9 Reasons Why Your Senior Dog Panting At Night Excessively

Have you been hearing your senior dog panting all night recently? It’s easy to worry about unusual new behaviors in dogs. Often, the worry is only exacerbated when these developments occur in a senior dog. It’s easy to wonder if the change results from a severe developing health condition.

Dogs pant for a variety of reasons. In many cases, your aging dog might pant because they’re hot or stressed. If you notice significant changes in your dog’s behavior, however, it is worth considering the possibility of other, more serious causes. Here are the nine most common reasons that aged dogs pant at night for you to be aware of.

1. Your Senior Dog Is Hot

It’s important to remember that the biggest reason dogs pant is for homeostasis. They don’t have sweat glands like humans to help lower their body temperature, and most breeds have a thick layer of fur.

If dogs want to cool down, they rely on panting to release heat quickly. If you notice that your old dog is panting a lot during the night, you should start by considering whether they might just be a bit hot.

2. Your Senior Dog Is Stressed or Anxious

While the most common cause of panting is to cool down, it’s also common to find your dogs panting because they’re stressed or anxious. Much like people, many dogs will begin to breathe faster if they’re scared about something.

You may also notice other anxious behavior, like pacing or separation anxiety. If you believe your panting dog might be stressed, you should consider what factors in the environment might be causing the anxious behavior.

3. Your Senior Dog Is Suffering from Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

As mentioned before, anxiety can cause senior dogs to begin panting at night. Unfortunately, not every cause for fear is entirely reasonable. One issue that commonly affects senior dogs is canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). While the condition has distinct symptoms, it best resembles the diseases like Alzheimer’s that impact humans.

If your elderly dog suffers from CCD, you may notice a few worrisome symptoms besides the increased panting. Your dog might also vocalize inappropriately during the night or have irregular patterns of wakefulness across the night. During the day, your dog might seem disinterested in play, food, and training. They may also seem lost in the house at certain times.

4. Your Senior Dog Is in Pain

Another reason to consider as you explore why your senior dog is panting at night is that they might be in pain. Senior dogs are prone to developing issues like dental disease or arthritis that can leave them struggling to sleep at night. If you believe your senior dog might be panting at night because of how much pain they’re in, you should speak to a veterinarian about developing a pain management strategy.

5. Your Senior Dog Has a Condition Causing Anxiety

While normal anxiety is common in senior dogs, it’s also not uncommon for them to begin experiencing new forms of anxiety as they age and their abilities change. Many senior dogs suffer severe anxiety at night because they have vision loss or hearing loss and are fearful of the dark, quiet home. Using tools like nightlights to make the home feel safer during the night might be an effective strategy for reducing anxiety and nighttime panting.

6. Your Senior Dog Has a Medical Condition That Makes It Hard to Breathe

Sometimes, the development of a disease can cause your elderly dog to breathe quickly at night. As dogs age, they begin to develop more health issues — many of these can impact their cardiovascular and pulmonary systems’ well-being, making breathing harder to breathe. Problems like anemia can also cause similar symptoms.

Because their bodies still need enough oxygen delivered to their blood cells, they often compensate by breathing much faster than normal. If you suspect your dog is breathing quickly due to an underlying health issue, you should visit a veterinarian to determine if treating the underlying disease is possible.

7. Your Senior Dog Is Obese

There’s no shortage of distinct health issues that can cause breathing difficulties. One of the most common issues that can cause older dogs to have trouble breathing is obesity. As your obese dog ages and develops conditions like arthritis and joint pain, the weight can often take an immense toll on their body.

Their body will require much more energy to function, so they often have an increased respiration rate just to keep up. If you believe your dog is panting during the night due to obesity, you should work with a veterinarian to develop a lifestyle and diet plan that will allow them to live their senior years in their best health.

8. Your Senior Dog Is Brachycephalic

If your aging dog is experiencing excessive panting at night, it’s worth considering whether they’re a brachycephalic dog. Due to the way brachycephalic dogs are bred, they often have more trouble breathing than other dog breeds. If your brachycephalic dog seems to be struggling to breathe, you should speak to a veterinarian to explore your options to improve their quality of life.

9. Your Senior Dog Is Malnourished

Senior dogs require a lot of extra TLC to keep them in the best health. Unfortunately, strategies that work to keep a two-year-old dog healthy often don’t cut it with older dogs.

There’s no shame in getting caught in a routine, but once you realize your dog is aging, it’s important to ensure you start offering the right supplements and diet. Offering extra joint care supplements and condition-specific treats can significantly improve your senior dog’s quality of life.

Keep Your Senior Dog Sleeping Comfortably

If your senior dog seems to persistently pant during the night, one of the most important things you can do is seek a proper diagnosis. When you work with a veterinarian to identify the disease affecting your senior dog and the possible treatments, you can give your dog the best care possible for the rest of their life.