Dogs sticking out their tongues, drooling, or what we call “panting”, is probably something that many dog owners see until it becomes normal. And it is often seen when the dog is tired from playing or needs to cool down the body. But panting in dogs is not always normal. If the dog is panting more frequently or breathing loudly, it may be a sign of an abnormality in the dog’s body. Let’s observe which symptoms of panting are considered abnormal and what are the causes.
Panting occurs when the dog's body temperature rises, which is a natural physical response of the dog. Dogs pant because their skin does not have pores to help dissipate heat through sweat like humans. They can only sweat between their paws. Normal panting of dogs usually involves sticking out their tongue. It is a rapid and shallow breathing with fluid flowing from the tongue, mouth and upper respiratory tract. The normal breathing rate of a dog is 30-40 times per minute, but when a dog pants, the breathing rate can increase tenfold or 300-400 times per minute.
What kind of asthma is considered abnormal?
Abnormal asthma There are many possible causes, which may be due to physical or emotional problems of the dog. Therefore, the owner must observe the dog's normal panting symptoms and compare them with the panting symptoms to see if they are different from normal, such as panting when the weather is not hot, the breathing sound is louder and more severe, the dog is trying harder to breathe. If the dog has panting symptoms like this, it may be due to the following causes:
Causes of abnormal asthma
1. Heat Stroke
In hot environments, as temperatures rise, dogs will start to breathe harder and other symptoms include excessive water intake, a hot body, a deep red tongue and gums, and an increased heart rate and pulse. If body temperature exceeds 106 degrees Fahrenheit, the dog’s cells will start to suffer, causing brain swelling, seizures, lack of blood flow to the digestive tract, and eventually death. If the dog is not given enough water or is not cooled down quickly enough, dehydration can permanently damage the dog’s kidneys. All of these symptoms can occur rapidly within minutes.
2. Dog breeds
Short-faced dogs such as Pugs, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, etc., these breeds are more likely to have panting than other breeds because their body structure has an upper respiratory system that cannot dissipate heat from the body as well as it should. Therefore, they are more likely to have heatstroke. Therefore, what owners need to be careful about when raising short-faced dogs is to always observe their breathing. If there is anything unusual, they must immediately take them to see a veterinarian.
3. Heart disease
In dogs with heart disease, the heart is unable to pump blood to tissues and organs well, resulting in a reduced amount of oxygen, forcing the dog to breathe more frequently. In addition, the reduced ability of the heart to pump blood affects the pressure in the blood vessels returning to the heart, resulting in fluid retention in the lungs, making it unable to fully receive oxygen. The dog then begins panting.
Some dogs with heart disease may have difficulty breathing and panting due to fluid buildup in the chest and abdominal cavity. In addition, dogs with cardiomyopathy may have other symptoms such as being unable to exercise, easily tired, having a faster breathing rate, and coughing. Some dogs may experience acute symptoms such as weakness and fainting.
4. Feeling unwell or in pain
When a dog feels unwell or in pain, it will let its owner know by panting. For example, at night when it is normally sleeping, if it is panting and breathing heavily, it means that it is in pain or is not well.
5. Anemia
When your dog has anemia, the number of red blood cells will decrease, which will also reduce the transport of oxygen to the tissues of the body. Your dog will have an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, symptoms of weakness, lethargy, pale mucous membranes, eat less, and may even faint and lose consciousness. In cases where your dog has lost blood in the digestive tract, black feces will be found.
6. Cushing's disease
Cushing's disease is a disease caused by the adrenal glands secreting more than normal levels of the hormone cortisol, which results in shortness of breath. Other symptoms of Cushing's disease include excessive water intake, excessive urination, weight gain (due to decreased metabolism), skin changes from pink to gray-black, and hair loss.
7. Paralysis of the larynx
It is a disorder of the muscles and cartilage that are responsible for opening and closing the larynx of a dog. When there is an abnormality, the opening and closing is irregular and not rhythmic with breathing, causing the air to pass in and out to be restricted and making a loud noise when breathing, resulting in panting.
8. Stress and anxiety
Dogs that are stressed or anxious from their environment and various factors around them, such as fear of noise or fear of new places, will show behaviors that they don't like or feel uncomfortable, such as howling, sticking out their tongue frequently, breathing rapidly, shaking, hiding, which if there is a lot of stress, may even cause defecating or urinating in the urine.
The 8 causes of abnormal panting in dogs above should be enough to explain to dog owners about the various diseases that may come with panting in dogs. Some diseases can be completely cured and can save the lives of dogs if owners notice any abnormalities and take them to see a veterinarian in time.
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Information from
Dr. Oraya Prapanphon (Dr. Nun), Talingchan Animal Hospital
English