Have they been coughing? Other symptoms are clues that can help distinguish normal panting from abnormal panting. Some dogs, particularly Labradors and Golden Retrievers , are predisposed to a condition called laryngeal paralysis. This is a dysfunction of the vocal cords that causes the airway to not open as wide as it should. The result is a characteristic abrasive sound when these dogs pant. Similarly, dogs with short snouts like Pugs and English Bulldogs can make abnormal snorting sounds while panting due to a long soft palate or excessive tissue in the throat that causes obstruction of the airway.
Dogs with either of these conditions are more predisposed to heatstroke because they cannot efficiently pant to cool themselves. Keep them cool and watch for these sounds when they pant. How do you know when to call your vet? Short answer: Whenever you are concerned. Leave it to your veterinarian to determine if your dog is experiencing abnormal panting.
Your dog may be hospitalized to receive treatment with fluids and to have blood work done to make sure their organs were not damaged. Your pet may need blood work or x-rays to rule out many concerning diseases. Treating the various other causes of excessive panting can range from giving your dog medication at home to hospitalizing your dog for advanced treatment. Home Dog Care Center. Why Do Dogs Pant?
Published: July 31, If your dog is showing the following symptoms, give first aid and contact your vet immediately:. If your dog continues to get hotter despite their panting, this can lead to heatstroke. This is a life-threatening emergency. If your dog is suffering with heatstroke, you may notice these additional symptoms:.
Heatstroke can be fatal very quickly, so if you spot any symptoms, contact your vet immediately — and remember that there are many ways to prevent them from overheating , which will reduce the risk of your dog developing heatstroke! Overall, there are lots of reasons why your dog might pant and not all of them will be a problem — especially on a warm day.
Take a look at our pet cooling products to help keep your dog cool this summer. Pets who have been there for us during the pandemic deserve somewhere to turn when they need life-saving treatment.
Researchers have looked at dog panting to determine its causes; what they discovered may surprise you. Moderate to rapid open-mouthed respiration is a normal dog and puppy behavior that lowers body temperature and also gets oxygen into the dog's bloodstream. The panting dog breathes with its mouth open and tongue somewhat protruding. Panting as a cooling mechanism is necessary because dogs do not have an effective system of sweat glands like people do.
Instead, dogs cool their bodies using the evaporation of moisture from the mouth and tongue, and by exchanging the hot air of their lungs with cooler external air. Panting should not be confused with labored breathing.
Labored breathing is characterized by strained respiration and may be accompanied by sounds of distress like crying or whining, or whistles from the nostrils or windpipe due to blockage. Your dog or puppy may be panting for one of these five reasons.
Even if they are not overheating, dogs will pant from exercise. It's much like the way humans breathe heavily when doing aerobic exercise. However, panting is also the primary way for dogs to cool themselves off because they don't sweat the way humans do.
Though dogs do sweat a little bit from their paw pads, this cannot sufficiently cool them off. Instead, dogs cool themselves through their mouths. Panting allows dogs to release heat and exchange it for cooler air. As you may imagine, this is not a very efficient process. It's even less efficient for short-faced dogs like bulldogs or pugs. That's why dogs start to pant even when they get even a little bit warm. The hotter a dog becomes, the more intense the panting becomes. Sometimes, heavy panting is accompanied by drooling and redness of the tongue and gums.
Additionally, if their pants sound louder or harsher or they appear to be exerting more effort than usual, you should seek veterinary attention immediately as it could be a sign of one of the following problems:. If you notice this you should move them out of the sun to somewhere cooler immediately.
The easiest ways to avoid heatstroke is by not taking your dog out in hot temperatures so, for example, in the middle of summer ensure you walk your dog early or late in the day when it is cooler , never leaving your dog in a hot car and always taking water with you for your dog to drink. Your dog's excessive panting could also be due to respiratory problems such as pneumonia. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs or lower respiratory tract and is primarily caused by an infection.
Other symptoms may include fever, difficulty breathing, lethargy and coughing. Other symptoms may be present such as increased thirst, weight gain, thinning skin and hair and a pot belly.
If your dog is overweight , they may pant as they struggle to get fresh, oxygenated blood into their systems. Heart problems can also cause your dog to pant a lot. Dogs with heart issues may pant consistently even when not exercising as they will struggle to catch their breath.
Additionally, they may also cough and display a general weakness and tiredness.
0コメント