Why is my dog panting? 4 reasons behind the behaviour

If your dog is panting a lot, this could be due to a number of things. We looked into the reasons, both from a health and mental health perspective.

Many people think that the panting is only because the animal is hot or tired. However, this is not entirely true, as they may want to signal pain or some other kind of problem.

Why is the dog panting?

Basically, panting is a normal behaviour of the dog that lowers the body temperature and also delivers oxygen to the bloodstream. Panting as a cooling mechanism is necessary because dogs do not have as efficient of a sweat gland system as humans. Instead, they cool their bodies by evaporating moisture from their mouths and tongues, replacing the hot air in their lungs with cooler air from outside. That is why cooling is one of the four main reasons:

1. Natural cooling mechanism

Dogs start panting even when they get a little warm. The more they suffer from the heat, the more intense the panting. Sometimes this is accompanied by drooling and redness of the tongue and gums. The warning signs of overheating also include:

• Bright red tongue and gums
• The wide-open eyes
• The weakness

If you experience these, call the vet immediately. Unless they ask for something else, start cooling your pet gradually with wet towels and try to water them gently.

2. Excitement or stress

The panting may have nothing to do with the overheating. Many dogs still pant, when they experience fear, anxiety or stress. It can be triggered by situations such as fireworks, separation anxiety or visits to the vet. If this is the cause of the panting, you will certainly see other signs, therefore, it will show that the animal is nervous and or anxious and with some research, you can even find the underlying cause. This way you can also effectively reassure them.

3. The thrill of the game

The panting can simply also be a sign of happiness. In this case, you can observe the expression of joy in their whole body language. Continual slight panting with an open mouth and bright eyes is normal in calm, content and happy dogs. Many people believe that this is how the animal is smiling.

4. Pain

In many cases, dogs are very good at hiding their pain from people. wever, regular panting may be a sign in their case, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as

• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• lethargy
• hobbling
• irritability
• behavioural changes

If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms or a combination of them, there is a good chance that your dog is sick and panting regularly as a result. If this is the case, contact your vet as soon as possible to ensure that the problem is treated successfully. Panting should never be confused with breathing heavily. The latter is characterised by tensed breathing and may be accompanied by sounds such as wheezing or whistling due to blockage of the nostrils and trachea.