When dogs pant in the evening, it is usually due to stress or fear. In individual cases, it can also indicate breathing problems, pain, allergies, heart problems, high temperatures, anemia, dementia or even poisoning.
This happens often, especially with very young and very old dogs. However, this is only a cause for concern in exceptional cases. So take a deep breath at this point.
Below you will learn about the 11 most common causes of panting in the evening and their typical symptoms.
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#1 Stress
Panting is not only a cooling mechanism, but also has a calming effect. The most common triggers include:
- Loud noises
- presence of strangers
- New place to sleep
- Strong storms
- Unfamiliar environment
- loneliness [1]
All of these factors can lead to the constant release of the stress hormone “cortisol”. This is also primarily responsible for panting in the evening.
The reason? Cortisol increases the need for water and therefore easily leads to dehydration. Other classic symptoms of stress include:
- Physical restlessness
- Ears laid back
- Dog is shaking
- Wandering at night
- Constantly changing berths
- Frequent licking of lips
- Retracted tail [2]
Attention is most effective for calming down. In the long term, however, it is important to find out the trigger in order to be able to take proactive action against it.
Various stress factors can cause dogs to start panting in the evening. This can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog is restless, constantly changes where it lies, the tail is tucked in and the ears are laid back.
#2 Allergies
As a rough rule of thumb, you can remember the 20-2 rule when it comes to allergies. Up to 20% of all dogs struggle with allergies and 2% even struggle with food allergies. [3]
The triggers of allergic reactions are so-called “allergens”. Basically anything can be an allergen. However, the most common triggers are:
- mold spores
- Chemicals and cleaning products
- Fleas and their saliva
- Cigarette smoke
- pollen and grasses
- hair of other animals
- Certain foods [4]
When it comes to food, the main triggers include gluten, certain proteins, milk and soy products. An allergy test at the doctor can help here.
If panting only occurs in the evening, then this greatly limits the possible allergens. Other typical allergy symptoms include:
- Sudden itching
- swelling
- Frequent sneezing
- Drippy nose
- Constant coughing
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Watery eyes [5]
For severe symptoms, antihistamines are usually prescribed. However, there is no cure for allergies. Prevention is therefore the only solution.
If dogs are exposed to allergens in the evening that they are allergic to, this can manifest itself in frequent sneezing and constant panting, among other things. Itching, problems with the nose or even sudden vomiting are also common here.
#3 Breathing problems
One of the side effects of panting is that it allows you to absorb more oxygen. It can therefore also indicate existing breathing problems.
The lungs serve as a kind of bellows for breathing. However, due to an infection it loses some of its functionality, which means dogs usually breathe faster. [6]
The bronchi refer to the lower respiratory tract and can become inflamed due to viruses or bacteria. Bronchitis also causes less oxygen to reach the lungs.
The larynx connects the pharynx to the trachea and prevents swallowing. If problems arise, shortness of breath and panting in the evening can also occur.
Every gram of excess fat in the throat and neck presses against the trachea. Dogs with a short snout in particular quickly develop breathing problems. [7]
In some breeds, for genetic reasons, the cartilage along the trachea may be too weak, causing collapse. But problems arise gradually.
Since panting also serves to absorb oxygen, heavy or constant panting in the evening can also be a sign of shortness of breath. Pneumonia, laryngeal paralysis, bronchitis or even obesity are possible here.
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#4 Fear
Depending on the breed, there is a wide spectrum of how anxious dogs are. The most common causes include:
- Presence of strangers
- darkness
- Violence in education
- Unusual silence
- Absence of the master
- Strong storms [8]
Separation anxiety is by far the most common here. According to studies, around 17% struggle with this. This particularly affects trusting breeds. [9]
Fear can usually be recognized in the evening when the dog is panting and drinking a lot. Because the hormones released increase the need to drink. Other typical symptoms are:
- Frequent yawning
- Avoiding eye contact
- Dog is hiding
- Retracted tail
- Protruding fur on the back
- Restless behavior
- Dog goes into the house [10]
Just like with stress, the first step is to find out the cause. You can then get your four-legged friend used to it step by step.
When dogs feel anxious in the evening, hormones are released that increase their need to drink. It is therefore typical that they pant heavily, drink a lot and behave restlessly. A retracted tail or sudden incontinence are also common here.
#5 Heart problems
The heart acts as a pump to ensure that the entire body is supplied with enough blood. In the case of heart problems, there is usually an undersupply.
The problem? Oxygen is also transported in the blood itself with the help of red blood cells. Typical triggers for this are:
- Disease of the heart muscles
- Heart valve disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Congenital disorders [11]
In this case, panting in the evening is just the dog's attempt to maintain the oxygen supply. Other typical symptoms are:
- Sudden cough
- Dog faints
- Rapid breathing
- Dog runs around restlessly
- Lack of motivation
- Rapid exhaustion
- Swelling on the stomach [12]
I recommend visiting the vet for diagnosis and treatment. Once there, the blood is usually examined, the pulse is measured and an ECG is carried out. [13]
If a dog's heart is no longer able to function fully, this also limits the oxygen supply. Affected four-legged friends therefore tend to breathe faster or even pant in the evening in order to continue to supply their organs with oxygen.
#6 Pain
When dogs are in pain, you shouldn't expect clear symptoms. Because the four-legged friends usually try to hide any pain. [14]
This is a protective mechanism of their ancestors. Because wolves cannot show weakness in nature without becoming a target for other predators.
The most common causes of pain include:
- Toothache
- Ear infection
- arthritis
- Cystitis
- Injuries [15]
If the pain occurs in the evening, you may also experience panting in the evening. Other classic signs of existing pain are:
- Increased pulse
- Dog sleeps more
- Fast breathing rate
- Constant beeping
- Sudden limping
- Restless behavior
- Dog refuses food [16]
In order to avoid unnecessary pain, I recommend contacting the vet immediately if you suspect something. Your dog will also thank you – albeit silently.
If a certain pain threshold is exceeded in dogs, this can usually be recognized by their behavior. Affected dogs usually breathe faster, become restless, pant heavily or even refuse food. Among other things, the symptoms can also occur in the evening.
#7 High temperatures
Compared to humans, dogs are significantly more sensitive to heat. On the one hand, their fur insulates body heat much better than our skin.
On the other hand, their cooling system is not as efficient as ours. Because dogs only have a few sweat glands on their paws and not on their entire body. [17]
Especially on hot summer days, it is completely normal for dogs to pant in the evening to cool down. Other typical causes are:
- Basket is near a radiator
- Dog bed is too warm for summer
- Underfloor heating is too warm
- Dog is covered at night [18]
It only becomes a real problem when your dog is on the verge of heat stroke. You can recognize this by the following symptoms:
- Rapid pulse and breathing
- Heavy panting
- Dry gums
- Body temperature over 39°C
- Dog is breathing heavily
- Coordination problems
- Dog seems weak
- Sudden vomiting [19]
The first thing to do here is to cool the dog down with cold water. I would then advise you to seek emergency veterinary care immediately to avoid any consequential damage.
When dogs get too hot in the evening, this usually manifests itself in increased body temperature, constant panting and rapid breathing. Heat stroke can also cause problems with coordination or sudden fainting.
#8 Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome is one of the few diseases that are almost always caused by tumors. The two most common causes of this are:
- Tumor in the pituitary gland (80-90%)
- Tumor in the adrenal glands (10-20%) [20]
In both cases, the symptoms are almost identical. The dog's body constantly produces and releases too much of the stress hormone cortisol.
This can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog is panting and shaking. In some dogs, symptoms primarily occur in the evening. Other typical signs of this are:
- Swollen stomach
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Hair loss
- Constant hunger
- Constant fatigue
- Poor wound healing [21]
If the tumor is diagnosed early, it can usually be removed surgically. In addition, medications are often used to regulate hormones.
Dogs with Cushing's syndrome struggle with constantly elevated levels of stress hormones if left untreated. It can usually be recognized by the affected four-legged friend becoming restless, panting in the evenings, drinking a lot and experiencing hair loss.
#9 Dementia
Dementia is a part of everyday life not only in humans, but also in our beloved four-legged friends. Depending on age, between ⅓ and ⅔ are said to be affected. [22]
In practice, this leads to an increasing decline in both mental performance and memory. Typical signs of this are:
- Restless sleep
- Dog wanders around
- Ignorance of commands
- Disorientation
- Dog acts…