Reasons Why Dogs Pant Heavily Explained

Why Dogs Pant Heavily:

Dogs differ from other animals in that they have very few sweat glands, which are primarily located on their noses and paw pads. Relying solely on sweating to dissipate body heat is insufficient for them; therefore, they must resort to increasing their breathing rate or opening their mouths and sticking out their tongues to help cool down.

As a result, whenever there is a sudden increase in internal heat production or difficulty in heat dissipation, such as during excitement, fear, exercise, or high environmental temperatures, dogs will significantly increase their breathing rate, and sometimes even open their mouths and stick out their tongues to breathe. This is not a sign of illness, and owners should not be alarmed. Simply allowing the dog to rest, providing shade, or taking some basic cooling measures can quickly slow down their breathing.

However, if a dog exhibits these symptoms during cold winter months without engaging in vigorous exercise, it may indicate a medical condition. Possible causes include severe febrile diseases, respiratory diseases, encephalitis, severe pain disorders, tetanus, and more. Immediate veterinary attention is required in such cases.

Since dogs lack sweat glands and cannot cool down through their skin, they will pant and stick out their tongues to breathe during hot summer days as a means of cooling down. Therefore, it is not advisable to keep dogs in poorly ventilated areas or expose them to prolonged direct sunlight, as panting and sticking out their tongues may not be enough to lower their body temperature.

Occasionally, dogs with fevers may also pant with their mouths open. It is generally believed that a body temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius indicates a fever; however, a slightly elevated temperature may not necessarily be a sign of illness.

Some dogs may have a temperature variation of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius at different times of the day due to emotional changes, activity levels, or environmental factors.

Pathological reasons for panting and persistent fever are often due to bacterial infections. Additionally, conditions like heatstroke, low blood calcium levels, and cancer can cause prolonged elevated temperatures. Therefore, if a dog shows signs of fever, lack of energy, a "suffering" expression, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate, it is crucial to seek veterinary care immediately.