Panting is normal when a dog is hot, has been exercising, or is excited or stressed, and it should settle within about 5 to 10 minutes of rest in a cool place.1,2 Panting that happens at rest, at night, in a cool room, or that comes with other signs can point to pain, heat stroke, fever, medication side effects, hormone disease such as Cushing's, heart or lung disease, or anxiety.2,3,4 Our free Dog Panting Checker asks a few quick questions, starting with emergency warning signs, and tells you how soon to contact your vet, which causes are worth asking about, and gives you a printable summary for your appointment.
The checker follows the same step-by-step approach veterinarians use: first rule out breathing distress and overheating, then look at body temperature, pain, medications, weight, hormone and nervous system problems, and behavior.3,5 It is an educational tool, not a diagnosis. If your dog is struggling to breathe, has blue, gray or pale gums, has collapsed, or may have overheated, go to an emergency vet now.5,6,7
Dog Panting Checker
Dog Panting Checker results from Dog Health Handbook · www.dog-health-handbook.com/dog-panting-checker.html
This checker is an educational tool, not a diagnosis. Only a veterinarian who examines your dog can find the cause of abnormal panting. If you're worried, call your vet.
How the Checker Works
Veterinarians approach a panting dog in a set order: first check for breathing distress, then decide whether the panting is normal for the situation, then work through body temperature, pain, medicines, weight, hormone disease and nervous system problems, with anxiety considered once medical causes are ruled out.3 The checker follows the same order.
| If your answers show | The checker suggests | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Struggling to breathe, abnormal gum color, collapse, overheating, possible poisoning or bloat | Emergency: go now | These can be fatal within hours.5,6,7,8 |
| Vomiting, tiredness, fever, a seizure, or a sleeping breath rate of 30 or more | Contact your vet today | A sleeping rate that stays above 30 is abnormal and can be an early sign of heart failure.9,10 |
| Pain signs, heart signs, hormone signs, a medicine that causes panting, or panting at rest | Book a visit in the next few days | Pain, Cushing's disease and steroids are common causes of panting at rest.2,4,11 |
| Extra weight, a flat face or panting only with stress | Plan a visit | These are manageable with weight loss, airway care or a behavior plan.3,1 |
| Panting only after exercise, heat or excitement that settles quickly | Likely normal | Panting is how dogs cool down.1,2 |
How to Count Your Dog's Sleeping Breaths
Wait until your dog is sound asleep, not dreaming or twitching. Count each rise and fall of the chest as one breath for 30 seconds, then double it. Healthy dogs usually breathe under 30 times a minute asleep; in one study of 114 healthy dogs, the average was about 13 to 15.10,9 See dog having trouble breathing for more.
Related: dog panting, dog breathing fast, heat stroke, Cushing's disease and dog first aid.
Respiratory Quicklinks
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dog panting so much at rest?
Common causes are pain, fever, steroid medicines, Cushing's disease, heart or lung disease, extra weight and anxiety. Panting at rest isn't normal, so have your vet check your dog.
When is dog panting an emergency?
When your dog is struggling to breathe, has blue, gray or pale gums, collapses, may have overheated or been poisoned, or has a swollen belly with retching. Go to an emergency vet now.
Why is my old dog panting at night?
Pain from arthritis, Cushing's disease, heart disease, and confusion from canine dementia are common reasons. A vet visit with bloodwork is a good idea.
Can prednisone make my dog pant?
Yes. Steroids such as prednisone commonly cause panting, thirst and hunger. Don't stop the medicine without talking to your vet, because steroids must be tapered.
How fast should a dog breathe when sleeping?
Usually under 30 breaths a minute. A rate that stays at 30 or more should be checked by your vet.
Is the Dog Panting Checker a diagnosis?
No. It helps you decide how soon to call your vet and what to ask. Only a vet who examines your dog can find the cause.
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Sources and further reading
This article was written and fact-checked on November 4, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- Maharaj N. Why Do Dogs Pant? American Kennel Club, updated August 2026.
- Catalano S, DVM. Why Do Dogs Pant? What To Know About Dogs and Panting. PetMD, updated January 2026.
- Allen J, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM). Differential Diagnosis: Panting (diagnostic tree). Clinician's Brief; adapted for owners, not reproduced. Citing Kittleson M, Rishniw M, Panting and tachypnea, Veterinary Information Network.
- Barnes C, DVM; Weir M, DVM; Ward E, DVM. Cushing's Disease in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 2024.
- Cornell University Riney Canine Health Center. Recognizing and responding to canine respiratory distress. Cornell University, updated March 2025.
- American Animal Hospital Association. Respiratory distress in pets. AAHA, 2024.
- Royal Veterinary College VetCompass. The RVC urges owners of hot dogs to cool first, transport second. RVC, July 2023.
- Grauer GF, DVM, MS, DACVIM. Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) Poisoning. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated September 2024.
- Hunter T, DVM; Weir M, DVM; Gordon SG, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology). Home Breathing Rate Evaluation. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 2025.
- Rishniw M, et al. Sleeping respiratory rates in apparently healthy adult dogs. Research in Veterinary Science 2012;93(2):965 to 969.
- Bruyette D, DVM, DACVIM. Disorders of the Adrenal Glands in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated May 2026.
About this article
Last updated : new interactive tool written using the Clinician's Brief panting diagnostic tree, AKC, PetMD, VCA, Cornell, AAHA, the Royal Veterinary College and the Merck Veterinary Manual.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
