Why Is My Dog Restless And Panting At Night? Explained With Tips
Dog pants during the daytime to regulate his body temperatures on hot days. That’s natural and normal. But if your dog is panting at night, that may indicate that something is wrong with your pet.
So, Why is my dog restless and panting at night? This is a common problem for people with senior dogs. But at times, a younger dog, too, might do this. Night panting may signify diseases such as respiratory disease, heart disease, heart stroke, Cushing’s disease, etc.
Let’s find out more in-detail!
Why Is My Dog Panting And Pacing At Night?
If you’re researching why your dog is restless and panting at night, then you must have met with this problem.
There are so many reasons for a dog to be restless and panting at night, and we’ll help you explore them in detail.
Being restless at night becomes a common thing as your pet ages. As his senses deteriorate, their behaviour and relationships with you and other pets at home could alter too.
Late-onset separation anxiety is one of the changes that would grow in your doggo as they age. When that happens, your pet will view even your smallest absence as a form of separation.
Most of the time, it will be your sleeping time at night. So your puppy will try to keep you awake by pacing, being restless, trying to wake you up by pawing at you and licking you, etc.
Other than stress and anxiety-related reasons, many other reasons will catch your attention while researching “why is my dog restless and panting at night?” Let me tell you what they are.
- Heatstroke
If your pet is panting excessively, it might be caused by heatstroke, especially if the weather is unsuitably hot. Turn on a fan or adjust the temperature on your thermostat accordingly to ease his discomfort.
Also, keep his water bowl filled all the time. Coldwater works wonders when your dog is extremely hot. Also, sprinkle some cool (not cold) water over his fur to bring some cold to his skin.
- Respiratory Issues
It might be pneumonia or pulmonary diseases that are causing your dog’s excessive panting.
If you ever notice symptoms like coughing, lethargy, and wheezing, it’s best to take him to an emergency pet clinic for an accurate diagnosis.
- Cushing’s disease
When a dog’s adrenal glands produce too many of the stress hormone cortisol, your dog will start to pant and be restless excessively.
To all pet parents’ disappointment, no medication has still been invented for Cushing’s disease yet. Increased thirst, abnormal urination, and hair loss are some symptoms.
- Pain
Old age naturally comes in partnership with pain. Growling, being grumpy, short breaths, and restlessness are some signs associated with pains caused by illnesses like arthritis.
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications for these pains. Still, we must advise you against using them because these OTC meds have many side effects.
Therefore, if you need a pain killer for your doggo, you better consult your veterinarian first.
- Heart Disease
Another reason for your dog panting at night is cardiovascular disease. It poses a greater risk if your dog is now a senior.
Diagnosis includes dry cough, fatigue, restlessness, and panting. If you ever suspect your dog has a heart problem, have a medical check-up as soon as possible and never miss even a pill after that.
Why Is My Dog Panting And Won’t Lay Down?
Another way for a dog to release agitation is being restless and not laying down. This is another thing that might come your way when trying to find out “why is my dog restless and panting at night?”
There are 3 main reasons for this.
- Dog is anxious
- The dog is in pain
- He needs more exercise
I have already explained the first 2 reasons above in this article. Therefore, now I will explain how dogs might pant and won’t lay down due to lack of exercise.
A dog should get physically active at least for 30 minutes a day. These activities should include running and playing alongside other exercises that you might prefer.
When he’s not getting enough exercise during the day, he’ll get frustrated. He’ll release this frustration by being restless, pacing around, and panting excessively.
So, it’s very important that you take your dog out every day, suitably, to a dog park, so he can get his much-needed daily exercise.
How Can I Help My Restless And Panting Dog?
If you searched on our website, why is my dog restless and panting at night,
- Treats, yogurts, and cheese
Yogurt and cheese are naturally good for cooling down bodies. So if your dog is excessively panting because of a heat stroke, that’s what you should give in terms of food.
And there is dehydrated dog food too. Another advantage of food is that chewing and crunching food will excite your dog and give him a new purpose.
- Diet and exercise
A good diet and exercise routine won’t give you immediate results. Still, it will play a huge part in minimizing anxiety in dogs in the long run.
Not only that, a good exercise and diet routine will also ensure a healthier life for your doggo, ultimately making sure he’ll have a longer and happier life span.
- Keeping them near you
This is important if your furry friend is experiencing separation anxiety; because he sees your sleep time as a form of separation.
Keeping him near you will do much better for him than staying without seeing you all night. You can take his bed to your bedroom or simply let him sleep on your bed if you choose.
You can provide some cool water if your doggo is experiencing hot temperatures. Also, sprinkling some water on his fur will have a calming effect on him.
Other than these, if you’re concerned that there’s an underlying culprit of disease behind your doggo’s panting, the best thing is to take him to the vet.
We hope you have found the answer you’re looking for in your problem “why is my dog restless and panting at night?” If you have any more questions, forward them to us, and we’ll do our best to give you the answers you’re looking for.
Thank you for reading this post. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts. Have a nice day!
