Strange Panting

[Laurenbiz]

Hi all,

 

Bernie started a panting habit in the past week or so that we actually thought we had under control back in October when we adopted him.

 

In October, we were originally feeding him a chicken-based dry food. And, maybe once a day, he experienced a strange panting episode that lasted a few minutes, then he was back to normal. When we finally asked our vet about this, he said that his panting was a symptom of abdominal pain. Also, Bernie had 'soft serve' poops then, so from the fecal sample, the vet also had another good reason to assume that his stomach didn't feel good.

 

When we switched Bernie over to a lamb-based protein food, he never did that panting again, and his poops became normal. So, indeed the chicken causes him to have the stomach pains and the diarrhea.

 

Probably starting last week, Bernie started that panting again. He did it tonight about 10 minutes ago. I haven't given him chicken-based foods, and his poops are looking normal right now. So, I don't know what to think of his panting. I tried extra yogurt and bread, thinking that these may help an upset stomach. These haven't worked, and I assumed that maybe he is just dehydrated. I've been trying to give him extra water, but these panting episodes still come up.

 

The panting is not a typical panting. His mouth is not open; he has his mouth in a 'smiling' position and I can see his teeth. He breathes heavily, but he takes very short, small breaths. And the panting is loud.

 

Does anyone have any ideas???

[Brindles]

My boyfriend's Australian Shepherd does that to get attention. What are is eyes doing? Where is he looking when this happens?

[3greytjoys]

How old is he?

 

Are you able to video tape him doing it?

 

Does it only happen when the weather is warm?

 

Any worse after exercise?

 

If he barks, is it deeper than normal?

 

Does his breathing sound rough?

 

Does he cough up food while eating?

[Laurenbiz]

My boyfriend's Australian Shepherd does that to get attention. What are is eyes doing? Where is he looking when this happens?

 

Well, he almost always does this when he is laying on his bed. Sometimes his eyes are even closed as he does the panting. (I know he is not asleep, though.) When his eyes are open during that panting episode, he usually just looks at whatever is straight in front of him. So, when he lays on his bed during that panting, he'll be looking at the chair or whatever is near that bed at the time. It's not that he is fixated on anything. He doesn't really look at me like he is wanting my attention.

 

I'm not concerned that this is bloat - there is no pacing involved, he is not vomiting or acting like he tries to vomit. Just the weird panting!

[Laurenbiz]

How old is he?

 

Are you able to video tape him doing it?

 

Does it only happen when the weather is warm?

 

Any worse after exercise?

 

If he barks, is it deeper than normal?

 

Does his breathing sound rough?

 

Does he cough up food while eating?

 

Sorry, I should probably have said that he is 4 years old! He is taking Clomipramine for severe SA - he has been on it since late January and we actually are planning to visit the vet soon to discuss lowering his dosage to hopefully wean him off the meds. These are the only meds.

 

The panting happened back in October and is now happening again. So, during the winter and spring, I did not see these panting episodes happen. His breathing sounds perfectly clear - nothing rough or rattling.

 

Occasionally, he'll make a coughing sound when he eats. It is not consistent - it is rare that he makes that sound, but it does sometimes happen.

 

He actually just barked at a police car (weird dog!) earlier this evening, and his bark sounded normal.

 

The time today that he had the panting episode was after our evening walk when he laid down on his bed after we came back inside the house. Other days, though, the panting episode seems to come out of nowhere - before or after exercise. Just no warning, it seems.

 

When he does this again, I will grab my camera so I can get video!

[3greytjoys]

A video would be good if you can capture it next time. Not sure if Bernie ever coughs a tiny bit during his episode. I'm not sure if it was still warm in your area last October, but it might be helpful to start a health file and note a bit more information for your vet like air temperature, what he was doing just before the episode, time and amount of last meal, etc.

 

Could be many things, and hard to guess by reading text from afar. I'm not a vet but I have experienced something similar in a couple of hounds. I understand your vet thinks it's related to an abdominal issue, and that could be, but interesting that Bernie went 6 (cooler) months without an episode. You might consider that he may have a very mild throat or soft palate problem. (Throat problems can increase with heat, as heavy panting can swell the throat.) Greyhounds are so super sensitive to heat anyway just from their thin skin, lack of fat and undercoat that a medical problem can be exacerbated in heat.

 

If interested, you can put a few top key word symptoms in the search box of the Merck Veterinary Manual (link below). Just remember it's a "veterinary" manual and lists many possibilities. Since you're with your hound each day, something might pop out at you as being a possible cause that your vet might not have seen or been told. This could be used as an aid tho help you and your vet come up with a possible diagnosis. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/present/mvm_about.htm

 

Good luck, and please let us know if you get a video of your boy having an episode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Laurenbiz]

...Well, since he had that panting episode about 10-20 minutes last night after his evening walk, I've had my camera ready today since we finished our morning walk about half an hour ago. No panting episode. And, it is nice and cool this morning. (Probably in the 60's - not the 80's/90's like yesterday.)

 

Maybe the weather is a factor. Well, I have my camera ready, anyway!

[Guest mbfilby]

Cy has bouts of panting. He is a spook, and for him it is either that he is hot, he is stressed about something or needs to go potty.

[Remolacha]

Fletcher has been doing this, occasionally, for a couple of years. He started being very affected by the heat about three years ago, with a lot of "normal" panting. Once it cooled off, he got better. The other weird panting started last year, but again, not very often and only when it was hot. This year, the panting (both kinds) has gotten more frequent. My regular vet ran a bunch of tests and took chest x-rays, nothing unusual showed, so I took him to a specialist. We are trying an anti-histamine for allergic bronchitis and more pain meds as his arthritis is getting worse. It's been a week, and he is a little better, but still panting (both kinds). We will probably be going back this week.

 

So, I don't have an answer for you, but whatever it is, I am sure hot weather makes it worse!

[Laurenbiz]

Fletcher has been doing this, occasionally, for a couple of years. He started being very affected by the heat about three years ago, with a lot of "normal" panting. Once it cooled off, he got better. The other weird panting started last year, but again, not very often and only when it was hot. This year, the panting (both kinds) has gotten more frequent. My regular vet ran a bunch of tests and took chest x-rays, nothing unusual showed, so I took him to a specialist. We are trying an anti-histamine for allergic bronchitis and more pain meds as his arthritis is getting worse. It's been a week, and he is a little better, but still panting (both kinds). We will probably be going back this week.

 

So, I don't have an answer for you, but whatever it is, I am sure hot weather makes it worse!

 

So, is Fletcher's 'weird' version of panting the same that Bernie does? - Keep his mouth fairly closed, but somewhat 'smile' and take very short, loud breaths?

[Remolacha]

Yes, that's the "weird" panting. It usually happens at night (but not always) and goes on for a few minutes, although it seems like forever when its happening! After a couple of minutes, he seems to take an extra-deep breath, then go back to breathing normally. It really doesn't seem to bother him, but it bothers ME! I want to find out what's causing it.

 

BTW, Fletcher has IBD, but I don't think this has anything to do with abdominal pain, it doesn't seem to be related to eating/pooping.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Of course I have no experience and cannot be of help, but I will say my girl is getting more heat sensitive as she gets older, perhaps something like that is happeneing. Used to be she panted when it was in the 90s, when she was about 5 it turned into panting in the 80s and now at 8 years old, the mid to high 70s are hot to her. And she does pant the same way hou describe, sometimes. Mouth not open but looks like a smile but she is panting. I used to freak out about it until my DW finally convinced me it is a weather thing.

[Laurenbiz]

Wait, I just thought of something else: Is this potentially a stress thing?

 

Remember, he did this a lot last October when we first got him when he was living with brand new people and in a brand new place. He was under stress at that time.

 

I've been unemployed for about two weeks now. (I have a second interview with a company tomorrow, though, so I hope something can work out!) I have noticed that he tends to whine a lot more when I leave, and when I come back inside the house. I think he's gotten spoiled with me being in the house more often than when I worked. There has been a change in his routine with my unemployment, plus his separation anxiety seems to be more heightened when I leave. And, the panting issue is now back.

 

Hmmmmm

[TheFullHouse]

Sounds like you may have the answer to your question. A change in routine can throw a lot of hounds off and their behavior will change. Sounds like the strange panting may be due to stress.

[greyhoundlov]

Let me just add - not trying to scare you - but my China panted like that, usually at night in bed - and it was pain related - osteo.

 

 

[Laurenbiz]

You're not scaring me! Osteo always could be a possibility. I haven't seen any limping or any other symptoms, though. Nevertheless, I think it sounds like this is definitely worth a talk with our vet. I am planning on calling the vet this week (they can probably get us in next week,) to discuss lowering Bernie's dose on his Clomipramine, since he has been on it about six months. I can keep guessing about it being food-related, some other sort of pain, stress, weather, etc. I'm not sure what to think!

 

And, I have a video now. I let him outside to go to the bathroom. It's about 80ish today and the sun is out. He was outside for between 5-10 minutes. After he came in, he went into the spare bedroom and laid down on the floor. (We HAVE dog beds at the house!) He didn't pant at all for about 10 or 15 minutes after he laid down - then the weird panting started after that. Someone had asked me before what his eyes are doing when he is having the weird panting episode. As you can see in the video, he was kind of in that funny zombie-eyed moment where his inner eyelids were partially closed. He just kept his eyes pointed in front of him.

 

Here is the link to his panting thing: (it starts at the :20 second mark and lasts the whole video)

[3greytjoys]

Wait, I just thought of something else: Is this potentially a stress thing?

 

Remember, he did this a lot last October when we first got him when he was living with brand new people and in a brand new place. He was under stress at that time.

 

I've been unemployed for about two weeks now. (I have a second interview with a company tomorrow, though, so I hope something can work out!) I have noticed that he tends to whine a lot more when I leave, and when I come back inside the house. I think he's gotten spoiled with me being in the house more often than when I worked. There has been a change in his routine with my unemployment, plus his separation anxiety seems to be more heightened when I leave. And, the panting issue is now back.

 

Hmmmmm

 

 

I assume you don't have another dog to compare Bernie's panting. We have a severe SA hound who pants like the world is about to end when she gets stressed (which is whenever I leave her sight, or if I am thinking of leaving). My guess is the timing of Bernie's panting last night is unlikely due to stress, unless Bernie was expecting you to leave right after you returned from your walk(?).

 

It really sounds heat related, especially since your evening walk was that hot. It's normal for hounds to lie down when they get home, and their bodies are still hot so they need to continue panting to cool down. It would be good if you're able to continue walking during coolest times of day. It may help a lot during summer weather to rinse Bernie's paws with cool water after your walk. (That helps our hounds cool off faster.)

 

This morning, our seniors cut their own walk short (on grass in a shady park) with temps only in the mid-high 60's. It was already getting hot by the time I finished walking the last shift of hounds. The youngest (3 y.o.) was panting hard with short, shallow breaths. (That's normal for her when she gets too warm.) Our younger hounds survive okay up to 70-72 degrees, but begin to pant like there is no tomorrow and meltdown if near 73-74 degrees. We walk in the shade but even if shade temperature is low 70's, thermometer in the sun can easily reach the 90's. (Sidewalks/pavement can retain fairly high heat long after the sun revolves off of it.)

[3greytjoys]

I just watched your video. Thank you for posting it. Honestly, I think he's just warm. He looks fine to me. That doesn't look like any serious throat/breathing/partial obstruction issue at all. All our hounds do that panting frequently. Our hounds avoid their dog beds when it's too hot. They like cooler places to lie down when they're too warm. Last night, one hound stayed downstairs to sleep because it was too hot upstairs. That was a first for her, but it was nothing to worry about. Just too warm. Hopefully, Bernie is just fine.

Edited June 20, 2011 by 3greytjoys

[Meandmy]

I'm watching this thread with interest. After watching your video that's exactly what Pretty Girl has been doing as of late. She has the early symptoms of LP and also arthritis/possible LS so I don't know if it's related to one or the other (or both or neither!). She just started the panting thing within the last couple of months. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the heat as we have central air and she'll sometimes start panting after being inside for hours at a steady temp. But it did start overall once the weather started getting warmer.

 

I brought it up to the vet but he didn't have much to say about it. And it doesn't seem to bother PG too much, either. She doesn't seem agitated when she does it and she'll just start up for a while and stop after a few minutes, sometimes without even moving.

[TheFullHouse]

He looks like my dogs do when they come in out of the heat. I noticed his bellt and inside his thighs are pink. He could just be hot.

[Guest Stripeyfan]

Kelly does this when he's hot after a walk or being outside - he doesn't always pant straight away but will start after 10 mins or so. He also pants like this when he's sunbathing and gets too warm (which is when I get him in or fetch the sun shade!). I have heard that dogs only stick their tongues right out when they're panting if they're really, really hot. Could you try sponging Bernie down with a damp towel or spraying him with cool water and seeing if that helps?

 

Hope whatever it is, it's something simple and that he's ok!

[3greytjoys]

I'm watching this thread with interest. After watching your video that's exactly what Pretty Girl has been doing as of late. She has the early symptoms of LP and also arthritis/possible LS so I don't know if it's related to one or the other (or both or neither!). She just started the panting thing within the last couple of months. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the heat as we have central air and she'll sometimes start panting after being inside for hours at a steady temp. But it did start overall once the weather started getting warmer.

 

I brought it up to the vet but he didn't have much to say about it. And it doesn't seem to bother PG too much, either. She doesn't seem agitated when she does it and she'll just start up for a while and stop after a few minutes, sometimes without even moving.

 

Other symptoms of LP (laryngeal paralysis) are rougher voice, deeper harsh heavy panting, taking deep breaths (trying to take in more oxygen), deepening bark, gagging/coughing more as they lose control of one or both laryngeal flaps, etc. From OP's answers to my original questions. I would doubt Bernie has this problem. It could be very early stage but LP is progressive so would become more apparent over a long time (possibly years) if he had it. LP is one of many things that worsen in heat, and is almost unmistakable after heavy exercise. LP dogs really need to stay very cool, especially in advanced stages.

 

Good to see that Bernie's video looks quite normal for any warm hound during summer. Looks like he has a thick fur coat too, so he's likely warmer than humans anyway.

[BatterseaBrindl]

This does not look like a dog in pain.

 

It looks like a dog who is a bit hot.

 

Try putting a fan in front of him, or dampen him with a wet towel.

[Laurenbiz]

Hi, my name is Lauren, and I'm a first-time dog owner!

 

 

All this and he is probably just hot?!

 

Bernie is my first dog ever, and the last time Justin owned a dog was when he was a little kid. So, both of us are actually still learning. We will still head to the vet soon regarding the Clomipramine.

 

It never hurts to ask! Even though it sounds like this is probably a non-issue.

[Guest june]

Never apologize for asking a question when you don't know the answer. As the saying goes; the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. You are concerned about your hound. Good for you.

june