Panting is a very normal and usual behavior in dogs. When they run, when they are hot, when they get overexcited, dogs pant. Nevertheless, the reasons that explain dog panting can also be related to other different things, and it’s important that you get to know them in order to better understand your furry friends and what’s going on inside it. Dogs can’t talk to us to tell us what’s happening with them, but they do have many other ways to transmit and communicate with us, and panting is one of them. Read along to understand why your dog pants!
In need of a break
When you have been engaging in a lot of physical activity with your dog, for example, playing in the park, running around, having fun with other dogs or going for a long walk, the panting can be a sign of exhaustion and it indicates that it’s time for a rest. If your dog starts to pant after having done a lot of exercise, be sure to hydrate it well and make it rest and stop for a while. It’s very important to understand the needs of your dog and act upon them, so if you can see that it needs to rest, give your dog the space to do so.
A sign of happiness
In certain contexts and situations, panting might be a sign of happiness and fun. For example, if your dog is playing with you or with another dog, if you see its tail moving and an overall body language that expresses joy, then it’s very possible that, if it pants, this is also a way of expressing that it’s having a great time and enjoying the moment. So don’t worry! As we have mentioned, panting is normal in dogs, and you will be able to tell if it’s having a good time. In this case, note that the panting can also be a way of expressing their happiness.
It’s too hot!
Did you know that the weather is also a factor that influences your dog’s panting? In times of hot temperatures, it can happen that your dog pants more frequently. Panting is a way to keep their bodies cool during the warm seasons, this may be a reason why they pant more frequently. In this sense, if it’s a very hot day and you see that your dog is panting a lot, be sure to provide it with some cold, fresh water and ensure that it stays in a cool area. And, remember, never leave your dog inside a car with the windows closed!
Expressing stress
When accompanied by other symptoms, panting might also be a sign of stress, fear or anxiety. That’s why it’s very important to pay attention to the context and to other things that might be going on when you see that your dog is panting a lot. Does it also tremble? Is it yawning a lot? Do you notice other changes in your dog’s behavior? Is the tail tucked in? All of these signals and others are things that can tell you if the panting might be related to feelings of stress, fear of anxiety due to certain situations.
Allergies
When the panting is too intense or sounds abnormal, it may also be the case that it’s a way of reacting to an allergy to some toxic substance or element. If you suspect that your dog has been exposed to toxines, go to your vet as soon as possible. Also, pay attention to other symptoms that might indicate an intoxication, such as vomiting or the color of your dog’s gums: if they are turning pale or blue, it’s a sign that it’s not getting as much oxygen as it should, and it’s essential that you go to the vet to treat your dog.
Something hurts
Your dog unfortunately can’t clearly communicate to you when it’s in pain, and an injury might not always be visible at first sight. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to the signs and ways that dogs have of communicating what’s happening to them, and panting, as you can see, is one of the methods they have of telling us what’s going on. In this sense, the panting can also be a sign that your dog is injured.
Pay special attention to panting that is too intense or heavy, because it’s usually telling you that something is going on. Check your dog to see if you can find any scratch or physical injury of any sort, and also keep an eye on other signs that might indicate an injury, such as reduced appetite, pupils that are enlarged, anxiety or excessive licking on a particular spot.
When panting might not be normal
The rate, frequency and sound of your dog’s panting can be different, depending on the context, moment and state of your dog. There are moments when the panting is normal but, on occasions, it might also indicate that something is not right with your dog. In order to help you understand this, we will give you some tips to pay attention to and to see whether the panting is normal or maybe not:
- The respiratory rate is much higher than normal: you can tell this by listening to the sound of the panting and taking a look to whether it occurs many times a minute.
- The noise of the panting is higher or harsher than it usually is.
- There is a much frequent exertion when the panting occurs.
- The panting is intense and frequent but your dog hasn’t been exercising or playing.
To sum up, understanding the reasons behind your dog’s panting is very important for you to better communicate and relate to your dog. As you can see from what we have exposed here, there are many different reasons that explain why dogs pant. Moreover, the context, environment, external weather and other circumstances associated with the panting can also tell you a lot about what might be going on with your dog.
Even though panting is a normal and regular behavior, there are times in which it also shows us that something is not right and that your dog might even be in need of medical attention. We hope that, with the information that we have given you, now you will be able to see what might be going on with your dog and start to understand the different and very diverse things that the panting expresses.
