Why is my 6-month-old puppy panting heavily for hours without exercise?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Lacey Mae's breathing appears labored or she is breathing quickly (faster than 40 breaths a minutes) or panting heavily, and you feel Lacey is in distress, I would recommend having her seen right away. Underlying cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary conditions can cause and contribute to labored breathing and respiratory distress which would require an emergency veterinary visit. You can also request a consult with me and I will be happy to review the video and advise further. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!

I would recommend taking Buddy to a veterinarian if we are still breathing heavy. They can get stressed and breath heavier from anxiety but my concern is that puppies this young can get sick and decline quickly. If Buddy is resting comfortably now I would keep an eye on him but if he starts to breathe heavy then I recommend a veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Based on the pictures Chutki doesn’t look pale. If she is having a change in her exercise pattern, I would recommend an exam by a veterinarian to rule out pain (which can cause panting) or a heart condition. These are common signs seen for both. Good luck and kisses to Chutki!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily concerning if he is otherwise doing fine. Panting is a way of regulating their temperature so panting alone is not necessarily concerning. If at any point you notice other signs associated with that such as inappetence, lethargy or difficulty breathing then have him evaluated. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can understand your concerns with having a new puppy. It is likely that your new puppy is finally starting to come into his own. As your puppy grows and matures he will start to develop his personality. This can lead to higher activity levels and more playfullness. As long as he is still tail wagging, running, jumping and overall seems happy, he is likely just fine. After quick spurts of play, puppies can also have heavy breathing episodes, but it should only last for 1-5 minutes at the most. If your puppy seems like he is in respiratory distress, coughing, gasping for air, etc, then its best to have him evaluated by your vet. At that point I would suspect he may have an airway infection, underlying heart disease, or a laryngeal disorder. However, if your pupy is still playful, eating, drinking and normal acting, then he is likely just fine and is having over exerting moments of play. Just try to limit his play to no more than 20-30 minute intervals two times a day to keep him healthy. I hope this helps and best wishes with your new puppy Winter. Take care.

The increased respiratory rate could be from him dissipating heat but it could also be pathological. I cannot tell you for sure just based on your description. I suggest you take a video of him breathing heavy at rest and then take him in to your vet for an examination. Show the vet the video and see what they think. The vet will take that video combined with their examination findings and let you know if it seems like his breathing is normal or abnormal. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. If Bella's breathing appears normal when she sleeps, then this is not too concerning, but it would not hurt to have her evaluated just to be sure. She is too young for most chronic conditions, but if she is not on any heartworm preventative, this would be a good thing to check on. Hopefully all is well & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.