Why is my dog panting so much at night

Dog owners should always keep an eye on their beloved pets. Sometimes they fall ill and it’s hard to define that. The animals cannot tell you about their problems and so you should depend on your attentiveness. One of the potentially dangerous symptoms in the behavior of pets is dog panting at night.

At first glance, it seems to be a normal occasion. However, you should pay closer attention if you spot uncommonly frequent dog shaking and panting at night. It may be a sign that something is wrong with the pet. Attentive and caring dog owners instantly ask professional veterinarians – Why is my dog panting at night? We’ll review and discuss this issue in greater detail.

Non-Dangerous Reasons to Dog Panting at Night

Dog panting at night is not obligatorily something bad. On most occasions, they pant due to natural or hereditary reasons. There are three reasons that are not dangerous. These are:

1.    Cooling down. All dogs pant to simply cool down. Don’t forget that they are all in thick fur and it makes them very hot and sweaty, especially in the summertime. They ventilate their body panting day and night to lower the body temperature. When dogs take out their tongue to pant, it helps to evaporate water faster and thus, ensure cooling of the air.

2.    Specific physiology. Some breeds have a genetic predisposition to pant. These are French Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, and some others. Such physiology leads to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or briefly BOAS. Their upper respiratory tract is narrowed and thus, occurs panting. There is nothing you can do about this state. It is quite natural and safe for these breeds. They will be panting and even snort and snore all the time long.

3.    Anxiety or stress. Sometimes, panting is induced by some mental problems. All animals can be stressed, feared, excited, and so on. Anxiety and stress may occur due to multiple reasons. For example, you have moved on to a new house or your pet has changed its owner. An unhappy home environment can likewise cause stress.

4.    Age. Finally, dog heavy panting at night is triggered due to age. When dogs get older, their body gets through unpleasant changes, including panting. If you nourish your pet with vitamins, fish oil, probiotics, and other supplements, you will sufficiently reduce and slow down aging processes.

Dangerous Reasons for Dog Panting at Night

Some occasions mean that dog pants frequently and heavily because of something unhealthy and dangerous for its health. Commonly, it can be detected by louder and harsher sound. Breathing may be a serious effort for your pet. You must instantly turn to a vet because of the next possible reasons:

You should be always cautious during extremely hot days. Your pet may receive a heatstroke, which is manifested by abnormal panting during day and night. Among other symptoms are glazed eyes, the enhanced temperature of the body, abnormal thirst, increased heart rate, and the redness of the tongue. Make sure your dog isn’t exposed to sunlight for long and takes enough water.

At times, the dog panting at night is provoked by some allergies. Unfortunately, it may be quite difficult to define what allergen caused the allergy. However, you can check some new food or medication taken by your pet. Many dogs are prone to have allergies caused by some sorts of flowers and grass. Consider bee and tick bites because they may lead to swelling of the tongue and throat, which is dangerous for life. Such occasions must be treated instantly.

Dog panting at night and during the day may be triggered by some respiratory issues. For example, your pet may suffer from pneumonia. This state causes severe fever, inflammation, coughing, weakness, difficulty breathing, etc. If you observe such symptoms, call a vet.

This disease can likewise induce abnormal panting. It’s provoked by enhanced levels of cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands. The typical symptoms may be excess weight, enhanced thirst, skin and hair deviations, a potbelly, etc.

Another reason for heavy panting is pain. Your dog may be injured or suffer from some diseases. Thus, it’ll pant heavily and frequently. Be attentive to your pet because dogs can perfectly disguise some traumas for a long time.

Special attention should be given to dogs with excess weight. It’s not good to feed any animal too much. Overweight is a trigger of multiple health problems in humans, as well as in animals. For example, dogs may suffer from arthritis, heart complications, and so on. Panting is one of the common signs of these issues.

Finally, your pet may be suffering from various cardiovascular ailments. It may be very hard to catch their breath and it results in abnormal panting and coughing. Among other signs are excessive tiredness and general weakness.

How to Treat Dog Panting at Night

Dog panting at night can be treated in several ways. A lot depends on the reason why your pet pants. If it’s possible to try to diagnose the problem on your own. The first measure is the simplest – give it some water. Perhaps it’s hot and your pet is thirsty. Find a cool room if it’s possible.

If your dog lives through some stress, you should create a friendly environment. It should be some special place where your dog will feel safe. Try to calm it down. Ensuring massaging, saying gentle and kind words, giving some delicious food, or let play with a favorite toy.

In case your pet suffers from dog excessive panting at night, has some pain, fever, or something of the kind, you should instantly take it to a vet clinic. Such cases should be treated by a professional to avoid the worsening of the dog’s health conditions. Something you can do yourself is make sure your is having their nutritional needs met. Something as simple as our daily canine multivitamin can make all the difference. HardyPet Complete is a natural alternative to address over 50 common canine conditions. Try HardyPet Complete today using our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee with no risk and no strings attached.

Dogs pant for the same reasons humans sweat; it allows them to release body heat. Of course, dogs also sweat through their paw pads, just in a different way than humans do. Dogs pant for a number of reasons, ranging from being too hot to having anxiety. When your dog pants, they are ultimately cooling themselves down. However, if your dog is panting heavily in the middle of the night in a room that's not hot, it could be an indication of something else. Your dog might be panting at night for several reasons.

As a proud pet parent, you know everything about your dog, including when something just isn't right. Learn more about why dogs pant at night and how to tell if it’s something more serious by reading below.

Panting is your dog's primary cooling mechanism.1 They open their mouths and breathe air in quickly to produce a cooling effect the same way human sweat reacts to air. However, there are many other reasons why dogs pant that are unrelated to cooling themselves down, such as certain health conditions, obesity. However, the top reasons dogs pant are to cool down or because they're stressed. In the sections below, we’ll explore more of the different reasons why your dog is panting at night.

There are many reasons why your dog might suddenly begin panting at night, even if it's a cool temperature in your home. Dogs pant for many reasons, so it's important for pet parents to know when it's time to worry about their dog's breathing. Here are common reasons why your dog is panting at night.

1. Metabolic Disorders

Metabolic disorders such as diabetes and Cushing’s Disease are some of the most common reasons dogs pant at night. In fact, one of the most common symptoms of Cushing's disease in dogs is excessive panting no matter what time of day it is. Cushing's disease is triggered by a tumor on the pituitary or adrenal gland, which results in the overproduction of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), making your dog's body produce more cortisol (also known as the stress hormone).3

Other symptoms of Cushing's disease include:

• Increased appetite and thirst
• Increased urination
• Lethargy
• Hair loss
• Skin infections
• Abdomen enlargement3

Cushing's disease causes panting in dogs for a number of reasons, including stress because the dog doesn't feel well. If you notice excessive panting at night, it's always best to schedule a visit with your veterinarian.

2. Genetics

Some dog breeds have a genetic predisposition to breathing problems. If your dog is panting at night, it's possible that it isn't an emergency; instead, it just might be something to expect with their breed. For example, dogs with short heads typically have brachycephalic syndrome, which means they are prone to obstructive breathing because of the shape of their head, muzzle, and throat.4

Common breeds with breathing problems are:

• French bulldog
• English bulldog
• Pug
• Pekingese
• Boston terrier

Because of their short muzzles, these breeds have shorter or flattened throats and breathing passages, which can make them have breathing problems, including excessive panting at night. While breathing issues may be a familiar problem with these breeds, it’s extremely important to keep an eye on your pet when you notice that they’re having trouble breathing. Check for signs of inadequate oxygen, like turning blue or purple (cyanosis) as this constitutes a veterinary emergency.

3. Anxiety

Panting at night is just one of the many signs of anxiety in dogs. This type of behavioral panting has nothing to do with feeling overheated; it's just how their body is reacting to a stressful situation if your dog has anxiety. These are the common causes of anxiety in dogs:

• Noises: Dogs have much better hearing than you do. Something that's loud to you can be incredibly loud to your pet, so loud noises can give your dog anxiety. For example, if you've ever burned food in the oven and your smoke detector went off, your dog might get anxious every time you cook because they're afraid of the loud noise your cooking caused last time. Dogs also commonly are afraid of storms and fireworks because they're loud, and your dog doesn't know where the sound is coming from or how to get away from it. Luckily, there are products on the market that can help soothe your pet during times of stress. You may even choose to talk to your vet about anxiety medication for stressful situations.
• Separation anxiety: Separation occurs when you leave your dog alone in the home after being used to you being around for a majority of the day. Many dogs get separation anxiety, but you can help train your pet to stay calm while you're gone with behavioral training, which can help them relax when you're not around. An in-home camera can help you check on your pet while you’re away and monitor for signals of separation anxiety, such as nighttime panting.
• Changes to home environment: As we've discussed, a new environment can be stressful for dogs because they're creatures of habit. Changing your dog's environment can cause anxiety for a short period of time, but eventually, your pet should get used to your new home. Dogs that are adopted may be more anxious than dogs that have been raised in the same home since puppyhood. Dogs that have gone through multiple homes and shelters typically don't feel like they have a home until their new owner proves it to them. New dogs can be anxious because of a new environment and new people.
• Generalized anxiety:
• Panic attacks:

4. Anemia

Another common reason why your dog is panting at night is anemia. Anemia is when the number of red blood cells decreases either by destruction, loss, or lack of production. Anemia causes an increased heart rate, which can make your dog start panting. When you work out and increase your own heart rate, you begin breathing heavily; the same thing happens to your dog when their heart rate increases. Dogs with anemia typically have energy loss, weakness, and a loss of appetite, along with panting and an increased heart rate.5

5. Age

Many senior dogs pant at night for a number of reasons, which can include health conditions like anemia and Cushing's disease. Older dogs can also suffer from cognitive dysfunction, which disrupts their sleep-wake cycle, causing them to be restless at night. In turn, they may roam the house at night, get lost due to dementia, then get nervous or /anxious and start panting.6

Additionally, older dogs have weaker muscles, which may require them to put more effort into regular movements, which can cause panting at night. Older dogs may also be more anxious because they're not able to move around as much, or they may experience pain when walking or standing. Combined with changes to their daily life, dogs can become stressed more easily as they get older, which may result in panting.

6. Heart Disease

Dogs with heart disease and heart failure pant more because their heart is working harder to pump oxygen throughout the body. Rapid breathing is just one indication of heart failure in dogs because of fluid buildup in the lungs. Dogs can get heart disease from heartworms or heartworm disease, so it's important to keep your dog protected by getting heartworm prevention medication from your vet. Luckily, heartworm is both preventable and can be treated if it's caught early.

7. Obesity

Just like in humans, obesity can lead to a wide range of health complications for dogs, including heavier breathing at panting. Dogs with obesity typically suffer from arthritis, heart problems, and joint problems. Obesity causes excessive panting because your dog is working harder to do everyday activities, which means exerting more energy and increasing their heart rate.

It's important to feed your dog a well-balanced diet and exercise them daily. You can usually tell if your pet has gained a little weight, but many pet owners don't know how much their dogs should weigh. If you're not sure how much your pet should weigh, you can consult a vet who can help you find the right diet for your pet and help you maintain or lose their weight.

8. Pain

Dogs in pain have a higher heart rate, which can lead to faster, heavier breathing and panting at night. Pain can come from internal problems, such as a disease or illness, or external problems, like a hurt paw from jumping off the couch. If you notice your dog is in pain, seek the help of a veterinarian immediately. For example, if your dog is limping and panting, they may require a trip to the emergency vet for a potential sprain or broken bone. Unfortunately, you can't see every injury, but your dog can be in pain whether it's visible or not.

Clear indications your dog is in pain is panting accompanied by yelping or avoidance when you try to touch them in a certain area or reluctance to move.

You can help your dog stop panting at night by understanding the cause of their panting. For example, if your dog has allergies, your vet might prescribe them allergy medication, while if your pet has anxiety, they might benefit from behavioral training or behavioral medication to help them calm down. If your dog is panting because they're hot, you can cool them down with a wet cloth, offer them cold water or an ice cube, or turn the air conditioning up for a few minutes.

For more serious reasons why your dog is panting at night, you should always consult your vet. If your dog is panting due to heart disease or pain, your pet will benefit from medication and treatment.

Your dog could be panting at night for a variety of reasons. However, it's always best not to panic. Unless your dog has been diagnosed with a medical condition, they're likely panting because they're too warm or they have anxiety. In most cases, you'll be able to rule out whether your dog is panting due to heatstroke or their genetics easily. In other cases, panting at night might be an indicator of a serious physical health condition.

When it comes to your dog, remember you know them best. Always use your best judgment to help you determine when it's time to take them to the vet. For example, if your dog pants excessively every night and your home isn't warm, a vet might be able to tell you if they're suffering from a serious physicalmedical condition. Luckily, you don't have to leave your home to get quality advice from a professional.

Dutch offers non-emergency telemedicine for pets that can help you uncover the cause of your dog panting at night. Whether your dog is suffering from anxiety, allergies, or anything else, you can talk to a licensed veterinarian who can help you stop your dog's panting and make them happier and more comfortable.

As always, if you're worried about your pet and believe their panting at night is an emergency, take them to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible.