Dog Panting: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do

What it usually means

Dogs sweat very little, so panting is their main way to cool down. Moisture evaporates from the tongue, nose and airways and carries heat away. Panting after play, exercise or excitement, or in warm weather, is normal and should ease with rest, shade and water. Stress can trigger it too.

Panting becomes a concern when it does not fit the situation. That means panting at rest or in sleep, in a cool, calm room, for a long time, or growing heavier. Harsh, rasping panting can point to a throat problem such as laryngeal paralysis, and snorting sounds can mean a narrowed airway, as seen in short-nosed breeds like Pugs and English Bulldogs. Add other signs, such as lethargy, coughing, poor appetite or shaking, and the case for calling your vet gets stronger.

Check the gums. They should be pale pink. Dark red, blue or purple gums mean your dog is not getting enough oxygen. The most urgent cause is heatstroke, which can develop within minutes in humid weather or a hot car.

Common causes

What you can do at home

Move your dog to shade or a cool, ventilated room, offer water, and let them rest. Normal panting should settle with that.

If your dog is panting heavily after heat exposure, treat it as possible heatstroke. Wet your dog with cool, not ice-cold, water, put a fan on them, and head to a vet with the car air conditioning running. Avoid ice baths and ice packs, which can cause shock. Call ahead so the clinic can prepare. Even if your dog seems to recover, see a vet, because heatstroke can cause internal damage that is not visible right away.

If the panting is not heat related, watch the pattern. Note when it happens, whether it is at rest or at night, the gum color, and any coughing, restlessness, trembling or limping. Tell your vet about any new medicine, since steroids can increase panting. If you suspect rat bait or another poison, call your vet or a poison hotline and bring the product or a photo of it.

Do not make heavy panting at rest something to wait out. It is an abnormal sign and deserves a call to your vet.

What happens at the vet

Your vet will ask about the pattern: when the panting happens, how long it lasts, what else has changed, and any medicines, toxins or heat exposure. A thorough exam, and often bloodwork and X-rays, helps find the cause.

For heatstroke, vets give fluids and monitor your dog closely, and bloodwork checks for organ damage, including kidney injury. Hospital care may be needed. For heart or lung disease, further tests will map out what is happening. Cushing's disease is slow and progressive but still needs veterinary attention. If a medicine is behind the panting, your vet may adjust the plan. Pain is treated directly with prescribed pain relief.

For short-nosed dogs with noisy breathing, your vet will check the airway. Treatment overall ranges from medicine at home to hospitalization, depending on the cause. If your dog may have swallowed a poison, bring the packaging or a photo. The sooner your vet knows what was eaten, the better they can plan treatment.

Prevention

Provide shade and cool water whenever your dog is outside, and walk in the early morning or evening. The hottest part of the day is around 3 to 5 p.m. Skip strenuous exercise on hot, humid days. If you can't hold your hand on the pavement for about 10 seconds, it is too hot for paws.

Never leave a dog in a parked car. Even on a mild 70°F (21°C) day, the inside of a car can climb about 40°F (22°C) in an hour, and cracked windows do not stop it.

Take extra care with short-nosed breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Boxers, and with puppies, seniors, overweight dogs, dogs with heart or breathing problems, and dogs with thick or dark coats. Overweight dogs overheat more easily, so a healthy weight helps. Our dog exercise guide can help you plan activity safely.

Regular checkups help catch heart, lung and hormone problems early.