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Is Your Dog Panting a Lot? Understanding When It's Normal and When to Worry
Is Your Dog Panting a Lot? Understanding When It's Normal and When to Worry

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Is Your Dog Panting a Lot? Understanding When It's Normal and When to Worry

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We all adore the sight of our furry friends panting, tongues lolling out in playful exhaustion after a spirited game of fetch or on a warm, sunny afternoon. But have you ever stopped to wonder about the deeper meaning behind this seemingly simple act? What does it tell us about our dog's health and well-being?
 

While we may find dog panting endearing, it serves a far more crucial purpose than just a cute quirk. Panting is an essential element of canine physiology, playing a vital role in regulating body temperature and communicating emotional states. Knowing the different types of dog panting and their underlying causes can be crucial in providing the best care for our beloved companions.
 

Understanding your dog's panting

Dogs pant to regulate their body temperature, a mechanism similar to how humans sweat. While some panting is normal, excessive or unusual panting can be a sign of an underlying health issue.
 

Normal panting:

  • Frequency: At rest, a healthy dog typically takes about 15 to 35 breaths per minute.
  • Intensity: The panting should be shallow and quiet, with minimal tongue lolling.
  • Context: Panting is expected after exercise, play, excitement, or in hot weather.
  • Duration: Once the cause of the panting is addressed (e.g., they cool down or calm down), the panting should subside.

Concerning panting:

  • Excessive: If your dog is breathing fast i.e., 40 breaths per minute at rest or even when slightly active, it's a red flag.
  • Heavy: When the dog is breathing heavy, the panting is deep and laboured, with pronounced tongue lolling and drooling.
  • Unusual: Panting occurs in situations where it doesn't usually happen, such as when your dog is relaxed in a cool environment.
  • Persistent: The panting doesn't subside despite addressing the possible causes, or it's accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, or loss of appetite.

Causes of dog panting

Understanding why your dog pants is crucial for their health and well-being. While we've previously discussed how panting is their primary cooling mechanism, there's more to the story than just regulating body temperature.
 

Physical reasons for panting

  • Heat regulation: As mentioned, panting helps dogs cool down after exercise, play, or during hot weather. By evaporating moisture from their tongue and respiratory tract, they bring their internal temperature back to a comfortable level.
  • Pain or discomfort: Excessive panting can be a sign of pain or discomfort due to an injury, illness, or other medical condition. Pain elevates heart rate and body temperature, triggering the panting reflex.
  • Respiratory issues: Allergies, asthma, kennel cough, and other respiratory conditions can make it difficult for your dog to breathe, leading to increased panting as they strive for more oxygen.

Emotional reasons for panting:

  • Excitement: When your dog is excited, their heart rate and breathing increase naturally. This manifests as panting, especially during playtime, greetings, or anticipation of a favourite activity.
  • Stress or anxiety: Dogs experience stress and anxiety in various situations, leading to panting as a coping mechanism. Be aware of other behavioural changes like pacing, drooling, or tail tucking.
  • Fear or phobias: Loud noises, thunderstorms, and unfamiliar environments can trigger fear or phobias, leading to excessive panting, trembling, and attempts to hide.

What should you do when your dog is breathing heavy?

Seeing your beloved furry friend struggling to breathe can be a harrowing experience. But before jumping to conclusions, it's important to stay calm and assess the situation. Here's what you can do when your dog is panting heavily:
 

Analyse the environment:

  • Recent activities: Have they been engaging in strenuous activity like playing fetch, running, or intense exercise?
  • Temperature and climate: Is it a hot day? Are they exposed to direct sunlight?
  • Stressful environment: Are there loud noises, unfamiliar people, or other factors that might be causing anxiety?

If any of these factors are present, the panting is likely a normal physiological response to regulate their body temperature or manage stress. In this case, simply provide your dog with a cool, quiet space, offer fresh water, and allow them to rest.
 

Observe your dog's behaviour:

  • Intensity: Is the panting shallow and quiet, or is it deep and laboured?
  • Frequency: How many breaths are they taking per minute?
  • Tongue lolling: Are they lolling their tongue excessively and drooling?
  • Additional symptoms: Are there any other concerning signs like lethargy, vomiting, or loss of appetite?

Pay close attention to any deviations from their normal breathing patterns. Excessive panting in dogs, especially at rest or in a cool environment, may indicate an underlying medical condition and warrants further investigation.
 

Provide comfort and hydration:

  • Cool down: Move your dog to a cooler area with shade and good air circulation.
  • Fresh water: Ensure they have access to clean, fresh water at all times.
  • Calm environment: Create a quiet and comfortable space where they can relax without distractions.

These initial steps can help alleviate panting caused by heat or stress.
 

When to see a vet for your dog's panting?

While dogs naturally pant for various reasons, like regulating their body temperature or expressing excitement, excessive or unusual panting can be a sign of an underlying health issue. Knowing when to seek veterinary attention is crucial to ensure your furry friend's well-being.
 

Here's when you should be concerned about your dog's panting:

  • Accompanying symptoms: If your dog's panting is accompanied by other concerning symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, pale gums, excessive drooling, weakness, or unusual behaviour, prompt veterinary attention is essential.
  • Excessive panting: If your dog's panting is deep, laboured, and accompanied by exaggerated tongue lolling, it could indicate a serious medical condition. Don't delay seeking professional help.
  • Continuous panting: Panting that persists even when your dog is at rest, in a cool environment, or after addressing the initial cause (e.g., exercise, heat) requires veterinary evaluation.
  • Unrelenting panting: If the panting doesn't subside within a reasonable timeframe or even worsens despite your efforts to provide comfort and address environmental factors, it's crucial to seek professional advice.

Panting is a natural and essential part of a dog's physiology, but it's crucial to differentiate between normal panting and signs of distress. By understanding the reasons behind your dog's panting and knowing when to seek help, you can ensure they live a happy, healthy life.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Why do dogs pant?
  2. Dogs pant primarily to regulate their body temperature. Since they can't sweat through their skin like humans, they release heat by panting, which involves rapid breathing that helps to cool their body.

  3. Why is my dog breathing fast while resting?
  4. If your dog is breathing fast while resting, it could be a sign of distress or an underlying health issue. Normal panting is usually seen after exercise or in hot weather, but fast breathing at rest might indicate a problem and should be checked by a vet.

  5. When should I worry about dog panting?
  6. Concern arises when panting is excessive, continuous, or happens during rest. Look for accompanying signs like lethargy, reluctance to move or eat, and changes in gum colour. In such cases, it's best to consult a veterinarian.

Why Do Dogs Pant?
Why Do Dogs Pant?
Why Do Dogs Pant?
  • Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
    Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog

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    Common Questions About Feeding Dogs

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    1. How do I decide what to feed my dog?

    When deciding which pet food is right for your pet, consider these three factors:

    • Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
    • Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
    • Condition (Overall health and body weight of your dog)
    1. How many times should I feed a dog?

    Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.

    1. How much should I feed my dog?

    The answer to this question depends on your dog’s age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.

    1. How much should I feed a puppy?

    The amount you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can take a look at this general guideline that we recommend for puppies: 

     

    Puppy

    Adult Target Weight (KG)

    Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)

                                                    <3 months         3-6 months      6-9 months      9-12 months        12-18 months

    Toy breed

    1-3

    15-72

    32-83

    37-83

       
     

    3-5

    33-106

    72-121

    83-121

       
     

    Small breed (25-50)

    5-8

    48-151

    106-172

    111-172

    111-170

    Transition to IAMSTMPROACTIVE HEALTHTM ADULT DOG

     

    8-10

    69-178

    151-204

    170-204

    170-201

     
     

    Medium breed

    10-20

    82-299

    178-343

    201-343

    201-339

     
     

    20-25

    137-346

    339-404

    339-404

    339-404

     
     

    Large breed

    25-40

    136-492

    346-575

    404-575

    396-575

    396-563

     

    40-50

    191-509

    493-675

    575-681

    563-681

    553-676

    This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog at all times.

    1. When should I switch puppy to adult dog food diet?

    You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatise to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:

    • Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food in your dog’s plate. 
    • Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
    • Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
    • Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.

    If you are wondering how much to feed your puppy by weight and age, check out the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food:

    Weight range

    Age to begin transition

    Small breeds that weigh < 9.07 kgs 

    9 and 12 months of age

    Medium breeds that weigh between 9.07 and 22.6 kgs

    12 to 14months of age

    Large breeds that weigh more than 22.6 kgs

    12 to 24 months of age

    1. When should I switch my dog to senior food?

    While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Take a look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior: 

    Weight Range

    Age to Begin Transition

    More than 90 lbs

    5 years

    51 to 90 lbs

    6 years

    21 to 50 lbs

    7 years

    Up to 20 lbs

    7 years

    1. What is the best way to introduce a new diet to my dog?

    When changing your dog’s diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.

    1. What to feed my dog if they are overweight?

    If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend you browse through IAMS™ products and choose dog foods that are low on fat. How much food to feed your dog if they are overweight, is another major concern. You can consult your vet to understand the right amount of food your furry friend needs for each meal.

    1. What should I feed my pregnant or nursing dog?

    It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.

    1. Is it necessary to feed both wet and dry food?

    Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb or fish, and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums, and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.

     

    Dog

    1. Will my dog be bored eating the same food all the time?

    No. Unlike humans, dogs have fewer taste receptors. Hence, they won’t feel the urge to eat something different every day. In fact, if you find something that suits your dog’s overall health and preferences, stick to that food.

    1. Is it all right to moisten dry food?

    Soaking dry food will ease up the initial job of the digestive enzymes. While water will not change its nutritional value, the food should be eaten relatively soon. Moreover, ensure that the leftover portion is discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend providing your dog with IAMS™ dry food because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health as well..

    1. Can dogs eat cat food?

    No. Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. Moreover, cat foods are made with higher fat levels, which can be harmful to a dog. While it is okay for dogs and cats to sniff and lick some food from each other’s bowl, you shouldn’t let dogs eat cat food.

    1. How many biscuits can I feed my dog each day?

    We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.

    1. Can I supplement my dog foods with vitamins, minerals, oils, etc.?

    Since IAMS™ dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, adding more vitamins, minerals or oils can disrupt the balance our dog food provides. The reason why you provide your dog with a high-quality product is that it has been developed to offer nourishment in proper ratios and ensure optimal nutrition. Hence, nothing needs to be added

    1. Why does my dog need to eat protein?

    Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat!

    1. Why should one maintain a feeding schedule for dogs?

    It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and avoid irregular snacking in between.

    1. What are the things a dog cannot eat? 

    You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well. 

    1. Why should you feed IAMS™ dog food over homecooked food? 

    IAMS™ dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotic.

    1. How can I learn more about pet nutrition?

    Follow our blogs to know more about pet nutrition and dog food diet. Feel free to contact us here in case of any queries.