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Why is my dog panting heavily but otherwise acting completely normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 9 months old | 40 lbs

Hi! My dog Sully is two years old. He has been excessively panting and breathing heavy the past few hours. He has eaten today, drank water, peed, everything normal. He's not being particularly lethargic or anything. And he is not acting like he's in pain. It's also not hot in my home. It's just very concerning.n

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on May 16th, 2019

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. It is concerning that he is excessively panting and breathing heavily. I would keep an eye on Sully for now. If he keeps acting this way, have him seen by a vet first thing in the morning. Should he develop other signs such as respiratory difficulty, severe lethargy, or a high fever, get him into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    If you feel like Sully might be having difficulty breathing I’d recommend seeing an emergency vet. Panting (without trouble breathing) could be a sign of pain, anxiety or a fever as well. If the behavior continues it would be a good idea to see a vet to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on.

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