SYMPTOM
Excessive panting
Panting that occurs at rest, indoors, or at times when temperature and exertion do not explain it.
Pain
Panting is one of the most common and often underrecognised indicators of pain in dogs. Chronic pain from osteoarthritis, dental disease, abdominal conditions, or other sources can produce panting that is most apparent at rest or during the night, when there are fewer distractions and the animal's focus on discomfort increases. Pain-related panting may be accompanied by restlessness, postural changes, reluctance to settle in a comfortable position, and a slightly anxious facial expression.
Hyperadrenocorticism
Excess cortisol production (Cushing's disease) is one of the most characteristic hormonal causes of persistent panting. The panting results from a combination of factors including redistribution of body fat (particularly to the abdomen, which presses on the diaphragm), muscle weakness affecting respiratory muscles, increased metabolic rate, and possible hepatomegaly. Panting in Cushing's disease is typically accompanied by other signs such as increased thirst, increased urination, a pot-bellied appearance, hair loss, and skin changes.
Anxiety and stress
Emotional distress, whether from specific phobias (storms, fireworks), generalised anxiety, or situational stress, produces panting as part of the sympathetic nervous system's arousal response. Anxiety-related panting may be accompanied by other stress indicators such as pacing, trembling, vocalisation, drooling, or avoidance behaviours. The panting typically correlates with the presence of the anxiety trigger and may resolve when the stressor is removed, though generalised anxiety can produce more persistent patterns.
Respiratory or cardiac
Conditions affecting the heart or lungs can produce panting as the body attempts to compensate for reduced oxygen exchange or circulatory efficiency. Heart failure, pulmonary disease, pleural effusion, or airway obstruction can all increase respiratory effort and rate. This type of panting is often accompanied by other respiratory signs such as coughing, exercise intolerance, laboured breathing, or cyanosis (bluish mucous membranes). Cardiac-related panting may worsen with activity and when the dog lies flat.
Endocrine and metabolic
Beyond Cushing's disease, other hormonal and metabolic conditions can produce inappropriate panting. Hyperthyroidism (more common in cats), fever from infection or inflammation, and certain metabolic derangements can increase metabolic rate and drive panting. Obesity places additional thermal and mechanical demands on the respiratory system, and overweight dogs may pant at rest or with minimal exertion. Some medications, particularly corticosteroids and certain pain medications, can also induce panting as a side effect.
Why timing matters
Early observation
When panting is first noticed as occurring outside expected contexts — at rest, indoors at comfortable temperatures, or without preceding exercise — it may initially seem like an isolated event or be attributed to excitement, a warm day, or a bad dream. Early inappropriate panting may be intermittent, occurring at certain times of day (often evening or night) and resolving spontaneously. The significance of panting at rest lies in its departure from the individual animal's normal respiratory pattern, as dogs regulate body temperature through panting and some baseline panting during warm weather or after activity is entirely normal.
Later presentation
Panting that becomes more frequent, occurs for longer periods, or develops a pattern of appearing at rest or during sleep may suggest an ongoing physiological process. Persistent inappropriate panting is often one of the most noticeable changes owners report in dogs with pain, hormonal conditions, or respiratory and cardiac compromise. The panting may interfere with sleep (both the dog's and the owner's), contribute to dehydration from increased evaporative water loss, and serve as a visible indicator that the animal's comfort or physiological balance has shifted. When accompanied by restlessness, inability to settle, or a change in the sound quality of breathing, the significance of the panting is heightened.
The trajectory of inappropriate panting varies with cause. Pain-related panting may fluctuate with pain intensity, worsening during movement or at night when distractions are fewer. Endocrine-related panting (as seen with Cushing's disease) tends to develop gradually and become progressively more persistent as the hormonal imbalance advances. Anxiety-related panting may correlate with identifiable stressors and improve in calm environments. Cardiac or respiratory panting typically follows a progressive course, worsening in parallel with the underlying condition. Medication-induced panting (particularly from corticosteroids) may onset relatively quickly after starting the medication and persist throughout treatment.
Conditions commonly associated
Cushings Disease in Dogs
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) in Dogs
Excessive panting in GDV reflects both pain-related distress and respiratory compromise as the distended stomach pushes against the diaphragm, restricting normal lung expansion.
Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs
Excessive panting in heart failure reflects both respiratory compromise from pulmonary oedema and the compensatory increase in respiratory effort as the body attempts to maintain adequate oxygenation.
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) in Dogs
Dogs with BOAS may pant excessively as they attempt to regulate temperature through compromised airways, particularly in warm weather.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV/Bloat)
Respiratory changes occur due to abdominal pressure on the diaphragm and developing cardiovascular compromise.
Tracheal Collapse
Increased respiratory effort may manifest as panting, particularly during warm weather or exertion.
Laryngeal Paralysis
Dogs with laryngeal paralysis often pant excessively as they work harder to move air through the obstructed airway.
Noise Phobias
Increased respiratory rate accompanies the stress response to feared sounds.
When to explore further
Panting that occurs consistently at rest, particularly at night when the environment is cool and the animal should be comfortable, may warrant further consideration, especially if it represents a new or worsening pattern.
When excessive panting is accompanied by other signs such as increased thirst, changes in urination, altered body shape (pot-bellied appearance), hair loss, or skin changes, the combination may suggest a hormonal condition that could benefit from investigation.
Panting alongside signs of discomfort — restlessness, frequent position changes, reluctance to lie in certain positions, or stiffness upon rising — may indicate that unrecognised pain is driving the respiratory change.
Progressive panting that is worsening over weeks to months, particularly when accompanied by exercise intolerance, coughing, or laboured breathing, may suggest a cardiac or respiratory condition that is advancing.
Panting that begins or intensifies following the start of a new medication, particularly corticosteroids, may represent a medication effect rather than a new disease process, though this should be discussed with the prescribing veterinary professional.
Noting when the panting occurs — time of day, relationship to activity, ambient temperature, emotional state, and whether it disrupts sleep — can help characterise the pattern. Observing whether the panting is accompanied by other signs such as restlessness, changes in posture, altered appetite, increased thirst, or a reluctance to lie flat may provide additional context for understanding what is driving the respiratory change.
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS