Why is my 8-month-old Chow Chow panting so much in hot weather?

Excessive panting when not hot can be a symptom of something else. I would monitor his water consumption very closely as diabetes and Cushings disorder are 2 endocrine disorders that can play a role. Also, pain and or anxiety. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. They may recommend blood work to rule out the diseases we discussed. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

He could be panting because he's in pain, he's hot, or he has a health issue like heart disease. I would put him in a cool and dark place to see if that helps with the panting. If this doesn't help with the panting and/or he starts having trouble breathing, I would take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

It may be from the excitement of getting a chew that gets him worked up. Being overweight can contribute to it. As long as he can calm down and breathing normally and easily when this is gone and this does not occur all the time, then I would not be worried

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Panting per se by itself is not too concerning unless it is causing other respiratory signs like difficulty breathing, coughing or discomfort. If you notice any of those signs, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Otherwise, his panting is probably normal. Best of luck!

While panting is a way dogs expel heat, there could be something else going on with him that is making him pant heavily. Panting can be a sign of discomfort or pain. It also can be do to an underlying metabolic problem. I would recommend taking Trouble in to your vet for an exam to see if he needs blood work or potentially pain medication for discomfort.

I can understand your concern about Leona's increased panting. As you know, dogs can pant for a ton of different reasons. Some of these can include behavioral issues, such as anxiety, or medical problems, such as heart or lung diseases, heat stroke (unlikely in this case, I understand), or pain from an injury or arthritis. I'm glad that you've tried to actively cool Leona by using the air conditioner and by grooming her. Since it doesn't sound like that's changed her panting, I think it would be best to take her to the vet for a full physical exam. Your vet will be able to listen to her heart and lungs, and check her for sources of pain. It's really important to rule out any medical causes of this excessive panting, as some can be quite serious. If medical issues have been ruled out, your vet will be able to discuss possible causes and treatments of anxiety. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

If they are resting quietly inside in the cool/shade, they should not be panting unless they were running around. If they are outside or in a hot room/house then it may be normal. If you are worried about them you should have them checked by a vet.