Why does a dog pant

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Your vet will do some lab tests—possibly including an ultrasound—to figure out what's going on before deciding on a treatment plan. Human medications have side effects. Dog medications do too—and panting may be one of them. The likely culprits are anti-anxiety meds or a steroid according to Sung. High blood pressure means your dog could be suffering from a kidney disease or perhaps tumors in his adrenal glands, per allivet.

Typical signs include bleeding inside the eye intraocular bleeding , detachment of the retina, and congestive heart failure accompanied by consistent coughing, rapid breathing, and difficulty breathing. Your dog may drink and urinate more often, lose his appetite, and vomit frequently if the kidneys are affected, says the site. If you observe any of these symptoms, take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible for a complete diagnosis.

Dogs with short, flat, squashed-nose faces tend to pant a lot because of their challenged upper airways. These dogs suffer lifelong breathing difficulties and an inability to pant efficiently which puts them at an increased risk for heatstroke. There are 24 total brachycephalic dog breeds including but not limited to:.

If you take your dog to the veterinarian because of heavy panting, here's what to expect: The veterinarian will observe your pet and check his heart rate and respiratory rate. The vet will use a pulse oximeter to measure the saturation of oxygen in your dog's blood.

Not enough oxygen being delivered and your dog will have difficulty breathing, Sung says. If everything seems to be normal, the veterinarian will delve more deeply into your dog's condition—perhaps using bloodwork, an ultrasound, or a radiograph to determine the underlying problem. Among the more serious possibilities: A previously undiagnosed bleeding tumor—especially in the liver or spleen—can reduce the amount of oxygenated blood in a dog's system.

You can prevent panting caused by heat exhaustion and heat stroke by NOT exercising your dog in triple-digit heat, according to Sung. And limit exercise with the brachycephalic breeds. If you believe your dog's panting is due to anxiety, put your dog in a spare room where you can block out noisemakers, loud music, and flashing lights, according to Fear Free , an initiative to prevent FAS in pets.

Play soothing music or dampen scary sounds with a fan or white noise machine. Use Adaptil pheromone sprays or plug-ins to calm him down. You might also try temporarily placing cotton balls in his ears to muffle the noise.

Even if you're not sure your panting dog is in danger, take him to the veterinarian anyway to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Assess the situation to determine how you can make your dog more comfortable to prevent them from becoming fearful or more stressed. It is important to know that dog panting can indicate nausea, discomfort, and pain. Your veterinarian can assess whether your dog is panting because they are in pain by conducting a thorough examination and possibly diagnostic tests.

Medications, especially prednisone or other steroids, may cause increased panting even when your dog is not hot, excited, or stressed. Overheating, or heatstroke , will cause heavy panting in dogs, which can quickly lead to dehydration and death if untreated. Treating heatstroke requires emergency veterinary care.

Dogs that are overheated pant very heavily and will likely appear uncomfortable in some way. You can prevent heatstroke on hot summer days or while hiking and spending time outdoors by taking frequent breaks, seeking shade, and offering your dog plenty of water. Do not have your dog out in high temperatures or for long periods of time. Dogs with short snouts should stay cool and hydrated on warm days as they are more prone to heatstroke. NEVER leave your dog in a hot car.

Run the air conditioner or leave your friend at home when running errands. If you have any feeling that your dog is panting excessively or abnormally, call your vet. Panting should correlate with the outside temperature or activity.

Could your dog be stressed, excited, or hot? If so, this is probably normal dog panting. If your dog is panting or breathing rapidly during rest or sleep, however, this is often abnormal panting. Message us. Discover our range of dog food. Buy Now. Our dogs pant all the time, especially after a good walk or a fun play session.

Find out what you should be on the lookout for with our guide. Why do dogs pant? My dog is panting excessively — what does it mean? Respiratory problems Your dog's excessive panting could also be due to respiratory problems such as pneumonia.

Obesity If your dog is overweight , they may pant as they struggle to get fresh, oxygenated blood into their systems. Heart problems Heart problems can also cause your dog to pant a lot.

My dog is panting at night — what does it mean?