You might be thinking panting is normal in dogs; yes, you’re right. But here we’re talking about excessive or heavy panting. Some of the main reasons a dog pants at night is because it’s hot or because they are excited. In contrast, heavy panting is different, and it can be because of chronic health issue, such as a liver problem. So, if you’re worried about your dog panting at night, read this article to find the possible causes and treatments.
Why Do Dogs Pant?
Dogs pant to regulate their body temperature. Do you know dogs have higher body temperature than humans, and they don’t sweat like humans? So, when they feel overheated, they rely on panting.
When dogs are tired of exercise or a long walk, they pant. Panting helps dogs get their breath back to a normal rate. These are the normal reasons for panting, and you shouldn’t be worried about them. Some other reasons can be anxiety or stress.
Moreover, dogs pant when they’re afraid of something or feel uncomfortable. So, if you can find the cause of stress and fear, you can avoid the panting issue. Some other medical issues are discussed in the below-given paragraph.
Common Causes of Heavy Dog Panting
One thing should be clear that normal panting in dogs is good because it helps them cool off when they’re engaged in exercise. Closely monitor your dog’s breathing and panting to find any suspicious change in panting behavior. If your dog is panting heavily, some common reasons can be:
- Heatstroke or Poisoning
It has been observed that after exertion, dogs start breathing harder, and it’s common. Some dogs pant more than others. If you’re witnessing heavy dog panting, it’ could be a sign that your dog has consumed a toxic substance or suffering from heatstroke. So, whenever you see changes in your dog’s breathing, take your dog to the vet.
- Liver Problems
Your dog also might be panting at night because of liver problems. Your dog’s liver detoxifies their blood and helps metabolize energy. If the liver is not operating properly, it can cause a wide range of respiratory problems such as panting.
- Heart Failure
When dogs suffer from heart failure, they show symptoms like reduced exercise, difficulty in breathing, and coughing. All these symptoms result in panting.
- Respiratory Disorders
Another cause of dog panting is respiratory disorders, such as lung tumors and pneumonia. The vet will suggest treatment according to the severity of the issue.
- Cushing’s Syndrome
When the adrenal glands of dogs produce too much cortisol, this condition occurs. Dog pant a lot and shows others symptoms like hair loss and excessive thirst.
Related: How to Make Liver Water for Puppies?
Is Panting a Sign of Health Problem?
Yes, when a dog is panting heavy it can be a sign of a health problem. When a dog’s breathing rate is 15-30 breaths per minute, it is normal breathing. Moreover, normal panting allows dogs to get the much-needed break to calm themselves. In contrast, you can easily identify abnormal panting. Some common signs to identify abnormal panting are:
- Harsher and louder sounds of breathing than normal.
- If it happens at night because normally dogs are relaxed at night.
- Excessive panting without any triggers, such as long exercises or hot weather.
- When you feel that panting is excessive compared to normal exercise and exertion.
So whenever you find any of the issues mentioned above, it means your dog isn’t feeling well. So, if you notice any of these issues, immediately seek the help of a vet. Excessive panting at night can be due to many medical issues like a liver problem. Other medical concerns are given above. Some senior dogs pant excessively at night because of their weak joints and pain caused by arthritis.
How to Treat Excessive Panting?
When you notice excessive panting at night, you should take your pet to the vet. When you delay the visit to trip, it will make the symptoms severe, and they’ll be challenging to treat. More importantly, the vet can help diagnose the cause early and start treatment. Excessive panting can also be due to new medication, so inform your vet about it. The vet can make changes in the medication to bring things back to normal. You can also help your dogs by:
- Keeping your dog relaxed as much as possible
- Providing a softer bed to your senior pup
- Use hemp oils to treat anxiety and stress in dogs
So, this is how you can identify and treat excessive panting to bring your dog back to normal.
