Panting in dogs is a normal way for them to cool down, especially after exercise, playtime, or during warm weather. However, some pet parents may notice excessive panting without the typical causes (e.g., warm weather, physical activity) and wonder, “Why is my dog panting so much?”
Heavy or persistent panting in dogs can sometimes point to pain, stress, breathing problems, or an underlying health condition. The timing and any other symptoms can help determine whether or not you need to see a vet. This Sploot Vets guide dives into common causes of excessive panting in dogs, warning signs to watch for, and more.
Normal Panting & Breathing Rate in Dogs
Not every instance of a dog panting is a cause for concern. Dogs naturally pant to regulate body temperature since they do not sweat through their skin. A dog’s panting can also be due to emotions such as excitement, joy, stress, or anxiety.
While panting to cool down or to calm down, dogs can have shallower, rhythmic breathing; it can be up to 200 pants per minute (American Red Cross). However, within ~20 minutes or less, a dog’s breathing should taper back down to normal. The normal resting breathing rate for dogs is 18 to 34 breaths per minute (MSD Veterinary Manual).
Why Is My Dog Panting So Much: 10 Common Causes
If your dog is panting a lot or panting for a prolonged period of time, it can be caused by several factors. Here are some of the common causes:
1. Post-Exercise [Normal]
Panting after exercise is a normal way for dogs to cool down and recover from physical activity. Running, playing, hiking, and even an energetic game of fetch can raise body temperature and breathing rate, especially in warm weather or in dogs that are less conditioned.
In most cases, post-exercise panting in dogs should steadily improve once your dog stops moving, rests in a cool area, and has access to fresh water.
Contact your veterinarian if your dog pants excessively after very mild activity, takes much longer than usual to recover, or has developed a noticeable drop in stamina.
2. Stress, Fear, or Anxiety [Normal]
Panting in dogs can also be part of a normal stress response. Dogs may pant when they feel nervous, frightened, overstimulated, or uncertain. Common triggers include thunderstorms, fireworks, travel, unfamiliar people or animals, separation anxiety in dogs, and changes in routine.
If your dog is panting due to temporary stress or fear, you may also notice other symptoms such as pacing, trembling, whining, hiding, yawning, or difficulty settling. If the panting resolves once your dog calms down, it is usually not an urgent issue.
Speak with your veterinarian if your dog’s anxiety is frequent, severe, or affecting your dog’s quality of life. Veterinarians may recommend behavioral training and/or anxiety meds for dogs.
3. Overheating & Dehydration
Overheating in dogs is common during hot weather, but it can happen in any season, especially after overly strenuous exercise, in poorly ventilated spaces, inside warm vehicles, or when dogs are overdressed in warm indoor environments.
Thick-coated, brachycephalic, overweight, senior, and medically fragile dogs may be more vulnerable to overheating. Additionally, if the dog is also experiencing dehydration, this makes it even harder for them to regulate temperature effectively.
Contact an urgent vet if heavy panting does not begin to improve or if your dog seems weak, disoriented, or unusually tired. Bring your dog to a vet ER if you notice signs of heatstroke, such as collapse, seizures, difficulty breathing, or very pale, blue, or intensely red gums.
4. Overweight Dogs Panting a Lot
When a dog is overweight, they need to exert more effort to move, walk, or play. This could lead to the dog panting a lot and getting tired more easily. Additionally, dogs with excess weight can have layers of insulating fat which traps heat and slows down the body’s cooling, leading to the dog panting a lot in warm weather or when dressed too warmly indoors during colder months.
If you suspect that your dog’s panting could be linked to being overweight, schedule a nutritional consultation with your veterinarian; they may recommend a weight management diet for your pup and other lifestyle tweaks to help your pup reach a healthy weight.
5. Fever in Dogs
A fever in dogs can lead to panting as their body temperature rises. Fever itself is typically a sign that the body is responding to an infection, inflammation, or another underlying medical problem. Dogs with fever may also seem tired, lose interest in food, shiver, or show symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or behavioral changes.
Contact your veterinarian if your dog is panting unusually. Take your dog to a same-day urgent vet if they have a high fever 105°F (40.5°C) or is showing additional worsening symptoms (e.g., lethargy, vomiting).
6. Pain or Discomfort
Pain can lead to excessive panting in dogs even when the dog is resting in a cool and calm environment. Pain leads to excessive panting because of stress or anxiety and/or the body’s adrenaline surge in response to the pain.
Pain in dogs may be caused by injuries, arthritis in dogs, dental problems in dogs, abdominal discomfort, or other medical conditions. You may also notice restlessness, shaking or trembling, limping, reluctance to move, whining, or difficulty getting comfortable.
Call a veterinarian if unexplained panting persists or you notice other signs of pain. Seek urgent or emergency care for severe pain, major trauma, a swollen abdomen, repeated unproductive retching, or limping in dogs.
→ Not sure what’s causing your dog’s excessive panting? Our experienced vets are here to help! Book a vet visit today at any of our vet clinics in Denver, Colorado Springs, Chicago, or Salt Lake City! You can also call our team for urgent concerns.
7. Heart Disease in Dogs
One of the signs of heart disease in dogs is excessive panting in dogs or rapid breathing (Tufts.edu). This happens when the heart has difficulty circulating blood and oxygen efficiently. Heart disease in dogs can be caused by a variety of conditions, which can be linked to genetics or old age, respectively. Heartworm in dogs, a mosquito-borne parasite, can also lead to heart disease (and lung damage) in advanced cases.
Along with panting a lot and increased respiratory rates, dogs with heart conditions may also develop the following symptoms: persistent coughing, weakness, and nighttime restlessness. For dogs that may be suffering from heart disease, one of the best at-home monitoring strategies is to count their respiratory rate while at complete rest or sleeping.
Medical Director at Sploot, Dr. Chris Lenahen explains: “You can count the number of breaths that your dog takes in 15 seconds and multiply it by 4. If it is persistently over 40 breaths per minute at rest, there is discharge from the nose, or if they are having trouble breathing, please seek immediate veterinary attention.”
Schedule a veterinary examination if your dog's breathing or exercise tolerance has noticeably changed. Bring your dog to an emergency vet if they develop severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, collapse, or blue or gray gums.
8. Respiratory Problems in Dogs
Diseases affecting the lungs, airways, or upper respiratory tract can make breathing more difficult and lead to excessive dog panting. Respiratory problems can include pneumonia in dogs, kennel cough or Bordetella, tracheal disorders, and other conditions.
Short-nosed or brachycephalic dog breeds such as French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers may be especially prone to breathing difficulties, as well as tracheal disorders.
Contact a veterinarian if your dog is panting excessively and/or showing other related symptoms of respiratory issues (e.g., persistent coughing, wheezing, or noisy breathing). Seek a veterinary ER if your dog appears unable to get enough air, stretches their neck to breathe, develops blue or pale gums, or collapses.
9. Side Effects of Certain Dog Medications
Some canine medications can lead to dogs panting a lot as a side effect. Some of the most common medications associated with excessive panting in dogs include the following:
- Corticosteroids – these anti-inflammatory medications mimic cortisol to produce the desired effect. However, excessive panting in dogs can be a side effect of these medications, even at the early stages of treatment, along with increased thirst, urination, appetite, and GI upset. Examples of corticosteroid medications that can be prescribed for dogs include: prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone.
- Serotonergic medications – these are medications that aid in increasing a dog’s serotonin levels, typically prescribed as short-term or long-term anti-anxiety medication for dogs. In some occasions, these serotonergic medications can cause side effects like mild restlessness, panting a lot, and GI upset. A few examples of these medications include trazodone, fluoxetine, and buspirone.
If your dog begins panting excessively more after starting a medication or after a dose change, you can contact the prescribing veterinarian, especially if they show other mild side effects. Contact an urgent care vet or vet ER if you notice more severe signs that can point to an adverse reaction (e.g., tremors, persistent vomiting, weakness, collapse, difficulty breathing, extreme agitation).
10. Cushing’s Disease in Dogs
Cushing’s disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is a relatively common hormonal disorder in dogs. This disease typically affects middle-aged, older, or senior dogs. Cushing’s disease in dogs is characterized by elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to dogs panting a lot, along with other symptoms such as increased thirst, appetite, and urination.
Thin skin, skin infections, hair loss, and a pot-bellied appearance are also additional symptoms to watch out for. (PetMD)
If your dog is panting a lot without an obvious trigger, especially alongside other symptoms related to increased cortisol, schedule a vet visit. Veterinary diagnostics can help provide valuable insight into your dog’s health, including screening for Cushing’s disease.
11. Excessive Panting in Older Dogs
Older or senior dogs are more prone to various health issues, which can cause excessive panting in dogs. These include the following:
- Arthritis in dogs – the pain or discomfort can lead to increased panting in dogs.
- Heart disease in dogs – as mentioned above, conditions affecting the heart’s efficiency can lead to excessive panting in dogs, along with other symptoms like coughing, weakness, exercise intolerance, and so on.
- Cushing’s disease – as mentioned above, this hormonal disorder is more common in older dogs and is marked by elevated blood cortisol, which can lead to dogs panting a lot, along with other symptoms like increased thirst, urination, and appetite.
- Age-related anxiety in dogs – older or senior dogs can develop cognitive decline, which leads to age-related anxiety. Since dogs can pant more when under stress or anxiety, excessive panting in older dogs can be a sign of age-related anxiety, especially if it’s accompanied by other signs of restlessness or disorientation.
Contact your veterinarian if your senior dog begins panting more than usual, particularly while resting or at night. A same-day or prompt vet visit is generally recommended if the older dog’s panting occurs with persistent coughing, weakness, confusion, reduced appetite, or mobility changes.
When Should I Be Worried About Dog Panting?
While a dog’s temporary panting after exercise or in warm weather is expected, here are some clues that a dog may need veterinary attention.
- Contact a veterinarian if your dog’s panting is unusually heavy, starts without an obvious reason, persists while at rest, or becomes more frequent over time.’
- See a same-day or urgent care vet if your dog’s excessive panting is accompanied by symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and signs of pain.
- Contact an emergency vet if a dog’s excessive panting is accompanied by severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, or collapse, which require prompt attention.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Excessive Panting in Dogs at Sploot
To diagnose excessive panting in dogs, veterinarians use a combination of clinical evaluation and, when appropriate, laboratory work or veterinary diagnostics.
A thorough physical exam takes a closer look at your dog’s appearance, vitals, behavior, signs of pain, recent activities, recent medication changes, and other factors that could be affecting your dog’s health. Auscultation of the pet’s heart and lungs (i.e., listening with a stethoscope) can determine the quality of the breaths and if there are any abnormal sounds.
Meanwhile, veterinary diagnostics, which can be recommended in some cases, looks at specific biomarkers to help detect any underlying problems. Here are a few common tests that could be recommended to rule out certain causes of excessive panting in dogs:
- CBC (Complete Blood Count) – shows signs of infection or inflammation
- Chest X-ray – can be requested when heart disease or respiratory issues are suspected.
- Heart ultrasound – may be necessary when an evaluation of the heart structure and function is needed.
- Metabolic and endocrine testing – reveals conditions with hormonal imbalances like Cushing’s disease in dogs.
- Heartworm testing – a test that screens for heartworms by detecting antigens released by adult heartworms in the blood.
→ If your dog’s panting is persistent or unusual, schedule a vet visit to help identify the cause and determine whether veterinary diagnostic testing is needed. Book a vet visit today at any of our vet clinics in Denver, Colorado Springs, Chicago, or Salt Lake City! You can also call our team for urgent concerns.
Treating Excessive Panting in Dogs
When a dog is panting a lot, it is treated as a symptom, not the disease or health condition itself. Therefore, the treatment would depend on the diagnosed underlying issue.
In any case, veterinarians would first address any urgent symptoms which can accompany excessive panting, such as vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and so on, before recommending a treatment plan. Treatment plans can include prescribed medications, nutritional support, lifestyle changes, or long-term care for chronic conditions.
Sploot: Your All-in-One Vet for Urgent Issues & Overall Wellness
If your dog’s panting is excessive, unusual, or comes with other concerning symptoms, Sploot Veterinary Care is here to help. Our experienced dog veterinarians will evaluate your pup’s condition, perform diagnostic testing when needed, and recommend personalized treatment.
With primary care, urgent care, diagnostics, and more available under one roof, Sploot makes it easier to get your dog the care they need.
Find a Sploot vet clinic in Denver, Chicago, Colorado Springs, or Salt Lake City. We’re open 365 days a year with same-day and next-day appointments available. Book your vet visit today or call our team (available within the clinics’ extended hours) if you have any urgent concerns!
