As a dog owner, there is a good chance you have woken up in the middle of the night. Not to a loud noise or your alarm, but to your dog panting. When this happens, our dog parent instincts tell us something is wrong. It’s upsetting and frustrating to not understand why your dog is panting. Is it out of discomfort? Illness? Restlessness? If only they could talk! Luckily, many veterinarians, canine researchers, and dog owners have given a voice to why our canines pant at night. Let’s consider five of the most likely research-backed causes.
Temperature
Did you know that dogs do not sweat through their skin? It’s true! Dogs cool themselves down by panting. If your dog pants at night, the most common cause is the temperature in the room. Consider your dog’s fur or coat. Do they have thick or dense fur? Do you live in a hot or more arid climate? If the temperature is comfortable to you, take a moment to consider how you may feel if you were wearing a heavy winter coat. Would you still be comfortable? That’s how your dog may feel!Heatstroke is a dangerous condition that needs to be considered if your dog won’t stop panting at night. Environments over 106℉ (41℃), such as the outdoors, inside a home or in a car, there is a possibility your dog may suffer from dehydration or heatstroke. This is more common in dogs that have more difficulty regulating their temperature. Short-nose breeds like French Bulldogs or Pugs may be extra susceptible to heatstroke. Be mindful of the temperature, and always provide your dog with ventilation, fresh water, or a fan or ice packs under their sleeping area to cool them down.
Stress or Anxiety
Dogs may pant, shake, or pace at night when they are experiencing anxiety about a new place or situation. This may be most apparent when puppies or new rescues arrive at a new home. This may also happen if the structure of your family changes – like welcoming a new baby into the family, or a family member or friend moving in.
Increased panting at night may be connected to nervousness about their new surroundings, different people sharing their space or separation anxiety from you. Creating consistency in your dog’s routine, increased attention or affection, or even providing a blanket or toy with your scent on it can help your pup feel less alone while they sleep.
Pain or Physical Discomfort
Just like us, dogs have a hard time ignoring pain at night when the distractions of the day go away. Settling to sleep can feel impossible when dealing with chronic conditions like arthritis and allergies, or a more temporary injury or digestive issue. Frequent waking, panting and pacing behaviors may be a sign of this discomfort. Always check your dog for any signs of physical injury. Dogs may lick an area that is in pain or discomfort, or start panting more when pressure is placed on an area in pain. Look for these additional behaviors that may indicate an internal injury that may not be visible to the naked eye.Middle aged dogs or elderly dogs pant at night if they need to use the bathroom. As dogs age, they can struggle with less bladder control. At times this may cause accidents, or it may increase discomfort if your dog needs bathroom breaks more frequently. A consistent bathroom break routine can help provide your dog a sense of comfort in knowing they will have access to the bathroom.
Self Soothing
At bedtime, we may toss and turn, sigh, or shift into various positions to soothe ourselves before sleep. Dogs do the same thing, it just sounds different! Panting can be one of these self soothing mechanisms that dogs use to settle themselves. Similar to managing stress or anxiety, dogs may pant when they become aware of unfamiliar noises or changes in the surrounding environment. They may become alert for periods of time at night, and pant in order to regulate their bodies back to a place of calm so they can fall back asleep. Self soothing behaviors do not typically appear in a long term or chronic pattern compared to more persistent behavioral panting related to anxiety.
Medical Conditions
Picture this. The temperature where your dog sleeps is comfortable. Your dog just went outside to go to the bathroom. They ate a full meal, and even had good exercise that day. But they continue to wake up panting every few hours! You may think your dog is panting for no reason.
Even if your dog has been provided with optimal conditions for sleep, medical conditions or cognitive disorders can impact their ability to remain in a solid sleep cycle. Dog dementia may cause elderly dogs to pant at night, and increase their restlessness because they are unable to regulate their sleep/wake cycle. Other disorders may include Cushing’s Disease which is a build up of cortisol in the bloodstream. This impacts your dog’s hunger, thirst and need to urinate.
Respiratory or heart disease may also cause your dog to wake up at night panting. A lack of oxygen may lead to excessive panting, and possible changes in color of your dog’s tongue from pink to grey, blue or purple. Additionally, if your dog begins to cough after panting this may be an indicator of heart disease.
When To Visit Your Vet:
Your dog’s panting at night is not a reason to panic, but it is worth noticing the patterns and intensity of persistent panting that lead to a disruptive sleep. From uncomfortable temperature to a more serious medical condition, there can be various reasons for your dog panting at night.
Calling your vet is a must if you suspect your dog has any of the mentioned medical conditions. Respiratory or heart disease symptoms require a more immediate visit or trip to urgent care. The sooner a medical condition can be assessed, the more likely it can be treated. If panting at night stays persistent, or seems to increase in severity, take your dog to the vet for further evaluation.
Know that you aren’t alone in determining the cause – if your instincts say something feels off, call your veterinarian! It’s our job as a loving dog owner to do what it takes to increase their comfort so we all can get a good night’s sleep.
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