If dogs pant, They are usually either physically strained or nervous. But what if the four-legged friend also has one at the same time enormous thirst shows?
Then you should be careful: the combination “Dog drinks a lot and pants” Although it can have harmless reasons, it can also indicate life-threatening acute or chronic health problems.
You can find out more in the following article.
7 reasons why a dog pants & is thirsty
1. Impending heat stroke
If a dog drinks an excessive amount of water and is panting at the same time, you definitely have to be on your guard: these are very often signs of an impending problem or one that has already occurred Heatstroke.
The dog is then overheated internally and the excess heat cannot be excreted quickly enough. Because of their dense fur and lack of sweat pores on their bodies, this happens more easily and quickly for four-legged friends than for us humans.
Not just a problem in summer
Heat stroke can occur not only on summer days: Also in heavily heated rooms It can become difficult for your four-legged friend to regulate its body temperature. Especially apartments with Underfloor heating are then a risk because the dog cannot cool down via the abdomen and especially the paws.
The result: The Body temperature rises to threatening levels, Without remedial action, it quickly becomes apparent Dehydration with circulatory collapse. The dog then instinctively tries to counteract this by drinking fluids and panting quickly.
This can lower the temperature, but unfortunately it is often not enough: Heat stroke is therefore always a medical emergency that is life-threatening!
2. Dehydration symptom
But even without overheating, the dog can become dehydrated: with one Dehydration The fluid balance is so disturbed that the function of the organs is impaired. Prolonged dehydration can lead to circulatory collapse.
Without enough water, it increases heart rate, which is why the dog often starts panting heavily. At the same time, he is of course very thirsty, so as soon as he has the opportunity, he will probably drink a lot to replenish his fluid reserves.
Possible causes of dehydration in dogs
- Changing your diet from wet to dry food
- Chronic diseases
- Result of diarrhea and nausea
- Physical weakness and injuries (dog can no longer make it to the bowl)
- Side effects of medications or anesthetics
- Stress, e.g. from rival dogs (food envy)
- Dementia.
You can get dehydrated in different ways other symptoms Recognize: The dried out skin is no longer elastic, pale mucous membranes and apathetic, but sometimes restless behavior are also typical signs.
It is generally assumed that a dog can go without fluids for about three days – but on hot days it can be significantly shorter – without dying. But that's not an all-clear, because problems can arise after just a few hours, sometimes leading to physical damage.
3. High fever
A third common cause is high fever. Unlike heat stroke or dehydration, this is not an external cause, but a natural reaction of the body.
Fever is very common Infections on, especially in viral diseases. But serious illnesses such as tumors can also cause frequent elevated temperatures.
Measure your dog's temperature
A dog's body temperature is usually measured rectally with an ordinary thermometer. But be careful: dogs are naturally warmer than humans. Only at around 40 degrees is it considered a fever.
When your dog has an elevated body temperature, his fluid needs increase, causing him to drink a lot. At the same time, the increased heart rate causes him to breathe more heavily and often pant. Affected animals also often appear weak and have a weakened general condition.
4. Cushing's syndrome
The Cushing's syndrome is one of the most common endocrinological diseases in dogs; it is a hormonal disorder. The body then produces too much cortisol, a steroid also known as the “stress hormone”.
The dog is then constantly “energized”, even though there is actually no reason for it. Heavy panting is therefore the order of the day. Cravings and thirst are also widespread, and many four-legged friends also have problems with incontinence.
Most commonly affected by this disease are: older dogs from around the age of eight. Most often it is a small, benign one Tumor in the pituitary gland responsible for the clinical picture, but in a few cases there are also side effects of medication or other, even malignant, tumors in the adrenal glands.
5. Symptom of poisoning
But be careful: Heavy panting and a lot of thirst can also occur Signs of poisoning be! In principle, it is always a medical emergency that must be treated immediately.
Unfortunately, there are many toxins that can be dangerous for dogs in everyday life. This includes not only pesticides such as rat poison, but also supposedly harmless foods such as chocolate or grapes.
Many toxins have a time-delayed effect, so it can sometimes take several days for symptoms to appear. In addition to severe thirst and nervous panting, many four-legged friends also suffer from severe digestive problems such as nausea and diarrhea, which are often bloody.
6. Dog has exhausted himself a lot
However, when your dog comes home after a long walk or just lots of sport I wouldn't worry too much if he's very thirsty and panting heavily. Then he probably just overexerted himself.
Our four-legged friends hardly have any sweat glands, which is why they have to regulate excess body heat through their mouths. At the same time, they also lose a lot of fluid during exercise, which is why they have to replenish their water balance afterwards.
The panting should then subside after a few minutes. The dog often recovers afterwards with a short nap.
7. stress & Fear
However, the behavior can be caused not only by physical exertion, but also by emotional excitement be caused. When a dog is stressed or afraid, he often reacts by nervous panting and also with increased thirst – this is mainly due to the many stress hormones, that are released.
Dogs can be highly sensitive and have an excellent sense of smell. That's why many come Stress factors into question that we humans don't even notice. These include, for example, noise and hustle and bustle, but also threatening conspecifics or strenuous activities such as car and train journeys.
Dogs are often afraid at night. The main reason for this is that the four-legged friends have difficulty seeing in the dark and therefore many shadows seem scary to them.
Other causes of panting
There is still many more reasons for a dog to pant. Most of the time he doesn't have an increased thirst. You can also find out more about this in the following articles:
Dog drinks a lot and pants: 5 proven solutions
If a four-legged friend is very thirsty and panting at the same time, then this is usually a completely natural reaction to physical or mental complaints.
However, it is also important to take action to remedy the situation: the dog usually finds itself in an exceptional situation that it doesn't like.
It is best to make sure in advance that the animal does not feel uncomfortable in this way. If it does happen, the following can be done Solutions help.
1. Give the dog some rest
If a dog is panting and needs a lot of fluids, the first thing you need to do is let him come down. That means: You have to him Quiet or one pause treat.
When going for a walk or exercising, this means that you should at least briefly interrupt the activity. If your four-legged friend seems stressed, it is also advisable to make the environment a little quieter: turn down the television or radio and avoid unnecessary noise – your dog will thank you!
2. Shady place to relax
If the dog shows signs of heat stroke, experts recommend taking him with him immediately into the shadows to go. This means the body doesn't heat up unnecessarily and panting can have its effect.
Covered retreats such as dog caves are less recommended in warm weather because there is poor air circulation. However, such a “own” realm can be one due to the feeling of security for the four-legged friend and the sound-insulating properties good solution to stress be.
Gentle cooling
Experts often recommend this Dog not shocked, for example with a bucket of cold water, to cool down, because this can put a lot of strain on the four-legged friend and also lead to circulatory collapse. Gentle methods like one are more recommended cooling pad with special gel that only lowers the temperature by a few degrees.
You can find out more about this in our “cooling mats for dogs” test and comparison.
3. Give plenty of water
If your dog is panting and thirsty, he definitely needs a lot of water. So you have to do everything you can to ensure that he can actually replenish his fluid levels. If the bowl is empty, you should add water.
Since the phenomenon can occur anywhere, it is advisable to take precautions even when you are out and about. The combination of a travel bowl and drinking bottle is also ideal for longer trips.
4. Anti-anxiety measures
When it comes to stress and nervousness, however, it helps above all to do everything possible to make the dog feel emotionally well again: As soon as the production of stress hormones is reduced, the panting and thirst often go away on their own.
This means in particular that you have to recognize what stresses your four-legged friend: If he doesn't like being in crowds, you should, for example, choose quiet, less-frequented routes for exercise. Avoiding car rides or being stroked with soothing words have often proven to reduce anxiety.
Some dog owners have also had good experiences with sedatives for dogs. Often these are not sedating medicines, but rather gentle plant-based preparations.
5. Off to the vet
In many cases, however, it is also necessary vet to visit. In some cases it is enough to make an appointment in the consultation hours, but in some emergencies you have to go to the doctor immediately or to the emergency service on the weekend or at night.
You need to go to the vet if you suspect the following causes, for example
- Heat stroke (emergency)
- Poisoning (emergency)
- Cushing's syndrome
- Longer lasting…