Why Do Dogs Panting? – Dogster

All the dogs panted. Many times it just means they’re hot.

California-based dog trainer Ash Miner, a certified donkey dog ​​instructor (CTDI) working with a master’s degree in animal behavior, says panting is the best method a dog has to. disperse heat because they can only really sweat through the glands located in their foot pads.

But there are other reasons dogs pant.

Why do dogs pant?

Dogs pant when they are hot and tired. They pant to disperse heat by expelling hot air trapped inside their bodies and breathing in cooler air around them.

Dog panting is normal. In fact, Ash says a dog that isn’t breathing may have an airway or lung problem that needs to be looked at by a veterinarian.

In addition to physical exhaustion from activity and exercise, panting can also be caused by mental exhaustion — like stress. It could also mean that your dog is excited.

Dogs can pant when they are deep playing. Ash says that although dogs don’t start panting at the start of play, they can pant after exertion. She says sometimes they will even freeze and close their mouths to start a game of “pump” or “chicken”. But after a while, they began to gasp.

There are also medical reasons for dogs panting. Dogs with motion sickness may pant before vomiting. Panting can also signal that a dog is in pain. For example, dogs with arthritis may pant because they feel joint pain, according to Ash. Other conditions include breathing problems and heart failure.

Panting in dogs can also indicate a serious and immediate condition such as heatstroke.

Normal gasping versus heavy gasping

While panting is normal and healthy in dogs in many cases, there are also instances where unusual panting can indicate a problem.

Ash says that normal panting is:

• Consistent, even breathing rate
• The dog has crossed eyes.
• Relaxed face.
• The dog’s lips are pulled back into a smile to open the mouth wide for maximum heat dissipation.
• The dog’s ribcage moves, which can cause its entire body to move.

In addition to normal panting, heavier breathing can be problematic for attention.

The sign of heavy panting can often be detected on the tongue, says Ash.

• If the tongue is in a fairly normal position, this is gasping.
• If the tongue is moving aimlessly out of the dog’s mouth, this is moderate panting.
• If the tip of the tongue is wide open, this is a sign of panting.
• If the tip of the tongue curls on its own, this could be a sign of heatstroke and needs to be given cool (not cold or warm) water immediately and taken to a cool place, preferably with air conditioning.

What should I do when my dog ​​wears pants?

In general, panting in dogs is quite normal to help them cool down, but sometimes it can signal a deeper problem like stress, pain, or a health condition.

If your dog’s face is relaxed, his breathing is even, and his tongue is in the normal position of his mouth, this is all typical panting. Give him some water to drink and keep him in a cool place out of the sun if you see his tongue sticking out of his mouth as this is the right way to pant.

However, if the tip of the dog’s tongue curls on its own while playing in the sun, they may have heatstroke and need to drink cool water immediately and possibly take them to the vet.

Also, if you start to see your dog panting more than usual, it could be a sign of pain or a medical condition that requires veterinary assistance.