Sudden Dog Panting: Causes and Concerns
Shallow breathing, which only utilizes the upper part of the respiratory tract, is a form of breathing that aims to facilitate rapid airflow, thereby quickly lowering the body's temperature.
Shallow breathing can occur at a rate of over a hundred times per minute. Typically, this rapid, heavy panting is intermittent and is followed by the dog returning to a normal breathing pattern.
After intense exercise, dogs may also exhibit rapid, heavy panting as they use this method to gradually stabilize their breathing.
It's crucial to note that rapid panting due to different diseases requires different approaches to treatment!
1. Rapid panting is a common symptom in dogs suffering from respiratory diseases.
2. Dogs with tracheal collapse often experience rapid panting and coughing triggered by exercise or excitement. The cough sounds like a goose honk.
3. Dogs with respiratory obstruction, in addition to heavy breathing, may also exhibit coughing and irregular breathing patterns.
4. Dogs in a state of oxygen deprivation, where oxygen cannot reach the lungs smoothly, must breathe heavily to increase oxygen intake. This leads to rapid and labored breathing, along with blue discoloration of the lips, gums, and tongue.
5. Rapid panting in dogs can also be a sign of bronchitis, pneumonia, or other conditions. Bronchitis can cause dogs to dry heave and cough. Pneumonia symptoms include labored breathing, fever, lethargy, and coughing.
6. Dogs with heartworm disease or other conditions may also experience excessive panting.
① In the later stages of heartworm infection, dogs may exhibit labored breathing, along with symptoms like coughing, lethargy, anemia, jaundice, or abdominal swelling.
② Rapid panting is a symptom that occurs in dogs with heart failure even after mild exercise. Dogs with this condition are inactive, easily fatigued, and may lose their appetite, making it difficult for them to live a normal life.
7. Dogs that are underexercised and overweight often experience rapid panting. It's time to create a weight loss plan for your furry friend!
