Why Is My Dog Panting So Much? Understanding Normal vs. Excessive Panting

How panting works—and when it’s normal

Dogs don’t sweat the way we do. Panting brings cooler air in and pushes warm, moist air out. Evaporation on the tongue and in the airways lowers body temperature, and shifting blood flow helps release heat. Normal panting is steady, not strained, and eases within a few minutes of rest in a cool space. You’ll often see it after play, during excitement, or in warm weather.

What “excessive” looks like

Excessive panting is about change—faster, louder, or more shallow breathing than your dog’s usual pattern, especially at rest or at night. Watch for these add-ons:

• Using the stomach muscles to breathe or obvious chest effort

• Pale, gray, or blue gums instead of healthy pink

• Pacing, restlessness, or anxious behavior without an obvious trigger

• Panting that doesn’t settle after 10–15 minutes in a cool room

If you’re still wondering why is my dog panting so much after a calm cooldown, it’s time to call your veterinarian.

Overheating and heatstroke (emergency)

Heat is the most urgent cause of heavy panting. Risk goes up with short-nosed breeds (bulldogs, pugs), senior dogs, extra weight, and airway disease. Signs include bright-red or very pale gums, heavy drool, vomiting, confusion, collapse, or a body that feels hot.

What to do now: move to shade/AC, offer small sips of cool (not ice-cold) water, wet paws and belly with cool water, and go to your vet or an emergency clinic. Heatstroke can become life-threatening quickly—don’t wait it out.

Pain and discomfort (often overlooked)

Panting is a common pain signal—even without limping or yelping. Arthritis, dental pain, back pain, or belly discomfort can all trigger dog panting. Many dogs pant at night when joints stiffen, beds compress, or the house is quiet and pain is more noticeable. You might also see a hunched posture, reluctance to jump, or changes in appetite. Pain needs a veterinary plan; don’t self-medicate with human painkillers, which can be dangerous for dogs.

Anxiety and stress

Stress changes breathing. Thunderstorms, fireworks, vet visits, car rides, or separation anxiety can lead to rapid breaths, trembling, drooling, and pacing. Help your dog by creating a safe space (quiet room, crate if they love it), adding white noise during storms, and keeping routines predictable. Many families benefit from a behavior plan; for some dogs, anti-anxiety medications or supplements are appropriate—ask your vet what fits your pet and home.

Medical conditions that cause heavy panting

Not all panting is heat or worry. These health issues commonly drive excessive panting in dogs:

Heart disease: When the heart struggles, dogs tire with even light exercise, cough, or pant more at rest. Breathing can look noticeably labored. This calls for a vet visit soon.

Lung or airway disease: Laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues can cause noisy breaths, gagging, and exercise intolerance—especially in short-nosed breeds or older dogs.

Cushing’s disease (too much cortisol): Panting at night, a pot-bellied appearance, hair loss, frequent urination, and increased thirst/appetite are classic red flags. Your vet can confirm with blood tests and discuss treatment options.

Anemia or internal bleeding: When red blood cells are low, oxygen drops and dogs pant to compensate. Look for pale gums, weakness, or collapse. Internal bleeding (for example, from a ruptured spleen mass) is an emergency.

Cognitive changes in seniors: Canine cognitive disorder (dog dementia) can disrupt sleep-wake cycles, leading to nighttime pacing and panting. A calm, well-lit pathway to the bed, routine evening walks, and gentle sleep aids prescribed by your vet can help.

Medications and toxins: Steroids commonly increase panting. Pain meds at high doses, stimulants, and certain household toxins can also drive rapid breathing. If your dog may have ingested something, contact your vet immediately.

Why panting happens at night

Nighttime panting is a pattern worth noting. Common drivers include:

• Pain (arthritic dogs stiffen after long rests)

• Anxiety (storms, darkness, unfamiliar noises)

• Cushing’s disease (hormonal drive to pant, pace, and drink)

• Cardiac/respiratory disease (lying flat makes breathing harder)

• Cognitive changes (restlessness, disorientation)

Keep a simple log—time, duration, what else you noticed. Those notes help your vet choose the right tests and treatment.

Could cancer be involved?

Sometimes dog panting reflects a bigger problem. Tumors in the lungs or chest wall can limit a dog’s ability to breathe; abdominal tumors can bleed; pain from a growing mass can drive panting; and anemia from chronic disease reduces oxygen delivery. If panting comes with weight loss, pale gums, new lumps, poor appetite, coughing, or sudden fatigue, call your vet. If you’re scanning for other red flags of cancer in dogs, this quick checklist is helpful.

For context on one bleeding cancer that can cause sudden weakness, learn about hemangiosarcoma here. Early conversations—and early screening—help you act sooner.

What to do in the moment

When your dog starts panting excessively:

1. Stop activity and move to a cool, quiet room.

2. Check gums (healthy pink vs. pale/blue) and note other symptoms (coughing, wobbling, distended belly).

3. Offer water and allow rest; don’t force drinking.

4. Time it. If panting doesn’t improve in 10–15 minutes at rest, call your veterinarian.

5. Heat or breathing distress? Treat as urgent and head to the clinic.

When to call the vet (and when to go now)

Call your veterinarian today if panting is new, worse, or paired with: coughing, faint exercise tolerance, decreased appetite, nighttime restlessness, or behavior change. Bring your notes.

Seek urgent care immediately if you see any of the following:

• Struggling to breathe at rest; blue or very pale gums 

• Collapse, profound weakness, or confusion

• Heat exposure, vomiting, or a body that feels very hot

• Repeated vomiting, a rapidly distending belly, or suspected toxin ingestion

• Sudden panting after trauma or a long, hot run

Fast action saves lives in emergencies like heatstroke, airway obstruction, and internal bleeding.

How your vet finds the cause

Your vet will start with history (your notes help), a physical exam, and then targeted tests:

• Blood tests to check red/white blood cells and organ function

• Chest X-rays to look at lungs and heart size

• Ultrasound or echocardiogram for cardiac or abdominal causes

• Airway evaluation (larynx/trachea) if noisy breathing or voice change is present

• Hormone testing if Cushing’s disease is suspected

Treatment follows the diagnosis: cooling and fluids for heatstroke; pain control for arthritis or injury; heart or airway medications for cardiopulmonary disease; endocrine therapy for too much cortisol; and specific plans for bleeding or cancer.

Because panting may be one part of a broader picture, some families add risk screening to their plan. The Oncotect Cancer Screening Test Kit is a non-invasive risk screen (not a diagnosis) to discuss with your vet as part of early detection.

If you want a broader grounding in cancer basics while you wait for tests, these explainers help:

• Early signs of cancer in dogs.

• Cancer overview for pet owners.
  
  

Home care that actually helps

Small changes add up while you and your vet sort out the cause.

Cool, calm setup: Give your dog a quiet space with a supportive bed, good airflow, and water within reach. In warm weather, use fans/AC, avoid midday walks, and choose shaded routes.

Gentle routine: Trade long outings for short, frequent breaks. Let your dog set the pace. If stairs are tough, use ramps or block access temporarily.

Hydration and food: Keep water fresh. If appetite dips, warm the food to boost aroma, offer smaller, more frequent meals, or ask your vet about appetite stimulants.

Weight matters: Extra pounds stress the heart and lungs and worsen heat intolerance. Your vet can set a safe calorie target so weight loss, if needed, is gradual.

Pain and anxiety plans: For arthritis, your vet may recommend pain relief, joint support, or physical therapy. For anxiety, combine management (safe space, white noise, predictable schedules) with training; some dogs benefit from anti-anxiety medications or supplements.

Medication safety: If your dog is on steroids or other drugs that increase panting, ask whether timing or dose adjustments could help. Never change medications without veterinary guidance.

Special notes for short-nosed breeds and seniors

Short-nosed breeds (brachycephalics) naturally have narrower airways. Keep them cool, walk them early or late, use a harness (not a neck collar), and keep sessions short. Even light exercise in warm weather can be risky—be conservative.

Senior dogs with canine cognitive disorder may pant and pace at night. Gentle evening exercise, predictable routines, a cozy sleep area, and vet-guided sleep aids can reduce excessive nighttime panting. Address pain first; it’s often the hidden driver.

Prevention and planning

• Temperature awareness: Check pavement heat, carry water, and plan routes with shade.

• Routine checkups: Annual or semiannual exams catch heart, lung, and endocrine issues early.

• Behavior practice: Desensitization for storms and fireworks reduces stress-panting before it starts.

• At-home checks: Learn your dog’s normal breathing rate at rest (usually 10–30 breaths/min). Changes are easier to spot when you know the baseline.

• Early screening: Add risk screening to your plan and keep notes on any other symptoms (weight loss, coughing, new lumps) to share with your vet at each visit.

If you’re concerned about mouth pain or bad breath alongside panting, this oral tumor overview helps you know what to watch for and when to call.

For bladder signs that can pair with restlessness or discomfort (straining, blood in urine), here’s a guide.

Bringing it together

Panting has many meanings, from “that walk was awesome” to “I need help now.” The difference is context and change. If breathing looks strained, if panting pops up at rest or panting at night becomes a pattern, or if you see pale gums, weakness, or collapse—treat it as urgent. For everything else, trust your notes, call your vet, and make small, kind changes at home. With early care and a solid plan, most dogs breathe—and feel—much better.

If you want a proactive step to discuss at your next visit, learn about the Oncotect Cancer Screening Test Kit (risk screen, not diagnosis).

Medical disclaimer (not counted toward word count): This article is educational and does not constitute medical advice. If your dog is in distress, breathing hard at rest, has blue/pale gums, collapses, or can’t keep water down, seek urgent veterinary care immediately.