When Is Your Dog's Panting a Cause For Concern?

As most dog owners know, when your pooch gets too hot, they often start panting to cool themselves down. Dogs also pant when they get out of breath from vigorous play. As such, for the most part, a pup panting isn't anything to worry about. However, in some circumstances, it can be a cause for concern. If something seems abnormal about your dog's panting, here are three situations where it's best to see a vet.

1. When your dog's panting is excessive

Over time, you should be able to get a good feel for your dog's usual panting rhythm when they're hot or worn out. If your dog has been panting more than usual recently on warm days or after playtime, this could be a sign of an underlying problem. Early heat stroke, for example, can cause dogs to pant more than they usually would, as can obesity. Health conditions like heart and lung disease can also have this effect.

Likewise, for the most part, the sound of a dog panting is relatively quiet and shallow. A particularly loud or heavy panting pattern can be another sign that your dog is struggling with a health or environmental problem.

2. When there's no obvious reason behind the panting

Naturally, if your dog is panting as usual on a hot day or after exercising, you don't need to be worried that anything is wrong. There are also other common reasons for panting that might not necessarily need immediate veterinary attention. For example, if there are fireworks outside and your dog is scared of loud sounds, they may pant. While it's a good idea to talk to your vet about possible options to reduce anxiety in the future, you don't necessarily need to be worried about your dog's health. As another example, if your dog has recently been treated for an injury, the pain may make them pant, indicating that they need another dose of pain-relief medication.

However, if you can't find any obvious reason for your dog's panting, it's likely something else is going on beneath the surface.

3. When your dog has other adverse symptoms

Finally, if your dog's panting is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, it's time to book a veterinary appointment. Panting can be a symptom of many health conditions, all of which will usually show other signs as well. Cushing's disease, for example, causes increased thirst and appetite, frequent urination, hair loss, and an overweight appearance as well as excess panting. Anemia also causes panting alongside lethargy, lack of appetite, weight loss, and black stools.