My senior dog pants heavily after exercise. Should I see a vet?

This could be due to a few different problems that can likely be treated effectively. One possibility is heart failure. They tend to have a decrease in activity and tire more easily after exercise with this condition. It can also cause them to have labored breathing and wheezing after exercise. This can be dramatically improved with medication. Another possibility is that she has a condition known as laryngeal paralysis. This can cause very noisy breathing after exercise. This can be corrected with surgery. It's worthwhile to at-least have Sammie evaluated by a veterinarian. They can likely narrow-down the possibilities with an exam and possibly a few tests. I hope that helps and Sammie gets better soon.

Hopefully it's nothing but anytime you notice a change in the breathing character, you should pay attention. I advise to make an appointment with your veterinarian who will listen to her heart and lungs as well as check her throat for any abnormalities. There are may reason this could happen and its best to be safe. Avoid heavy activity until she is checked out. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there. Breathing hard or panting at rest can be due to a number of different things. Some common possibilities in an older dog would include hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, liver problems, or heart disease. It's also possible that he's simply hot, or that he is somewhat painful or uncomfortable due to his arthritis. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to. Your veterinarian can do blood work to check for these problems and get him started on appropriate treatment if any abnormalities are found.

If he seems to be breathing heavier than normal then he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Your vet can take a chest x-ray to evaluate his heart and lungs. It is not normal for a dog to breath heavy for an hour after exercise so I think you should definitely have him evaluated by a vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Onyx. I would recommend bloodwork to look for any underlying disease that can cause panting. Cushing's disease for example, is an adrenal gland disorder that will cause the dog to pant excessively. In middle age to older patients panting can also be the result of canine cognitive dysfunction. This is a disorder somewhat similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. There is no specific test for this, it is determined by your veterinarian asking you questions. Finally, anxiety can result in panting. There are anti-anxiety medications available help if this is the case. I hope this information helps!

There are many things this could be: * laryngeal paralysis * congestive heart failure * severe pain * hypothyroidism * pulmonary thromboembolism * pneumonia * bloat * many more possibilities.... He really needs to get to the vet for an exam and possibly some blood testing and/or x-rays so you can get a diagnosis. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you have noticed a change in her breathing pattern and she appears to have labored breathing, I would recommend getting her in to be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Without a video, it is difficult to say for sure what the problem is. I hope this helps! Please let me know you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.