There can be many underlying reasons why your female dog is panting at night. Many of these reasons are benign, and luckily, there are ways that help reduce the intensity of panting in your female dogs. However, sometimes, excessive panting might be a symptom of a fatal sudden or an undiagnosed health issue and is often a medical emergency.
In order to understand if or not a vet visit is imperative in the case of your female pooch that has been panting at night, it is necessary to understand the common culprits behind the behavior in dogs. To your rescue, we will discuss eight reasons why dogs pant at night in this post.
Moreover, we will also dive deep into the topic and discuss seven ways of calming down a panting dog in this post. We will also learn more about when to get in touch with a dog behaviorist or a dog vet regarding the panting issue in your female pooch. Let’s get started!
Why Is My Female Dog Panting at Night?
Stress or Fear:
If your female dog looks restless and is panting excessively during the night, it can indicate she is having trouble sleeping due to stress. It can be common if she has been recently welcomed to a new home or during any changes in the environment. Dogs in an abusive or unhappy home environment can also pant excessively due to increased stress levels. Storms and thunder at night can also make your pup restless and anxious.
Heat stroke:
In temperatures above 106 degrees Farenheight, dogs are prone to a heat stroke which is a fatal condition and requires immediate medical attention. Some symptoms accompanying this lethal condition are lethargy, drooling, disorientation, heavy panting, and dehydration.
Heart diseases:
If your dog is relatively panting more than usual even while walking for a short distance, it is often advised to get their heart health checked. Heart disease in dogs can also elevate their respiratory rate, thus, the panting.
Overheating:
In case you didn’t know, panting helps dogs cool off as they exhale hot air and inhale cool air to regulate their body temperature. In extreme summers, especially if dogs are taken for a walk or exercise in the late evenings, they might overheat and become too exhausted. Moreover, if your female dog is panting at night, their bed might be surrounded by too cozy or warm materials, or the area might not be well circulated.
Old age:
If your female doggo is elderly, increased stress levels and various diseases in old age can cause your doggo to pant excessively. Moreover, senior dogs go through unpleasant body changes and body aches, which might increase cortisol levels; thus, the panting, be it nighttime or daytime. A canine cognitive disorder that causes sleeplessness and confusion can also be the reason why your old female pooch is panting and restless during the night.
Cushing’s disease:
Cushing’s disease or hyperadrenocorticism induces adrenal glands to produce the stress hormone – cortisol in animals excessively. If your female doggo is suffering from Cushing’s, you should notice an increase in their hunger and thirst level. Moreover, while cortisol levels in animals are usually lower at night, Cushing’s syndrome leads to unusually higher stress levels during the night, making your pooch pant abnormally around the clock.
Pain or discomfort:
If your dog had been hurt during the day, the pain from the injury might also induce heavy panting in dogs during the night. Uncomfortable body changes during old age, arthritis, or chronic illnesses might be the culprit behind why your pooch is restless and panting. However, if the panting is much heavy than usual, please check for any food or environmental allergen your pooch might be reacting to and get in touch with a vet if necessary.
Respiratory issues:
Sometimes, respiratory issues can also cause your doggo to pant excessively. If your pooch is generally out of breath even after minimal exercise, it might be suffering from respiratory disorders. In case they’re feverish, coughing, and panting abnormally during the night, schedule a vet consultation as soon as possible to rule out any severe respiratory illness such as pneumonia.
How to Calm a Panting Dog at Night?
Offer them water:
If it’s too hot outside and your dog is panicky and panting, you can first offer them some room-temperature water. While giving your pooch cold water from the refrigerator seems like the right thing to do, never give your pooch too cold water late at night when it’s hot as it can further shock their body. If their panting is due to overheating, you should see the intensity of panting decreasing soon after they drink the water.
Make sure their sleeping area is cool and comfortable:
Next, ensure that your pooch’s sleeping area has good airflow. If you feel overheating is the issue, ensure that their bedding material is soft and cool and not something that heats up easily. Also, check for any environmental allergens while inspecting the area, as allergic reactions can also also be the culprit behind nighttime panting and restlessness.
Keep your pet active during the day:
A short 15-30 min walks at least twice a day is recommended for a healthy dog. Keeping your dog active during the day drains their energy in a healthy way and helps control zoomies and restlessness during the night. However, while taking your doggo for a brisk walk in the evening is a good idea, scheduling it too late will result in increased panting during bedtime as the cortisol level is high right after the exercise.
Comfort your pet:
Comforting and petting your restless female pooch might also help calm them down and make them sleep well. Talk to them in a lower sweet tone or play soothing white music to calm them down. Doing so helps your doggo tremendously, especially if the night is stormy or if they’re scared or nervous.
Offer them calming treats:
Calming chews for senior dogs can help your elderly female doggo calm down. These chewing treats are formulated with beneficial ingredients that help your pup to calm and relax.
On top of that, such treats can distract your dog from whatever stressor is bothering them and thus, subside the panting. Nevertheless, remember that such chewing treats often contain supplements and, therefore, it is necessary to offer only the recommended amount of treats per day.
A dog behaviorist can help:
If your female dog has been panting during the night due to a major life or environmental change, a dog behaviorist can help your pooch to adjust to the current environment better. They can diagnose stress and anxiety issues in dogs and counsel the parents on how to help the pooch cope with the issue better.
Schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible:
When none of the above methods works, it is high time you consult with a vet on why your female dog might be panting at night. Moreover, if you suspect any allergic reactions or any injuries have occurred recently, thus, inducing the panting, you should take your doggo to a vet immediately. Also, keep your eyes open for any heat stroke symptoms during the summer, as it indicates a medical emergency.
Conclusion
As we’ve discussed above, from minor environmental stressors to diseases, there can be many reasons why your female dog is panting at night. If your dog is suffering from a serious illness or separation anxiety, please note that they need extra care and attention during such vulnerable times. While panting in dogs is often seen as a sign of joy and overexcitement, it can sometimes, unfortunately, be a symptom of serious underlying issues. Therefore, our suggestion to pet parents would be not to undermine the issue and seek the help of an expert as soon as possible if your female dog is panting at night chronically or with abnormal intensity.
