Why Is My Dog Panting and Restless? 7 Concerning Causes

7 reasons why your dog may be panting and restless · 1. Heart disease · 2. Respiratory disease · 3. Anxiety and fear · 4. Canine cognitive ... SkiptoprimarynavigationSkiptomaincontentSkiptoprimarysidebarSHOPNOWShare22TweetPin7092Shares Pantingisoneofthewaysyourdogregulateshisbodytemperature—andthegoodnewsisthatmostofthetime,it’scompletelynormalcaninebehavior.However,excessivepanting,orpantingwithoutanobviousreason,mayindicatesomethingmoreisgoingon.Dr.JulieBuzby,integrativeveterinarianandfounderofDr.Buzby’sToeGrips®,sharessevenreasonswhyyourdogmightbepantingandrestless—reasonstooimportantforyoutoignore. Ifyoushareyourheartandhomewithaseniordog,thisscenario—orsomeversionofit—maybefamiliartoyou: Youandyourdoghavejustspentalovelydayoutside—whileyougardened,henosedaroundtheyardandnappedinthesunshine.Later,asyou’regettingreadyforbed,younoticethathe’spanting.Isheexcited?Hot?Thirsty?Thehouse(andweatherforecast)arequietandpeaceful.Thethermostatreadsseventydegrees.Andhiswaterbowlisfulloffreshwater.Youhelphimsettledownandtuckhiminforthenight.Butoncethelightsareoff,youhearhimpacingthefloors.He’srestless,plus,he’spantingagain.“What’sgoingonwithhim?”youask—worryfillingyourmind. Ifyou’relikemostseniordogowners,youtendtofindanychangeinyourdog’sbehaviorworrisome.Andchancesare,yourinstinctsareright.Becauseyouknowyourdogsowell,it’simportanttotrustyourgutanddigdeepertofindoutwhat’sbehindanychangesyounotice.Oftenthisstartswithacalltoyourveterinariantodetermineifanofficevisitandexamarewarranted. Andifyourbelovedseniordogseemsout-of-sorts—panting,pacing,andrestless—readontoseeifanyofhisbehaviorslineupwithoneofthesecommonandconcerningcauses. 7reasonswhyyourdogmaybepantingandrestless Rememberthatdogsaren’tabletosweattodissipateexcessheat.Instead,theypant.Pantingistheprimarywaythatdogsregulatetheirbodytemperature—thesteamyairfromtheirlungsisreplacedwithcolderair,andinthatprocess,evaporativecoolingoccurs. However,adogwhoispanting,pacing,andrestlessmayhavesomethingelsegoingon.Let’sexplorethesevenmostcommonreasons: 1.Heartdisease Excessivepantingcanbeasymptomofproblemswithyourdog’sprimaryorgansystem.Youmayalsonoticehimcoughingoccasionallyorbreathingheavilyafteracasualwalkorexercise. Theheartplaysanextremelyimportantroleindeliveringoxygentotherestofthebody.Whenthatprocessishindered,yourdog’sheartcan’tpumpeffectivelywhichmeanshisbodydoesn’tgettheoxygenitneedstoperformroutineprocesses.Valvedisorders,arrhythmias,cardiomyopathies,andheartwormdiseaseindogsareallexamplesofillnessesthatcanaffecttheheart’sabilitytodoitsjobproperly. Yourveterinariancanoftendetectheartmurmursorarrhythmiasjustbylisteningtoyourdog’schest.Justanotherreasonregularcheck-upsaresoimportant.  2.Respiratorydisease Respiratorydiseasemakesitdifficultforthebodytogetenoughoxygenintothebloodstreamaswellastoremovewasteproducts,suchascarbondioxide,fromcirculation. Diseasesliketrachealcollapseandlaryngealparalysisoftenaffecttherespiratorytractsofseniordogs. Trachealcollapsecausesthewindpipe(a.k.a.thetrachea)tonarrow;youmightnoticethatyourdoghasacoughthatworsenswhenhe’sexcited.Thisconditionismostcommoninsmall-breeddogs.Withlaryngealparalysis,thereisaproblemwiththenervesthatopenandclosethelarynx,theentrytothewindpipe.Occurringmostlyinlarge-breeddogs,“larpar”cancausea“roaring”soundwhentheybreathe.Afterlightexercise,itisdifficultfordogswithlaryngealparalysistocooloffbecausetheycannotpantefficiently.Thiscanresultsindangerouslyhighbodytemperatures. 3.Anxietyandfear Likeyouandme,dogsexperienceanxietyandfear.Unpleasantsightsandsoundsactastriggers,andadog’sresponsetothesetriggerscanbeprettydramatic. Forexample,suddenloudsoundssuchasfireworkscausemanydogstotucktail,run,andlookforasafeplacetohide. Othersmaystayaroundbutshakeandtremble.Somedogsexhibitmoresubtlesigns,including:  pantingpacingorrestlessnessfrequentyawningavertingtheireyeslickingtheirlips Anxietyandphobiascanbedifficulttotreatwithoutidentifyingthecause.Oncethecauseisidentified,thenextstepistoreduceoreliminateit.Insomecases,yourveterinarianmayrecommendtheuseofprescriptionanti-anxietymedicationsorcalmingproductssuchaspheromonediffusersorcalmingtreatsanddiets.Ifyou’veeverlivedthroughathunderstormwithadogwhohasT-storm(noise)phobia,you’vewitnessedfirsthandthatheavypantingcanbeasignofstressandanxiety. 4.Caninecognitivedysfunction Caninecognitivedysfunction,orCCD,referstothegradualonsetofdementia-likesignsinseniordogsduetochangeswithinthebrain.Thesechangesaffectadog’sbehavior,motorfunction,andmemory,andcanbeassociatedwithpanting.CCDismostlikelytooccurindogswhoaremorethantenyearsold.Sadly,dogswithCCDareoftenconfused,haveadisruptedsleep-wakecycle,andmayseemtoget”lost”intheirownhomes. OneofthemostcommonsignsofCCDisfrequentpacing,especiallyduringthenight.Dubbed“sundownersyndrome,”theconditionbythesamenamealsooccursinseniorhumans.Otherclinicalsignsinclude: notrespondingwhencalled(afterdeafnesshasbeenruledout)accidentsinthehouserestlessnessanddifficultysettlingintosleepdisorientationandgetting“stuck”inplacesinthehomepersonalityandotherbehavioralchanges AlthoughthereisnocureforCCD,therearetreatmentoptionsincludingmedications,supplements,andstrategiesforbehaviormodification. FormoreinformationaboutCCDinseniordogs,pleaseseeManagingCanineCognitiveDysfunction:Signs,Symptoms,Solutions. 5.Anemia Dogswhoareanemicdon’thaveenoughredbloodcellsintheirbloodstream.Thesedogsoftenpantandarerestlessbecausetheirinternalorgansaren’tgettingenoughoxygenandthebrainisdemandingmore. Anemiahasmanycauses,includingbloodlossduetoexternalorinternalbleeding;illnessessuchashemolyticanemia,whichoccurswhenredbloodcellsruptureafterbeingattackedbytheimmunesystem;anddiseasesofthebonemarrow,suchasgeneticillnessesorcancer,whichcausefewerredbloodcellstobeproduced.  Dogswithanemiatendtobelethargicandmaylosetheirappetiteandappearnauseous.Ifthere’sinternalbleeding,particularlyintheabdomen,thedogwillalsobeinpain—anothercauseofexcessivepanting. Toconfirmthatyourdogisanemic,yourveterinarianwillperformroutinebloodworkandmayalsorecommendspecialbloodandurinetests,X-rays,andanultrasound.Treatmentwilldependontheunderlyingcause.Antibioticstreatanemiacausedbyaninfection,whereasavarietyofmedicationstreatimmune-mediatedanemias,includingimmunosuppressivedrugs.Ifinjuryorhemorrhageisthecauseoftheanemia,yourdogneedstreatmentrightaway—sometimeswithemergencysurgery.Iftheanemiaissevere,yourdogmayalsoneedabloodtransfusion.Adogwhohasanelevatedrespiratoryrateasaresultofanemiawillalsohavepalegums.Learnyourdog’snormalbaselinegumcolorbylookingathismucousmembranes.I’llshowyouhowinmyarticle:KeepingaPulseonYourDog’sVitalSigns. 6.Cushing’sdisease Likehumans,dogshavenumerousglandsthatreleasehormonestosendmessagestootherpartsofthebody.Tohelpwiththe“fightorflight”response,thepituitaryglandinthebrainreleasesahormonecalledadrenocorticotropichormone(ACTH)thatmakesitswaydowntotheadrenalglands.Inresponse,theadrenalsproducenumeroussubstances,includingcortisol,designedtohelpyourdogdealwiththeperceivedthreat.Cortisolalsohasotherimportantfunctionsincludingtheregulationofbloodsugarlevelsandmetabolism.  ToomuchcortisolinthebloodstreamcausesCushing’sdisease,aconditionknownashyperadrenocorticism.Itismostcommoninmiddle-agedandolderdogsandanotherconcerningreasonwhyyourdogmaybepantingandrestless. ThereareafewreasonsadogmaydevelopCushing’sdisease.AtumoronthepituitaryglandwillcauseanincreaseinthereleaseofACTH;thus,adrenalsareconstantlybeingsignaledtoreleasemorecortisol.Tumorscanalsodevelopontheadrenalglandsthemselves,alsoresultinginexcesscortisolrelease.Additionally,long-termuseofanoralsteroidsuchasprednisonecanprovokeCushing’s,asthistypeofsteroidmimicscortisol.  ThemostcommonclinicalsignsofCushing’sdiseaseareexcessivepanting,increasedthirstandurination,increasedappetite,andapot-belliedappearance.AbnormalitiesonroutinebloodandurinetestingcanalsobesuggestiveofCushing’s,especiallywhenclinicalsignsarepresent.Specialbloodtests,suchasalow-dosedexamethasonesuppressiontest(LDDST)oranACTHstimulationtest,mayberecommendedtohelpreachamoredefinitivediagnosis.  ThetreatmentplandependsontherootcauseofCushing’s.Adrenaltumorsmayrequiresurgery,whilepituitary-dependentcasescanshowimprovementwithanoralmedicationliketrilostane(brandname:Vetoryl).Cushing’sdiseaseisverycommonamongseniordogs,andexcessivepantingisoneofthehallmarksofthedisease. 7.Acuteorchronicpain Arthritis,surgery,andinjuryarejustafewofthecausesofpainindogs.Somesignsareobvious(limping,forexample),whileothers—panting,restlessness,andhiding—aremoresubtle.Adogwhojumpsdownfromadeckorporch,andthenstartstolimpisexhibitingasignofacute(suddenonset)pain,whiledogswitharthritisoroldinjuriescanhavechronicpainthataffectsthemintermittently.  It’simportanttoknowthesignsofpainindogs,andtoseekhelpforyourdogifyouseethem.Elevatedheartrateandelevatedrespiratoryrate(panting)areclassicandobjectivemeasuresofpainindogs. Animportantnote:Don’tgiveyourdogyourownpainmedications.Mostarehumannon-steroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs—NSAIDS—whicharenotsafeforusewithdogs. Ifyourdogispantingandrestless,talkwithyourvet Here’sthebigtakeawayonpantingandrestlessnessinseniordogs:unlessit’stransientandoccasional,it’snotnormal.Thecausesarenumerousandvaried,butallofthemneedtobeaddressed. Ifyouhavequestions,pleaseaskyourveterinarian.Heorsheisanintegralpartofyourdog’shealthcareteamandtheperfectresourcetohelpyouunravelthemysteryofwhyyourdogispantingandrestless. Acrucialnote:Ifyourdogishavingtroublebreathing,ifhisgum/tonguecolorisgreyishorbluishinsteadofpink,orifhisrestingrespiratoryrateisgreaterthan60breathsperminute,seekveterinarycareimmediately. Oneacuteconditionwhichoftenpresentswithpantingandrestlessnessandisatrue,life-threateningemergencyisgastricdilatationandvolvulus(GDV)knownmorecommonlyasbloat.Tolearnmore,seeBloatinDogs:WhenEverySecondCounts. Haveyouevernoticedaslightchangeinyourseniordog’sbehaviorthatexposedamoreseriousunderlyingcondition? Shareinthecommentsbelowsoyourstorycanhelpandwarnothers. RELATEDPOSTS10LifesavingTouches:Dr.Buzby's5-Minute…CanineCognitiveDysfunctioninDogs:Signs,…8WaystoHelpaSeniorDogwithArthritisatHome7TipsforImprovingYourDog'sLabTests:Poop,… ReaderInteractionsComments HiDrBusby,my12y/omakePekenesemixdogtestednegforCushing’s,hasrearlegweakness,heavypanting,restlessness,excessivethirst..Somedayshisappetiteisbetterthanothers.I’mgraspingforanswershowtohelphimfeelbetter.Anyinsightyouhaveisgreatlyappreciated.Thankyou,,DeborahW Reply HiDeborah, Sorrytohearthatyourpuphisexperiencingtheseworrisomesymptomswithoutaclearanswer.ItsuresoundslikeCushing’scouldhavebeenapossibility,soI’mgladtohearthatyourvethasalreadyruledthatout.Unfortunately,withoutbeingabletoexaminehim,Ican’tguideyoutowardsanyotherspecificconditionsorsolutions.Itmaybeagoodideatotalktoyourvetaboutareferraltoaveterinaryinternalmedicinespecialistsincethissoundslikeabitofapuzzlingcase.Thatisn’ttosaythatyourvetisn’tdoingagreatjob.Sometimesitjusttakestheperspectiveofaspecialisttogettothebottomofthemoredifficultcases.Ihopethatyouareabletofindsomeanswersforyoursweetboysoon! Reply My14yroldShihTzuthislastwhileispantingalotandpacingupanddown.Scratchingandwhimperingatthedoorlookingoutandonceoutscratchingandwhimperinglookingbackinstraightaway.Thisgoesincontinuously.Onlyrecentlyithasgottentobereallybadandattimesthewhimperingissoloud.I’matmywhitsendanddon’tknowwhattodo.HeisstilleatinganddrinkingsoIknowhe’snothungry,thirstyandneedingtheloo. Reply DearIan, Sorrytohearthatyourpupispanting,pacing,andscratchingatthedoor.Itcanbediscouragingwhenourdogsaredistressedandwecan’tfigureoutwhatisbotheringthem.Whileitisgreatthatheisstilleatinganddrinking,thepantingandpacingcouldbethesignofsomethingserious.Ihighlyrecommendmakinganappointmentwithyourlocalveterinarianforaexaminationandanynecessarylabwork.Thatwouldbethebestwaytohopefullygettothebottomofwhatisbotheringhimandfigureouthowbesttohelphim.Ihopeyouareabletofindsomeanswers!. Reply Wehavean8-yr-oldNorwegianelkhoundwhowouldmuchprefertostayoutsideatnight,butunfortunatelyshebarksALLNIGHTLONGifweleaveherout.Whenwekeepherin,shepantsloudly,paces,isrestless,andshakesherheadtomakehertagsjingleloudly.Isthereanysolution? Reply HiSuszane, Listeningtoadogpanting,pacing,andshakingherheadatnightcandefinitelybedistressing(andsocanlisteningtobarkingallnightlong).Ifeelforyou!Sincetherearemanyreasonswhyadogmaybepantingandrestless,Ithinkthatthebestplacetostartwouldbeavisitwithyourvettoruleoutsomeofthemedicalcauses(anemia,heartdisease,Cushing’sdisease,pain,liverdisease,etc).Itwouldalsobegoodtodiscussyourdog’sbehaviorindepthwithyourvettoseeifheorshethinksthatanxietyaboutbeinginsideorcaninecognitivedysfunctioncouldbecontributingtothesigns.IdoalsohaveanarticlecalledSeniorDogAnxietyatNight?6SolutionsforBetterSleepthatmayalsogiveyousomehelpfulsuggestionstotry,especiallyonceyourvethasruledoutsomeofthemoreconcretemedicalproblems.Ihopethatbettersleepforeveryonewillbecomingsoon! Reply My6montholdblueheelerwaschewingonagoodnfuntripleflavortwistandhaswentto.Acting.Crazy.Likeheispantinghardandseemstobespacedoutit’slikethereisadruginthechew. Reply HiRonnie, Sorrytohearthatyouhadsuchastrangeandconcerningepisodewithyourpuppyafterhechewedonthattoy.Hopefullyitwaseithershortlivedandheisbacktonormaloryouwereabletogethimtothevetforevaluation.Eitherway,Iwouldprobablyavoidgivingthosetohiminthefuturejusttobesafeandconsideravetvisitifyoustillhaveanyconcernsabouthowheisdoing. Reply Ihavean11yearoldBeaglemixwhowaspantingalot,especiallyduringwalks.Wasgreatlyconcerned.Tookhimtovetandallseemsfine.Shorterwalksandkeepaneyeon.Likemydadusedtosay…sucksgettingold.Butpleasemakevetappointmenttogetyourdogcheckedoutbecauseitcouldbeaseriousthing. Reply HiTracey, I’msogladtohearthateverythingcheckedoutwellwithyourBeaglewhenyoutookhimtothevet!Likeyousaid,itisalwaysagoodideatoscheduleavetappointmentifyounoticesomethingoutoftheordinary.😊 Reply My5yearoldgoldenretrieverhasepilepsy.She’sstartedbreathingandpantingveryfastwhenshe’sbeenresting.Herrespiration’sareover100.Whatcouldbegoingon? Reply HiDana, Sorrytohearthatyourgoldenisbreathingfastandpantingmorethannormal.ThatisdefinitelyconcerningandIwouldrecommendmakinganappointmentwithyourvetassoonasyoucanforanevaluation.Therearemanypotentialproblemsthatcouldbecausingthosesymptoms,sothebestwaytogettothebottomofitwouldbeaphysicalexamanddiagnosticsatyourvet’soffice.Ihopeyouareabletofindsomeanswersforyoursweetgirlsoon!❤ Reply Mydogiswakingmeupatnightbypantingbesidemybed.Heseemsveryrestless.Thisisnewbehaviorforthelastmonth.Heisapeekapooandabout10yearsold.Hedoesn’tseemtoknowwhathewantswhenIgetup.OnceIgetuphegetsadrink,hesettlesafterafewminutes.Justwonderingifit’stheheatorsomethingmedical.Anysuggestions?He’smywholeworldanditscaresme.? Reply HiAnita, Sorrytohearthatyourpupisdoingalotofpantingatnightandwakingyouup.Thatisdifficultforeveryone!Thereareavarietyofreasonshecouldbedoingthis,soIthinkthattakinghimtoyourvettolookforanymedicalconditionswouldbethebestplacetostart.YoumayalsofindsomeadditionalhelpfrommyarticleSeniorDogAnxietyatNight?6SolutionsforBetterSleep.Ihopethatyouareabletogettotherootoftheproblemsoonsobothofyoucangetbacktopeacefullysleepingthroughthenight! Reply Ourdogis13yearsold.Sheexcessivelypants,isalwaysthirsty,hasbeenhavingaccidentsinthehouse,herbacklegsseentodragabitandherstomacheisveryrounded.Whatdoyouthinkcouldbehappening? Reply HiCathie, Sorrytohearthatyourpupishavingtheseconcerningsigns.Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendmakinganappointmentforherwithyourveterinariansoheorshecandoaphysicalexamaswellaspotentiallysomediagnosticssuchasseniorbloodwork,x-rays,orultrasoundtogettothebottomoftheproblem.ThesesymptomscouldfitwithCushing’sDisease(learnmorefrommyarticleCushing’sDiseaseinDogs:Symptoms,Diagnosis,Medications)butcouldalsofitwithavarietyofotherconditions,whichiswhytheexamwiththevetanddiagnostictestingaresoimportant.Bestoflucktobothofyou! Reply My15yearoldlurcherbitchispooinginthehouse,pacingandpantingalotandisdisorientedandbitingusoccasionallytoo.She’salreadyinpainfromherlowerspineandisonantiinflammatoriestwiceaday.Despiteallofthisshe’seatingwell.Sodifficulttoknowwhat’sbestforher. Reply HiLiz, Itcanbesohardtowatchourbeloveddogsageandstrugglewithincontinence,pacing,panting,pain,anddisorientation.Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendavisittothevetifshehasn’tbeenseenrecently.Yourvetwouldbeabletodoafullexam(anddiagnostics,ifneeded),discussyourdog’squalityoflife,andhelpyoufigureoutthebestplanforher.❤ Reply My10yroldshepherdisrestless&runnynoseiscortisolcause?Howtoknowifhastoomuchcortisol Reply HiRox, Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendtalkingtoyourvetaboutthesymptomsyouareseeinginyourshepherd.Ifhe/shethinksthatCushing’sdisease(excesscortisol)couldbetheproblem,therearesomespecificteststhatcanberuntodiagnoseCushing’sdisease.Myarticle,Cushing’sDiseaseinDogs:TheUltimateGuidetoUnderstandingSymptoms,Diagnosis,&Treatment(FortheBestCareforYourDog),mayalsobehelpfultoreadbecauseitaddressesCushing’sdiseaseindetail.Bestoflucktoyouandyourdog! 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