Panting is a normal part of life for most dogs. You may notice it after a walk, during an energetic game or on a warm Australian afternoon. It is one of the main ways dogs regulate their body temperature.
However, panting can also be associated with stress, pain, heatstroke or an underlying medical condition. Understanding why dogs pant—and recognising when it looks unusual—can help you decide whether your dog simply needs time to cool down or requires veterinary attention.
Why do dogs pant?
Dogs pant primarily to release excess body heat. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat efficiently through their skin. They have sweat glands in areas such as their paw pads, but these play only a limited role in cooling.
When a dog pants, air moves rapidly over the moist surfaces of their tongue, mouth and upper respiratory tract. As moisture evaporates, it helps lower their body temperature.
Panting may therefore be perfectly normal when your dog is:
- Warm
- Exercising or playing
- Excited
- Travelling in the car
- Recovering from physical activity
- Experiencing a brief period of nervousness
Normal panting should gradually ease once your dog rests in a cool, comfortable environment.
Why do dogs pant when they are not hot?
Temperature is only one possible explanation. Dogs also pant in response to emotional and physical changes.
Excitement
Some dogs pant when visitors arrive, before a walk or during an exciting activity. Their body is temporarily more alert, and their breathing rate increases. This should settle as the excitement passes.
Stress, fear or anxiety
Panting can be part of a dog’s stress response. A nervous dog may pant even when the weather is cool and they have not been exercising.
Look at your dog’s entire body rather than panting in isolation. Other possible signs of stress include:
- Pacing or restlessness
- Trembling
- Repeated lip licking
- Yawning when they are not tired
- Ears held back
- A lowered body posture
- Trying to hide or escape
- Showing the whites of the eyes
Veterinary guidance from VCA notes that dogs may pant when stressed, particularly when they have not recently exercised or become hot. Noise fears can also cause panting, pacing and hiding (VCA Animal Hospitals).
For deaf dogs, an unexpected touch, unfamiliar movement or sudden environmental change may cause alarm. Approach where your dog can see you and use familiar visual cues to help them feel safe.
Pain or discomfort
Unexplained panting at rest can sometimes be a sign of pain. A dog experiencing discomfort may also become restless, repeatedly change position, avoid being touched, lose interest in food or struggle to settle.
Dogs do not always cry or limp when something hurts. If the panting is new, persistent or accompanied by behavioural changes, arrange a veterinary assessment.
Medication
Certain medications can increase panting. Corticosteroids, including prednisolone, are a common example. Increased thirst, hunger and urination may occur alongside the panting (VCA Animal Hospitals).
Do not stop a prescribed medication without speaking to your veterinarian. Contact the clinic if the panting is severe or you are concerned about a possible side effect.
When is panting a warning sign?
The key question is whether the panting makes sense for the situation. Panting deserves closer attention when it:
- Begins suddenly without an obvious cause
- Is much heavier than usual
- Continues while your dog is resting in a cool room
- Sounds noisy, harsh or strained
- Is accompanied by coughing, wheezing or retching
- Prevents your dog from settling or sleeping
- Occurs regularly at night
- Is accompanied by weakness, pain or a swollen abdomen
- Has become more frequent over time
Persistent or unusual panting can be associated with pain, fever, anaemia, airway disease, heart or lung problems, hormonal disorders and other medical conditions. Breathing difficulties may originate in the respiratory system or be connected to conditions such as congestive heart failure (Merck Veterinary Manual).
Short-faced breeds—including Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs—can have greater difficulty moving air and regulating their temperature. Older dogs, overweight dogs and those with existing heart or respiratory conditions may also need closer monitoring.
Excessive panting and heatstroke
Heatstroke is one of the most serious reasons why dogs pant excessively. It is a life-threatening emergency that can cause rapid organ damage.
Warning signs may include:
- Constant or frantic panting
- Thick drool
- Difficulty breathing
- Very red, pale, purple or blue gums
- Weakness or confusion
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Poor coordination
- Collapse or seizures
If you suspect heatstroke, move your dog into a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area. Apply cool or room-temperature water to their body and use airflow from a fan where available. Do not cover them with wet towels, as this can trap heat, and avoid ice-cold water.
Seek emergency veterinary care immediately—even if your dog appears to improve. The RSPCA advises beginning cooling first aid while arranging urgent veterinary treatment (RSPCA Knowledgebase).
Never leave a dog inside a parked vehicle, even with the windows partly open. During warm weather, provide fresh water and shade, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day and adjust walks to cooler mornings or evenings.
How can you tell whether your dog’s panting is normal?
Consider what happened immediately before the panting began.
If your dog has just finished a walk, is otherwise bright and alert, and their breathing steadily returns to normal in a cool place, the panting is likely doing its intended job.
If there is no clear explanation, observe:
- How long the panting lasts
- Whether it occurs during rest or sleep
- Your dog’s gum colour
- Their energy and appetite
- Any coughing, trembling, vomiting or restlessness
- Whether breathing appears physically difficult
Recording a short video can be helpful if the panting stops before your veterinary appointment. It allows your vet to see and hear exactly what occurred.
When should you call the vet?
Contact your veterinarian promptly if your dog’s panting is new, unexplained, persistent or accompanied by changes in behaviour, appetite, mobility or energy.
Go to an emergency veterinary clinic immediately if your dog is struggling to breathe, has abnormal gum colour, seems disoriented, has collapsed, may have heatstroke or has a swollen abdomen with unsuccessful attempts to vomit.
So, why do dogs pant? Most often, it is a healthy response to warmth, exercise or excitement. The important thing is knowing your dog’s usual pattern. Panting that is unusually intense, happens without a clear reason or appears alongside other symptoms should never be ignored.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.