Why Is My Dog Panting and Restless At Night? - PawSafe

Why Is My Dog Panting and Restless At Night? · Check the environmental temperature. Is it too hot? · Check for reasons for excitement. · Check for ... search close menu Menu close Home Products Blog ContactUs email [email protected] ReturnPolicyTerms&ConditionsPrivacyPolicyPetAffiliateProgramDogFriendlyStates Skiptocontent Nowenjoyfreeworldwideshipping!🌎📦 WhyIsMyDogPantingandRestlessAtNight? person TamsindelaHarpe calendar_today January19,2021 Pantingisasnaturaltodogsassweatingistohumans.Weexpectourdogstopantonahot,sunnydayorduringexercisetocooldown.However,sometimeswemayfindourdogpantingatnightorshowingsignsofrestlessnesslikepacing.  Sometimesdogswon'tstoppantingandpacing.Whenthere'snoapparentcause,ownerscanquicklybecomedistressed,wondering,"whywon'tmydogstoppanting?"Orwhyisthedogpantinginthefirstplace?  WhyDoDogsPant? Mostofthetime,pantingisbothnaturalandhealthy.  Unlikehumans,dogsonlyhavesweatglandsontheirpawpads,whichdoesn'thelpcooldown.Whentheygetwarmorstartheatingupthroughexercise,theyreleaseexcessbodyheatthroughtheirmouth. Thismeanswarmbloodissenttocooldownbyclosecontactwithfreshairintheopenmouth.  Simultaneously,watervaporevaporatesfromthetongue,innermouth,andthebackofthethroat. Pantingisnotthebestmechanismintheanimalkingdomforcoolingdown,mainlybecausedogsarebuilttoretainheatmorethanreleaseit.  Butitisthebestmechanismdogshave,soit'snaturaltoseeadogpantingwheneverit'shotortheyhavebeenrunningaround.  Short-nosed—brachycephalic—dogssuchasPugsorBulldogstendtopantmore.Theirshorterairwaysdon'tallowthemtoregulatetheirbodytemperaturesaseasily.  Italsomakesthempronetovariousmedicalconditionssuchasreversesneezing.  Humiditycaninterferewiththepantingprocess,sokeepaneyeonyourdoginhumidregions.Theymayoverheatmorequickly. Butifthepantingisexcessiveandit'snotveryhot,likeatnight,thecausesmaybemoreserious.  Usually,abnormalpantingpresentsitselfwithothersymptoms,suchasrestlessnessandpacing.  What'stheDifferenceBetweenNormalandAbnormalDogPanting? It'sagoodideatocountyourdog'sbreathsperminutewhentheyarerestingandafterexercisesothatyouknowwhatisnormalforthem.  Thisway,youcangetanideaifyourdogispantingtoomuch.Ingeneral,dogsbreathebetween15and20timesaminute. Anythingfrom35to40breathsperminutewhilerestingisconsideredabnormal.  Ifyoufindthatyourdog'srespiratoryrateisabnormallyhighwhenresting,takethemtoacooler,better-ventilatedarea. Allowthemhalfanhourtoanhourbeforecheckingagain.Iftheproblempersists,itmaybetimetocontactavet. Pleasenote,waitinghalfanhourdoesnotapplytothesignsofheatstroke.Ifyourdogisdisplayingsymptomsofheatexhaustionorheatstroke,youneedtointerveneimmediately. Thereareothersignsofabnormalpantingandbreathingtolookoutfor,suchas: Thedog'sbreathinglooksexcessivelystrainedorlabored. Thepantingsoundsharsherorhigher-pitchedthanusual. Thepaintingisaccompaniedbysignsofdistresssuchaspacing,restlessness,drooling,lickingaspecificplaceonthebody,cryingorwhining,vomiting,oranyotherabnormalbehavior.Infear-basedpantingcases,thedogmaybehiding,shaking,orshowingsignsof"shuttingdown." Itdoesn'thappenwhenitisoverlywarmorwhenyourdoghasjustbeenactive. Itonlyhappensatnightwhenthedogshouldberesting. ReasonsWhyMyDogIsPantingandPacing Abnormalpantingisoftenaccompaniedbyrestlessnessandpacing.Theseareusuallythefirstsignsthatmoreisgoingonthanjustyourdogcoolingdown. Justlikehumanswhomighthyperventilateandpaceupanddownwhentheyareindistress,adogwillbehavesimilarly.Ingeneral,therearefourleadingcausesofabnormalpanting.  Theseare: Anxietyorstress Pain Illnessoramedicalcondition Theside-effectsofcertainmedications. Inthefirstthree,thepacingisoftenseenasco-symptomwiththepanting.Forexample,abitchinlaborwillfrequentlypaceandpantatthesametime. Butdogscan'ttelluswhatiscausingtheirdistress,soifwenoticeexcessivepantingatnightorothertimes,weneedtoinvestigatetopinpointthecause. IsPantingaSignofAnxiety? Abnormalpantingisoftenthefirstsymptomofanxiety.Likehumans,heavybreathingisatypicalflightorfightresponseinsituationsthatprovokefear.  Onestudyshowedaprevalenceofgeneralfearfulnessinoveraquarterofthedogsresearched.   Thestudystatesthatsymptomsofanxietyincludethefollowing: Heavypanting Drooling Shaking Restlessnessandpacing Vocalizationssuchaswhining,crying,barking,orhowling Involuntaryurinationorevendefecation Digging Escapingortryingtoescape Self-harmsuchaslicking,chewing,orbitingthemselves. Damagingpropertythroughdestructivechewing   Ifyoususpectyourdogispantingbecauseofanxiety,thebestthingtodoislookforthecause.Therearedifferentkindsofstressindogs,asinhumans. Sometimes,theyreacttoastressfulhomeenvironmentoramajorchange,suchasbeingnewlyadopted.  Olderdogsarealsosusceptibletowhatiscalled"doggydementia,"andthismaybethecauseofalotofanguish.Seniorsmaydisplayoddbehaviorssuchasincontinence,circling,orwandering.  Astheircognitiveabilitieswane,sotheiranxietymightincrease.It'sbesttospeaktoavetabouthowtoeasetheirangst. However,thetwomostcommonsourcesofpantingatnightandanxiety,ingeneral,areseparationanxietyandnoisesensitivity. SeparationAnxiety Ifyourdog'spantingatnightbeginsaroundthetimeyougotobedandtheyareshutawayfromyou,yourdogmightbeshowingsignsofseparationanxiety. Around14–17%ofdogssufferfromseparationanxiety,whichiscloselylinkedtoproblemslikehyper-attachmentandlackofexerciseorstimulation.Itcanalsobecausedbygeneticfactors,suchasatendencytowardsfearfulness.  Separationanxietycanbedifferentiatedfromotherkindsofanxiety.   Thesymptomswillonlyappearfromthemomentthedogfirstsuspectsyouareleavingtowithinabout30minutesafteryouhaveleft.  Theanxietyshouldgoawaythemomentyoureturn. Besidespanting,yourdogmightvocalizebyhowlingorbarking,engagingindestructivebehaviorssuchaschewingordigging,tryingtoescape,orurinatinginthehouse.  Incasesofseparationanxiety,it'sbesttoconsultavetaboutcalmingmedicationorproducts.  It'sadvisedtoalsoincreasetheamountofstructuredexerciseinyourdog'sdailyroutineandbegindealingwiththehyper-attachmentthroughcrateandplacetraining.  Consultacertifiedbehavioristinextremecases. NoiseSensitivityorNoisePhobia Ifyourdogsleepsnearyouandhasnoreasontobeanxiousaboutbeingapart,theproblemmaybenoise.  Nearly40%ofdogsstrugglewithnoisesensitivity,andthesymptomscanbeextreme.  Dogswithanoisephobiamayshowalltheusualsignsoffearfulness,suchaspanting,restlessness,trembling,orchewing.Theymayalsotrydesperatelytoescapeandrunaway.  Theusualcausesofnoise-relatedanxietyarefireworks,gunshots,orthunderstorms.  Butnotallnoisesarethatobvious.It'simportanttorememberthatdogshavemoresensitivehearingthanwedo.Whenambientnoisessuchastrafficareloweratnight,yourdogmayhearsoundsitfindsdistressing.   Thismayincludeotherdogsbarking,orpeoplewalkingaroundoutside. Therearevariouswaystohelpadogwithnoisephobia,includingmedications,pheromonedispensers,andcounterconditioning.   Oneusefultipistoleavesomemusicplayingtoblockoutthenoises. WhyIsMyDogPantingAtRest? Supposethereisnocauseforanxietyinyourdog,andthepantingisexcessive.Inthatcase,weneedtolookatpossiblemedicalreasons. Dogswillpantfrompain,certaindiseases,alackofoxygen,orfromsomemedications. Ifyourdoghassufferedaninjuryorsomekindofphysicaltrauma,theymaypantheavily.   Thedamagemaybeinternal,soyoumayneedtolookforenlargedpupils,refusaltoeat,restlessness,lameness,orbiting,andlickingthepainfularea.  Youcangentlypalpateyourdog'sbodytolookforplacesthatseemtocausediscomfortwhentouched.Ifyourdogisinseveredistress,it'sbesttotreatitasanemergency. Medicalconditionsmayalsocausepanting.Ifyourdoghasoverheated,theymayhaveheatstrokeorheatexhaustionandneedimmediateveterinaryintervention.   Poisoningoranallergicreactionmayalsobetoblame,inwhichcaseyoumayneedtoinducevomitingorgettoemergencyservices. Heartfailuremaybeanotherunderlyingculprit,asitcancausebreathingdifficultiesanddecreaseyourdog'sabilitytoexercise.   Similarly,respiratorydisorderssuchaslungtumors,laryngealparalysis,orpneumoniaallcauselaboredbreathing. Cushing'ssyndromecausestheadrenalglandstoproducetoomuchcortisol,astresshormone.Dogswiththisdisordermaypant,developapotbelly,losetheirhair,orshowexcessivethirst. Inpregnantorlactatingbitches,excessivepantingmaybeasignoflabor.Moreworryingly,itisalsoanearlysymptomofeclampsiaorlowcalciumlevelsintheblood.  Thisisaseriousconditionthatcanbefatalwithinanhour.   Thepantingisusuallyfollowedbytremorsanddifficultystanding.  Afinalcauseofpantingmightbetheside-effectsofsomemedicationsyourdogmaybeon.Prednisoneorothercorticosteroidsmaycauseexcessivepanting. WhyIsMyDogPantingAtNight? Ifabnormalpantingseemstooccurmostlyatnight,thebestthingtodoisgothroughthevariouscommoncausestonarrowdownthetrigger.  It'sgoodtoworkthroughthepossibilitiesmethodicallyandrulethemoutone-by-one. CommonCausesForDogPantingAtNight:Checklist Checktheenvironmentaltemperature.  Isittoohot?Anythingabove90°F(32°C)istoohotformostdogs.Buttherearecaseswheredogsaremoreheat-sensitivethanothers.  Short-nosedbreedsstrugglearemoresusceptibletowarmconditions.  Olddogsandpuppiesyoungerthaneightweekscannotproperlyregulatetheirownbodytemperatureeither.   Obesitymayalsomakeyourdogpantevenifitdoesn'tfeelthatwarm.  Checkforreasonsforexcitement.  Perhapsyourdoghasjustcomebackfromalongrunandiscoolingdownfortheevening,oranotherdoghascometovisitforaplaydate. Checkforanxiety.  Supposeneitherheatnoractivityseemstobetheproblem.Inthatcase,it'stimetostartlookingforthesymptomsofanxietylistedabove.  Arethereanyloudnoises?Isthedogbeingbulliedbyanotherdog?Areyouabouttoleaveyourdogsomewherewhileyougotoyourroomtosleep?Havetherebeenanysignificantchangesinthedog'senvironmentlately,whichmaybecausingstress? Checkforsignsofpainorinjury.  Iftherearenone,noteanyothersymptomsthatmayindicateanunderlyingdiseaselikeCushing'sDiseaseorheartorrespiratoryproblems.  Dogswithlaryngealparalysisareknowntohavetheirpantinggetmuchworseatnight.  Sokeepaneyeoutfornoisy,high-pitchedbreathing,hoarsebarking,tonguesbecomingdarkerorpurple,adislikeforbeingtouchedorrestrained,orreducedabilitytoexercise. Laryngealparalysisisalsoanexcellentexampleofwhyitisessentialtouseaharnessratherthanacollarwhengoingforwalks.  Checktheside-effectsofyourdog'smedication.  Ifyoubelievethepantingisaside-effectandisproblematic,youcanspeaktoyourvetaboutpossiblealternatives. Checkyourdog'sage. LookforanysymptomsofCanineCognitiveDisorder(doggydementia). HowDoYouStopaDogFromPanting? Stoppingadogfrompantingmeansfirstidentifyingthecause.  Iftheproblemistemperature,trycoolingyourdogdownbymovingthemtoacoolerspottolieon,preferablywithafanorgoodventilation.  Provideplentyofwaterforthemtodrink. Beawareofheatstroke,whereyourdog'stemperaturemayexceed106°F(41°C)andwillthenneedtoberehydratedandcooleddown,inadditiontoneedingimmediatemedicalattention. Ifyouthinkthereisamedicalreason,youwillneedtoeithermakeanappointmentwithyourvetinthemorningorcallforanemergencyvisitifyoususpectsomethingsevere. WhatToDoIfYourDogIsPantingandRestless Ifyourdogispanting,restless,andshowingsignsofanxiety,thefirstthingtodoistotrytoremovethestressor.  Ifitisoutofyourcontrol,youcansitwithyourdog,butavoidpattingorstrokingtoomuchasthiscanconfirmthatthefearisnecessaryinyourdog'smind.  Trytoidentifythesourceoftheanxietyanddevelopaplantodealwithit.   Speaktoyourvetaboutoptionssuchasmedicationorpheromonedispensers.   Behavioristsandprofessionaltrainerscanalsohelpdealwithreactivityandreconditionyourdogtoreducehisstress. Conclusion Pantingisaperfectlynormalpartoflifefordogs,justlikesweatingforhumans.Butexcessiveorabnormalpantingcanbeasignofanxietyoramedicalcondition.Pantingatnightisgenerallyasymptomofsomesortofdiscomfort,andtheownermayneedtodosomedetectiveworktoidentifythecause. References “AKCCanineHealthFoundation|NoisePhobiainDogs.”AKCCanineHealthFoundation,www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/noise-phobia-in-dogs.html.Accessed17Jan.2021. BluePearlPetHospitals.“MonitoringYourPet’sRespiratoryRate.”BluePearl,18July2018,bluepearlvet.com/medical-articles-for-pet-owners/monitoring-your-pets-respiratory-rate/#:%7E:text=Most%20dogs%20and%20cats%20have,per%20minute%20is%20considered%20abnormal. DogSpot,Seattle.“EverythingYouShouldKnowAboutCanineLaryngealParalysis.”SeattleDogSpot,10Oct.2018,www.seattledogspot.com/everything-you-should-know-about-canine-laryngeal-paralysis. Fries,Wendy.“WhyIsMyDogPantingHeavily?”WebMD,11May2011,pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-panting-heavily#1. “HowtoTellNormalFromAbnormalPantinginYourDog.”Mercola.Com,healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/12/03/normal-abnormal-dog-panting.aspx?v=1610874726. PetMDEditorial.“TheScienceBehindCalmingDogsWithSound.”PetMD,21Feb.2019,www.petmd.com/dog/science-behind-calming-dogs-sound#:%7E:text=Calming%20Dogs%20With%20the%20Right,music%2C%20pop%20music%20and%20conversation. “Prevalence,Comorbidity,andBehavioralVariationinCanineAnxiety.”ScienceDirect,1Nov.2016,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300569?token=57D4C2F29EBB8DBD6B2212448FBBEB671B45B5DC8A7A258C0C775DD5F102185D62D208005FFC90228665EEF3AA8E3DA3. SubscribeviaEmail arrow_back BacktoBlog