Why does my dog pant so much?
This is a question that we often get from sitter and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!
4 Answers
Dogs don't have sweat gland like humans and so when they get hot the way for them to cool themselves is through panting.
Dogs pant to cool themselves down because they don't have sweat glands like people. Dogs will also pant if they're in pain or nervous.
Dogs pant when they're hot to cool themselves. They will also pant when stressed or anxious. If they're panting often, it can be a sign of anxiety or health problems. It would be a good idea to visit a vet. Some other possible signs of anxiety are shaking, flicking their tongue, shaking off (like after wet), and yawning.
A panting dog is either uncomfortable or hot. Dogs have very few sweat glands, and they only cover a few places of the body, like their paw pads. Because of this, they cannot sweat like humans to cool themselves down evaporatively. Instead, they pant, and the quick and heavy breathing helps to lower their temperature.
If your dog is not overheated but is panting a lot, he or she is probably stressed, painful, or uncomfortable. You should keep an eye on what induces this behavior and whether your pet seems sick or feverish.