It's much like the way humans breathe heavily when doing aerobic exercise. However, panting is also the primary way for dogs to cool themselves off because they don't sweat the way humans do.
Though dogs do sweat a little bit from their paw pads, this cannot sufficiently cool them off. Instead, dogs cool themselves through their mouths. Panting allows dogs to release heat and exchange it for cooler air. As you may imagine, this is not a very efficient process. It's even less efficient for short-faced dogs like bulldogs or pugs. That's why dogs start to pant even when they get even a little bit warm. The hotter a dog becomes, the more intense the panting becomes.
Sometimes, heavy panting is accompanied by drooling and redness of the tongue and gums. Along with profound panting, warning signs of overheating include a bright red tongue and gums, wide eyes, weakness, and elongated appearance of the tongue. Take steps to prevent overheating by keeping your dog cool and minimizing exposure to heat. Always take careful steps to keep your dog safe in hot weather.
Never leave a dog alone in a car as cars can quickly get much hotter than the outside temperature. When in doubt, take your dog to the vet for medical attention. Hot puppies may also resort to digging to scoop out cool places to rest. Panting may have nothing to do with body temperature. Many dogs will pant when they experience fear , anxiety, or stress.
Look at your dog's body language to help you determine if your dog is showing signs of fear or any other type of distress. Understanding the cause of fear or anxiety in your dog can help you minimize these incidents. If panting seems to be related to fear, anxiety or stress, it's best to remove your dog from the situation as soon as you can. Panting may simply be a sign of happiness in your dog. If so, the rest of your dog's body language will reflect this happy mood.
The tail will usually be wagging in a happy way. Your dog's body and facial features will be somewhat relaxed. The eyes will appear bright and happy. It has a natural frequency at which panting can take place with minimal muscular effort. Dogs pant after heavy exercise and during warm days, and this is entirely normal.
Pet owners should watch out for other signs of heatstroke, which include accelerated or abnormal breathing and heart rate, a dry mouth and nose, heavy drooling, seizures, and pale or extremely dark gums. They should make sure that the dog has access to plenty of fresh, cool water, along with shade. Pets, and children, should never be left in a car, as the temperature inside can rise very rapidly.
If a dog is demonstrating symptoms of heatstroke, the owner should cool it down immediately with cool or tepid water and ice packs behind the legs, where large amounts of blood circulate.
The pet should be given cool water to drink, but not too much, and should not be covered, as this traps heat. The owner should bring the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for additional treatment, as some of the signs of heatstroke will only appear after it is too late, and only quick professional attention will save the dog's life.
Get helpful pet care information and other helpful resources by visiting Pettable's blog. Susana is an avid animal lover and has been around animals her entire life, and has volunteered at several different animal shelters in Southern California.
She has a loving family at home that consists of her husband, son, two dogs, and one cat. She enjoys trying new Italian recipes, playing piano, making pottery, and outdoor hiking with her family and dogs in her spare time. Contact us here to join our launch notification list! Dog Care. Why Do Dogs Pant? Other symptoms may include fever, difficulty breathing, lethargy and coughing.
Other symptoms may be present such as increased thirst, weight gain, thinning skin and hair and a pot belly. If your dog is overweight , they may pant as they struggle to get fresh, oxygenated blood into their systems. Heart problems can also cause your dog to pant a lot. Dogs with heart issues may pant consistently even when not exercising as they will struggle to catch their breath. Additionally, they may also cough and display a general weakness and tiredness.
Generally, this is quite rare in adult dogs and tends to only be of a concern with puppies. Learn why your dog stares at you , next. We believe people and pets are 'Better Together'.
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