If your dog is panting and restless, talk with your vet
Here’s the big takeaway on panting and restlessness in senior dogs: unless it’s transient and occasional, it’s not normal. The causes are numerous and varied, but all of them need to be addressed.
If you have questions, please ask your veterinarian. He or she is an integral part of your dog’s healthcare team and the perfect resource to help you unravel the mystery of why your dog is panting and restless.
A crucial note: If your dog is having trouble breathing, if his gum/tongue color is greyish or bluish instead of pink, or if his resting respiratory rate is greater than 60 breaths per minute, seek veterinary care immediately.
One acute condition which often presents with panting and restlessness and is a true, life-threatening emergency is gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) known more commonly as bloat. To learn more, see Bloat in Dogs: When Every Second Counts.
The 5 Reasons Your Dog Won’t Lay Down:
Joint pain can be it difficult for your dog to get comfortable when laying down. Canine osteoarthritis may cause your canine to get uncomfortable when laying down, or it may cause the process of laying down to become painful.
Often, these dogs will shift around when they’re lying around. They may become stiff after lying down for some time and spend a lot of time pacing around.
Dogs may pant as a sign of pain, or they may groan or yelp when laying down. These are obvious signs of pain and warrant a trip to your vet. While arthritis can’t be treated, pain medication is available to help your dog deal with the symptoms.
Some dogs are more at risk of joint pain and arthritis than others. These include older dogs. Obese dogs and giant breed dogs are particularly prone to this issue.
Like people, older dogs can develop dementia as well. Cognitive decline is typical in older dogs, with dementia sometimes developing. Often, the earliest signs of dementia are changes in your dog’s sleep habits. This can include restlessness and incomplete sleep cycles. The dog’s sleep period may shorten, and they may get up more often before settling into sleep.
Other signs of dementia include confusion. Your dog may forget daily routines or get lost in places they frequent. The dog may not stick to any schedule like it used to.
More extreme symptoms of dementia include getting “stuck” in corners. The dog isn’t stuck but may “forget” that it can turn around to get out. They may wait at the wrong end of a familiar door, where the hinges are, instead of where the doorknob is.
Medications and special diet management plans exist to help reduce the damage and progression of these dementia symptoms, so make an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice.
If your dog suddenly doesn’t lay down, it can be a sign that they are in severe pain. When they lay down, they may feel pain and pressure in that one particular spot. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas suffers an inflammatory reaction, which can cause pain and discomfort.
A sure sign of pancreatitis is dogs assuming the “praying” position for an extended period. In other words, when the dog lays with their head and front legs down, but its butt stuck up in the air. This helps relieve pressure on the pancreas.
Nausea, diarrhea, lethargy, and decreased appetite are also common symptoms. Pancreatitis can be chronic or acute. Luckily, it is treatable with quick action.
Dogs with anxiety problems may have difficulty getting comfortable and laying down. They may lay down for a moment and then stand up after only a few minutes. Pacing may occur as well. Destructive behaviors like chewing and scratching may occur. These are natural ways for dogs to relieve their anxiety.
They may also bark randomly at seemingly nothing, pan, or shake when laying down.
Anxiety is a complicated diagnosis and often has many treatment options. Medication is available, but many dogs can relieve their anxiety through behavioral training.
Bloat is a severe and sudden disease that requires immediate treatment. When a dog gets bloat, its stomach fills with gas. It may twist, which can make the situation even more severe. The expanded stomach puts pressure on the other organs and the inner cavity. For this reason, dogs may be unable to get comfortable when lying around. Their stomach may become large and bloated, but this isn’t always the case.
Anxiety, like restlessness and pacing, is quite common. Usually, the dog will avoid laying down. Vomiting up new food and drink may occur, or the dog may attempt to vomit but cannot throw anything up.
Excessive drooling, pale gums, and weakness can occur as the disease progresses. Larger dogs are more prone to bloat, but any dog can develop it at any age. Bloat will lead to death unless it is treated with surgery. It is a medical emergency and needs to be addressed as soon as possible, does not get better on its own.
Heart disease can cause a dog to be more uncomfortable in general. It can affect a dog’s ability to breathe, becoming even more complicated when laying down. Dogs with severe heart disease may attempt to sleep standing up or sitting, as laying down can be highly uncomfortable.
Heart disease can be managed with medication and dietary changes. It isn’t curable, but it can be managed with some ease.
In cases of disease, any process that causes an increase in the respiratory rate (number of breaths per minute) often will give the appearance of panting once breathing is rapid enough. Such disease processes include heart failure, lung ailments and metabolic abnormalities just to name a few. One disease that increases cortisol levels is Cushing’s disease. Not only will dogs affected with this condition experience excess panting but they also will develop a pot-bellied appearance, have excessive thirst and urination, and their skin and coat will look unthrifty.
Whenever you see your four-legged family member starting to pant, remember that it could be a possible sign of discomfort, overheating or disease. Your veterinarian can provide insight on why your dog may pant with no obvious explanation, so be sure to discuss any questions about panting during your next visit with your other family doctor.
When dogs show signs of stress or pain like during a Texas summer thunderstorm or from aching joints, their bodies rapidly increase cortisol production, leading to excessive panting. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glandsendocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol that is helpful in dealing with normal amounts of stress. Under usual circumstances, cortisol is helpful in regulating metabolism, salt and water balance and blood sugar, just to name a few functions. If produced in excess, the additional cortisol will increase metabolism, thus leading to an internal rise in body temperature and excessive panting2 (Dresche and Granger, 2005). Any source of stress, fear or pain for your dog can cause the same effect. In addition to elevations in cortisol, medications such as prednisone that mimic cortisol can cause panting as well.
Almost all dog lovers know why their furry friends pant after taking a stroll in the stifling Texas summer heat, but have you ever wondered why panting is the primary way our canine companions cool down? Or why they only sweat through their paws and noses? And have you ever asked why your dog would start panting in the middle of the night for no reason? If you said yes to any of the above questions, keep reading.
Panting is a key mechanism for heat reduction. The movement of air during panting is strictly limited to the upper airway, which ends where the trachea (windpipe) begins branching. As a result, cool outside air absorbs heat from the body during panting and allows for evaporation of saliva in the mouth and airway, thus slowly lowering body temperature1 (Goldberg et al., 1981). Panting is an inefficient way to cool down, especially in the stifling heat so common in Texas. A primary reason panting is inefficient is because dogs evolved to retain as much of their body heat as possible, which is the main reason why dogs only sweat through their paw pads and noses.
My Dog is Panting Pacing and Won’t Lie Down
Panting is a normal dog behavior, most often associated with helping a dog regulate body temperature. However, what if you notice your dog panting and pacing non-stop around the house or yard, unable to settle down? Is this also normal behavior, or is something wrong with your dog?
Panting and pacing are non-specific symptoms that may indicate several different medical or behavioral issues with your dog. Unfortunately, your pup cannot tell you what’s going on beyond the signs you’re already noticing. Deciphering those signs to determine what they mean will likely involve a trip to your veterinarian.
Observing your dog closely for any additional symptoms and noting when and how often the panting and pacing occur will help your veterinarian more accurately diagnose what’s wrong with your dog. Your veterinarian may recommend lab work or x-rays to rule out medical causes. Once any medical causes are ruled out, your veterinarian may then discuss possible behavioral causes and how to treat them. The following are 15 reasons why your dog may be panting and pacing. Table Of Contents
A dog in pain may display many signs and symptoms, including panting and pacing restlessly. Your dog may be reluctant to lie down and rest or unable to get comfortable once he does settle.
To rule out pain as the cause of your dogʻs panting and pacing, your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and consider other factors such as your dogʻs age, breed, and any history of possible injury or over-exertion.
Older dogs, like older humans, can develop arthritis. Other common areas of pain in dogs are the abdomen, spinal, and cervical regions. Dogs may also be in pain from dental disease, ear infection, or as a result of recent surgery.
X-rays, lab work, and sometimes more intensive diagnostics such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI may be needed to identify what’s causing your dogʻs pain. Your veterinarian may recommend various treatments, including medications, acupuncture, or possibly surgery, depending on where and why your dog is in pain.
Dogs express anxiety in various ways, including excessive panting and pacing. A common type of anxiety is separation anxiety, or fear of being left alone. Dogs who suffer from this type of anxiety may become overly attached to you or another person they live with.
Since it’s not always possible to take your dog everywhere you go, separation anxiety can be a difficult behavior to manage. In addition to panting and pacing, dogs who suffer from separation anxiety may vocalize excessively, exhibit destructive behaviors, or have accidents in the house.
Your veterinarian will rule out any medical causes for your dogʻs behavior before diagnosing separation anxiety. There are many options for treating separation anxiety, including medications, behavioral modifications, and environmental changes. In severe cases, your veterinarian may refer you and your dog to a veterinary behavior specialist.
Does your dogʻs panting and pacing always seem to coincide with the advent of a seasonal storm? If so, your dog may suffer from a common condition known as storm phobia, or fear of thunderstorms.
Some dogs will grow anxious before the first rumble reaches their owners’ ears, not only because of their superior hearing but also because storm-phobic dogs react to thunder and other signs of approaching storms such as darkening skies, lightning, and barometric changes.
Your veterinarian can help you make a plan to manage your dogʻs storm phobia. Common management methods during a storm include distracting your dog with toys or treats, closing curtains, using a white noise machine, and giving prescribed anti-anxiety medications.
Cushing’s disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is caused by excess production of cortisol in your dogʻs adrenal glands. Sometimes the adrenal glands overproduce because they are stimulated by a pituitary gland tumor.
In addition to panting, other signs of Cushingʻs disease include excess drinking and urinating, weight gain, hair loss, and behavioral changes. Your dog may pant and pace due to discomfort caused by these clinical signs. Increased water consumption may also contribute to these signs, as your dog will need to go outside to urinate more often than usual and may become anxious as a result.
Your veterinarian will diagnose Cushingʻs disease by performing specialized lab tests and possibly diagnostic imaging such as an ultrasound or CT scan. Cushingʻs disease is usually controlled with medication or sometimes radiation and surgery if a pituitary tumor is involved.
If your dog is older, the panting and pacing could signify canine cognitive dysfunction, mainly if the pacing tends to occur most commonly at night. Cognitive dysfunction is a result of aging changes to the brain. Your dog may display other signs, including confusion, loss of housetraining, abnormal vocalizing, less interest in day-to-day activities, and decreased interaction with you and other household members.
Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostics such as an MRI to rule out other neurologic conditions before confirming your dog’s signs are due to cognitive dysfunction. While cognitive dysfunction cannot be cured, your veterinarian can help you manage the condition by suggesting dietary changes, supplements, medications, or environmental enrichment which may help.
Unlike humans, dogs do not rely very heavily on their sense of sight to navigate through life. Smell and hearing are much more important to them, so it’s sometimes difficult to recognize that your dog is suffering from vision loss. In many cases, a dog’s night vision tends to diminish first.
If your dog is displaying signs of anxiety by panting and pacing when the lights go out, consider decreased vision as a possible cause. Dogs are very good at memorizing where familiar objects are located, but if your dogʻs night vision is failing, you may notice him bumping into newly displaced furniture or tripping over toys left on the floor. You may also observe your dog avoiding going up or down stairs in the dark.
Your veterinarian will examine your dog’s eyes to see if a treatable ophthalmic condition is causing the issue. If not, your veterinarian can suggest ways to help your dog adapt to vision loss.
Is your dog taking any prescribed medications? Several medications may cause panting, pacing, and restlessness as a side effect.
Glucocorticoids such as prednisone are one such medication. Just like humans, different dogs react differently to certain medications. If your dog was given sedatives or opioid pain medication for a surgical or medical procedure, they might pant and pace as they metabolize those drugs. It’s also possible for your dog to have an adverse reaction to medication even if it’s prescribed and administered correctly.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice your dog behaving abnormally, including panting and pacing, after giving them any medication, including flea and tick or heartworm preventatives.
Heat stroke, or hyperthermia, can be a life-threatening emergency. An early indicator of heat stroke is panting and pacing restlessly. Without treatment, these early warning signs can progress, and you may start to notice your dog appearing unsteady or having trouble breathing.
Dangerous heat stroke occurs when the dogʻs body temperature exceeds 105°F. This can happen when a dog is left in a vehicle, exercised in hot weather, or left out in hot weather without adequate shade. Extra caution should be taken with short-nosed or brachycephalic breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs, who are predisposed to overheating because they cannot pant and cool themselves effectively. Additionally, dogs with certain health conditions, such as heart disease or obesity, can be more sensitive to the heat.
If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke, begin cooling measures such as directing a fan at them and placing cool, wet compresses in key locations such as the groin and axial regions (rib cage and spine). Get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.
If you’ve noticed that your dog seems to be packing on the pounds recently, that extra weight could be responsible for the panting and pacing behavior. Obesity in dogs, just like in people, can cause a whole host of health problems.
Extra layers of fat can make it harder for your dog to breathe, contributing to excessive panting. Obesity also increases the strain on your dogʻs joints, which could cause discomfort and explain why your dog is pacing and has a hard time getting comfortable.
Your veterinarian can perform lab work to rule out any underlying medical conditions and help you develop a weight loss plan for your dog.
A variety of different gastrointestinal (GI) issues could be causing your dog distress, leading to panting and pacing behavior. Diarrhea can be uncomfortable and cause your dog to constantly feel the need to go outside, leading to anxiety. Conditions such as pancreatitis can be excruciating, again leading your dog to display panting and pacing behaviors.
If your dog is showing signs of GI illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, or not eating, in addition to the panting and pacing, see a veterinarian as soon as possible. GI issues are not only uncomfortable and often messy but can quickly lead to more severe concerns such as dehydration and lab work abnormalities if left untreated.
Dogs who develop heart disease exhibit several symptoms, including trouble breathing, coughing, abdominal swelling, and loss of appetite. If your dog is suffering from heart disease, you may notice panting and pacing as a side effect of trouble breathing as well as resulting anxiety from dealing with decreased oxygen and weakness.
To diagnose heart disease, your veterinarian will likely recommend tests that may include an EKG, blood pressure check, x-rays, or an echocardiogram. If one is available, your veterinarian may also refer your dog to a veterinary cardiologist. Treatment of heart disease will depend on your dog’s specific heart condition
One of the reasons your veterinarian may recommend an MRI or CT scan if your dog is panting and pacing, especially at night, is to rule out any medical, neurological conditions such as encephalitis, an infection, or inflammation of the brain. Additional signs that neurologic disease may be causing your dogʻs panting and pacing include seizures, neck pain, “drunk walking,” and a head tilt. Another possible neurological cause of your dog’s behavior is a brain tumor.
Treatment of your dog’s neurological disease depends on what’s causing it. Medications are typically used to treat encephalitis, while surgery or radiation therapy may be recommended for a brain tumor.
Panting and rapid breathing, as well as restlessness and pacing, may indicate that your dog is suffering from a respiratory condition. Other symptoms such as coughing and the age and breed of your dog may help your veterinarian determine if panting and pacing are due to respiratory disease.
All dogs can suffer from infectious respiratory diseases such as kennel cough. Flat-nosed breeds such as French Bulldogs and Pugs are prone to a condition called brachycephalic airway disease.
Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostics such as radiographs or even refer you to a specialist to diagnose and treat your dog’s respiratory disease.
If your dog tends to behave like a canine garbage disposal, eating anything and everything they can access, it’s possible that your dogʻs panting and pacing is due to the ingestion of a toxic substance. Some human foods and medications will cause symptoms such as panting and pacing or hyperactivity when ingested.
For example, chocolate and caffeine contain a toxic substance to dogs that causes these and more dangerous symptoms such as increased heart rate and seizures. Ingesting Adderall or other drugs containing amphetamines can also cause your dog to become agitated, panting, and pacing.
If you’re concerned your dog may have ingested something toxic, see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Treatment will depend on what your dog ingested.