Why is my Dog Panting so Much?

The most common cause of a dog panting is because they’re hot. Contrary to popular belief, dogs can sweat, however the two types of sweat glands they have are only able to produce a small amount of sweat. This means that despite being able to sweat a small amount, in situations where it’s very hot and their fur coats are good at retaining heat, it’s never enough to act as a sufficient way to cool down.

As the weather warms up, owners are going to see their pups panting more often as they try to regulate their body temperatures. It’s common to see a dog panting after they’ve been sitting in the sun or running around. They will often go and sit in the shade and have a lie down to cool off while panting.

When dogs are stressed, their heart rate will speed up and their temperature will climb, like that of a dog who has been running around. You can tell when a pant is stress related because the behaviour will be out of context. If your pup hasn’t been running around or doing anything that is going to make them too hot, it’s likely their panting is stress related.

One of the best places to see stress panting in action is in the waiting room of a veterinary practice! Almost all the dogs waiting to see the vet will be panting and not because they’ve all just had a great time running around and playing. Sometimes when they’re feeling anxious at home they may pace around and struggle to settle if they’re stressed. It’s all about taking in the information of the whole situation to establish if they’re hot or stressed when panting.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) occurs in flat faced dogs like Pugs, French Bulldogs and Boxer dogs. We’ve bred dogs to have very short noses for one reason or another and while they’re very cute, it gives them very narrow respiratory tracts.

It’s almost like physically squashing their faces so they still have the same amount of skin and tissue, but it’s all pressed into a much smaller space. Because of this, flat faced dogs often overheat and need to pant much more. A short walk for a Labrador may not be enough to get them panting, but some severely brachycephalic dogs will always pant when they walk to increase airflow.

Some dogs need surgery to remove excess skin from the throat and to widen their nostrils to help with breathing properly. Flat faced breeds are more prone to getting too hot so if your fur child is a brachy breed, you should be aware of the signs of heatstroke and watch out for it during the summer.

If your canine companion is not hot or stressed, then there are a few other reasons that could be the cause of panting. Some medications can have the side effect of causing an increased respiratory rate which can make them pant, so make sure that if you’re giving your pup any medication to read up on the side effects and ask your vet if you are unsure or worried.

Dogs who are unwell and have a fever will also pant so if they have any other symptoms of being unwell like vomiting or diarrhoea then it could be linked. If they’re about to go sick, this can cause them to pant too.

Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a high risk in larger, barrel-chested breeds. Their stomach becomes distended and can twist which if left untreated can be fatal. Initial signs of bloat are pacing, discomfort around their abdomen and panting as they struggle to get comfortable and settle.

Other things like heatstroke and being overweight are also high on the list of reasons your pooch may be panting.

Sometimes in summer, there is no escaping the heat but there are plenty of ways you can cool your pup down when they’re panting. Putting wet towels on cold floors is a great way to help cool them off initially however they don’t stay cool for very long. There are plenty of cooling products, such as dog cooling mats will make the job easier and last a lot longer.

Cooling mats like the Rufus & Rosie Pet Cooling Mat are great because they won’t heat up from just being left on the floor. The weight of your pup lying on them will trigger a reaction which cools the mat down. It can take hours for the cooling temperature to wear off but once your pooch leaves it for a little while, it will be ready to start over again within twenty minutes.

If your pup isn’t one for sitting still, even in high temperatures, a cooling coat might do the trick like the Ancol Cooling Coat. They can keep even the busiest of puppies cool on the go.

Some illnesses become more common as dogs get older. Cushing’s disease is one such illness that dogs are more prone to when they’re a little long in the tooth. The disease is caused when too much of the stress hormone, cortisol is produced. Cortisol often triggers panting in stressful situations so when too much is produced, it can also cause them to pant. If your pup’s behaviour changes drastically or they’re generally panting and unsettled, checking with a vet to make sure it’s not something more serious is always a good idea.

Older dogs are also prone to arthritis. Joint and muscular pain is common as dogs get frailer and pain will often cause a dog to pant. You may notice that when they get up from their bed or must exert a good amount of energy, they might seem worn out by it. As they get older, they have a much higher chance of having discomfort around their joints, but vets will often prescribe pain relief to keep them comfortable in their twilight years.

For all your cooling needs and any other doggy essentials, look at our wide selection of products online and in-store.