, heavy panting can also be a sign of underlying health issues. This article will delve deeper into these potential causes of your dog's heavy panting, helping you better understand what might be going on with your beloved pet and when it's necessary to seek veterinary assistance.
Why Is My Dog Panting So Much?
I. Normal Physiological Reactions
- Demand for Heat Dissipation
Dogs have underdeveloped sweat glands and regulate their body temperature mainly through panting. When the ambient temperature is high, such as in the hot summer or when the dog is in direct sunlight for a long time, they will pant quickly to let the tongue and the water in the respiratory tract evaporate, so as to take away the heat. For example, after taking your dog out for a walk in the middle of the day, he may be panting hard from the heat.
- Emotional factors
Excitement: When a dog sees its owner coming home, is about to go play, or encounters something that excites it, it will be in a state of high excitement, at which point its breathing will speed up and its panting will become severe. Just like children will be so excited before a long-awaited trip to the playground that they will be short of breath.
Nervousness or stress: In unfamiliar environments, such as going to the vet or meeting unfamiliar people and animals, the dog may feel nervous and stressed, leading to increased panting.
II. Health Problems
- Respiratory disease
Infection or inflammation: If the dog suffers from respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, the respiratory tract will have an inflammatory response, leading to poor breathing and increased panting. Sick dogs may also have symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.
Airway obstruction: A dog that accidentally eats small toys, bone fragments and other foreign objects may obstruct the airway, making it difficult to breathe and panting heavily.
Also Read: Dog Respiratory Illness
- Cardiovascular disease
When the heart is not functioning properly, for example, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently throughout the body, which can lead to bruising of the lungs and the dog panting to get more oxygen. In this case, the dog may also show symptoms such as decreased exercise tolerance and lethargy.
- Other illnesses or discomforts
Pain: If the dog is injured (e.g. broken bones, strained muscles, etc.) or suffers from other illnesses (e.g. severe dental disease, gastrointestinal disorders, etc.), the pain in the body can trigger a stress response that can lead to increased panting.
Poisoning: After accidentally ingesting toxic substances (such as certain plants, chemicals, etc.), the dog's body functions are affected, and the phenomenon of strong panting may occur, which may also be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhoea and other symptoms.
III. Other Factors
- Drug side effects
If the dog is taking certain medications, the side effects of the medication may lead to increased panting. For example, certain medications for heart disease and neurological disorders may have such side effects.
- Obesity
Obese dogs have heavy body burdens and compromised cardiorespiratory function, which may lead to heavy panting even with light activity.
If your dog is panting abnormally hard and for a long time, or if it is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, it is advisable to take it to the vet in time for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
How to Relieve Dog's Difficulty in Panting?
If your dog has difficulty panting, you can try the following methods to relieve it.
I. Improve environmental factors
- Temperature regulation
If the environmental temperature is too high causing your dog to have difficulty panting, you should quickly move your dog to a cool, well-ventilated place. For example, on a hot summer day, take your dog from outdoors in direct sunlight to an air-conditioned indoor area or a shaded area. You can also use a fan to blow air on your dog, but pay attention to the wind speed and distance to avoid direct blowing that may cause your dog discomfort.
If it is a cold environment, make sure your dog is in a warm and dry place to prevent the cold air from irritating the airways and aggravating panting difficulties. Warm den cushions can be provided for your dog.
- Reduce Stressors
Panting difficulties can occur when your dog is in an unfamiliar environment or when there is something that makes him nervous or scared. It is important to minimise these stressors, for example by avoiding exposing your dog to strange, aggressive animals. If it is in a new environment, you can let the dog stay in a relatively quiet corner with a lot of familiar objects (such as its own toys, mats, etc.), and the owner can accompany the side of the gentle soothing.
II. Adjusting the body condition
- Relax the body
If the dog has just had a strenuous exercise and panting difficulties, the dog should be allowed to rest quietly. You can guide the dog to lie down in a comfortable place, gently touch the dog's back, neck and other parts of the body to help it relax the body muscles, relieve tension, so as to reduce the symptoms of panting difficulties.
For obese dogs, losing weight can help improve panting difficulties. You can help your dog lose weight by adjusting its diet, reducing the intake of high-calorie and high-fat food, and increasing the amount of exercise (e.g. proper walking, playing, etc., but pay attention to gradual progress).
- Replenish water
Make sure your dog has plenty of clean drinking water. Difficulty in panting may cause the mucous membranes of your dog's mouth and respiratory tract to dry out, and drinking a moderate amount of water will help keep them moist and ease the discomfort. However, do not force your dog to drink large amounts of water; it can be given in small amounts over a number of sessions.
III. Handling of underlying disease (if disease factor is suspected)
- Foreign body treatment
If you suspect that your dog's difficulty in panting is due to a foreign body in the airway, do not blindly handle it on your own, but send it to the vet as soon as possible. The vet can examine and remove the foreign body through professional equipment (e.g. laryngoscope, bronchoscope, etc.).
- Disease Treatment
If your dog's difficulty in panting is caused by disease, such as respiratory disease (pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.), cardiovascular disease (heart disease, etc.), or other diseases (e.g., poisoning, allergies, etc.), it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
Related: Can A Dog Have Heart Attack
For respiratory diseases, the doctor may give antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin, etc.) and cough-relieving and asthma medication (e.g. aminophylline, etc.) to treat the disease according to the condition.
For cardiovascular disease, medications to improve heart function (e.g., pimobendan, etc.) may be administered, along with supportive therapeutic measures such as oxygenation.
If the dog's difficulty in panting continues unabated or is accompanied by other serious symptoms (e.g. depression, vomiting, convulsions, etc.), the dog should be taken to a veterinary hospital immediately for diagnosis and treatment to avoid delays.
When to See the Vet
I. Observe the characteristics of wheezing
- Respiratory rate
A normal dog's respiratory rate is around 10 - 30 breaths per minute. If your dog's respiratory rate increases significantly, such as consistently exceeding 40 breaths per minute, this may be a sign of a medical abnormality and medical attention needs to be considered. Small dogs may have a more pronounced increase in their respiratory rate, while large dogs even slightly above the normal range may indicate a problem.
- Depth of Breathing
Breathing depths that are too shallow or too deep are not normal. If your dog breathes with little chest rise and fall, which feels like an inadequate inhalation, or a dramatic chest rise and fall, which resembles excessive deep breathing, this may be a sign of a problem with the respiratory system or another system that needs to be further evaluated for medical attention.
- Breathing rhythm
Normal breathing should be regular. If your dog's breathing is intermittent, halting or irregular, such as an unstable interval between inhalation and exhalation, this may be a sign of a serious cardiopulmonary or neurological problem, and should be sent to the doctor promptly.
II. Check the accompanying symptoms
- Mental state
If the dog has difficulty in panting and at the same time is depressed, no longer concerned about things that usually interest him (e.g. toys, food, etc.), unwilling to move around, and is always lying down or hiding in a corner, this may be a sign of physical discomfort and needs to be sent to the doctor. For example, when a dog suffers from severe cardiopulmonary disease, it will show poor spirit due to lack of oxygen and discomfort in the body.
- Body Temperature Changes
Measure your dog's body temperature, which normally ranges between 38 - 39 degrees Celsius. If panting difficulties are accompanied by a body temperature that is too high (over 39.5°C) or too low (below 37.5°C), this may be a sign of infection, heatstroke or other illness and should be taken to a doctor as soon as possible. For example, a dog with heatstroke will have difficulty panting and have an elevated body temperature.
- Coughing or sneezing
If your dog's panting is accompanied by a cough, it may be due to a respiratory infection, foreign body irritation, or cardiopulmonary disease. If the coughing is frequent, severe or accompanied by coughing up phlegm or haemoptysis, medical attention is required. Sneezing is also a reference factor. If you sneeze frequently and have difficulty in wheezing, it may be an allergy or respiratory tract infection that requires further examination.
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
When a dog is panting with difficulty and showing signs of vomiting or diarrhoea, it may be a gastrointestinal disorder affecting breathing, or it may be a sign of a systemic problem such as poisoning. If the vomiting or diarrhoea is severe enough to cause dehydration or electrolyte disorders, the dog should be taken to a doctor immediately.
III. Consider the triggering factors
- Environmental factors
If the dog is panting because the environmental temperature is too high or too low, and the panting does not improve significantly after improving the environment (e.g., moving to a place with the right temperature, providing appropriate warming or cooling measures), the body itself may have problems and needs to be sent to the doctor. For example, if a dog panting from heatstroke is still having difficulty panting after being moved to a cooler area and given water, it may be that the heatstroke has already caused more serious damage to the body.
- Recent Experience
If your dog has recently swallowed a foreign object, suffered an injury, or been exposed to a new environment or substance (e.g., new pet products, new plants, etc.) and is panting with difficulty, you need to take your dog to the doctor to check for a foreign body blockage, infection from an injury, or an allergy.
If your dog is panting with difficulty and one or more of these abnormalities are present, or if the owner is concerned and unsure about your dog's condition, it is best to get your dog to a veterinarian for a thorough examination and accurate diagnosis.
FAQs
What are signs of anxiety in dogs?
Dogs may lick their paws excessively, a part of their body or chew on furniture, their own tail, etc. For example, some dogs will lick their front paws incessantly after their owners leave the house, which may be a sign of separation anxiety.
Dogs will look for some hidden places to hide, such as the corners of the wardrobe and under the bed. Anxious dogs are more inclined to hide in these safe corners when strangers visit or the environment changes.
May tear up the couch, chew on shoes, etc. This is because anxiety leaves the dog with nowhere to release its energy and relieves its inner turmoil by destroying objects.
When a dog is anxious, the body is in a state of stress and the sympathetic nerves are excited, leading to faster breathing and panting.
Anxiety may affect your dog's urinary and bowel function, causing him to urinate or defecate frequently, even if his bladder and bowel are not fully full.
Do dogs pant when they are in pain?
When a dog suffers pain in an area of the body, such as a broken bone, arthritis, or strained muscle, the body is in a state of stress. This stress response causes sympathetic excitation, which leads to faster breathing and thus panting. Also, pain puts the dog's body in a state of tension that requires more oxygen to cope with it, hence the panting. For example, when a dog has a broken leg, the pain at the site of the injury will cause him to pant, which may be accompanied by a reluctance to move the injured leg.
Pain in a dog's internal organs, such as abdominal pain (which may be due to a condition such as gastrointestinal torsion or pancreatitis), can also cause a dog to pant. This is because pain in internal organs can affect the normal physiological functioning of the body, resulting in a change in breathing rate.
Why do older dogs pant more?
There are several possible reasons why older dogs pant more.
Declining heart and lung function: as dogs age, their heart and lung function declines, leading to increased breathlessness and panting. This is because the muscles and tissues of the heart and lungs gradually lose their elasticity and strength, making the heart less able to pump blood throughout the body and the lungs less able to exchange gas effectively.
Obesity: Older dogs are more likely to put on weight, and excess weight puts an extra burden on the heart and lungs and other organs, leading to increased panting. Obesity can also lead to other health problems such as diabetes and arthritis, which can also affect your dog's respiratory function.
Tracheal collapse: Certain small breeds are prone to tracheal collapse, a congenital or acquired condition that leads to narrowing of the airways and symptoms of panting. Tracheal collapse is more common in older dogs, as the structure of the trachea may become weaker with age.
Respiratory Diseases: Older dogs are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases such as upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis, which can lead to increased difficulty breathing and panting. In addition, dogs may also suffer from other chronic conditions such as heart disease and kidney disease, which can also affect respiratory function.
Conclusion
While panting is a normal behavior in dogs, excessive panting can signal a more serious issue. Whether due to heat, exercise, anxiety, or a medical condition, it’s important to understand the cause of your dog’s panting. If you’re ever concerned, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian to ensure your dog’s health and well-being. Taking prompt action can prevent more serious complications and ensure your dog stays happy and healthy.