How much do you love your Chihuahuas? They’re adorable, and not loving them is totally out of the question, but they are also the breed of dog that pants at a rapid rate. If you have noticed that your Chihuahua is panting more than usual, it might be time to take them to the vet for an examination. But before that, you need to know what are the reasons for Chihuahuas to pant so much? Why would they do that? If it is something normal, the visit to the vet seems absurd. But what if it isn’t?
Chihuahuas might pant so much for a few reasons, such as hot weather, illness, fear, out of habit, or excitement. However, if your dog is showing signs of heart disease, intense physical activity, or the side effects from the medication, they may be panting more than usual, and you should contact a vet for help. If your pup starts to pant excessively without any reason, then it could be a sign that something else is wrong, and you should have them checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible!
Keep reading this article for all the information and reasons about why chihuahuas pant so much and what you can do when they start doing it too often!
Is Panting Normal For Chihuahua?
Yes, it is normal for Chihuahuas to pant. However, while your dog pants to show you some things or communicate with you, there is There are several reasons why your Chihuahua might start panting, most of which are not severe.
However, if you notice that your Chihuahua is panting more than usual, or if there is something unusual about the way they are panting, it is essential to consult a vet.
Reasons That Might Make Your Chihuahuas Pant So Much
If you start counting things that can make your Chihuahua pant, you will find that the list is long. The reasons can be different, and some of them might repeat themselves. First, however, let us see what we have on our hands:
Hot Weather
This one goes without saying, as it gets scorching in summer for these little guys to handle. Even indoors, the heat can be too high to remain comfortable. Also, some dogs might not like air-conditioning or fans and prefer open windows.
Illness
When it comes to Chihuahuas with respiratory issues such as wheezing and coughs, panting is one way that helps Dogs pant to cool down, and if the weather is too hot for your little pooch, he will start panting more than usual.
If Chihuahuas feel unwell in any way, they are likely to start panting as a way of trying to get help.
Fear
Dogs pant when they are afraid as a way to cool down. This is usually seen in dogs during thunderstorms or fireworks. If you think your Chihuahua is panicking for any other reason, please consult with your veterinarian.
Out of Habit
Some Dogs will start panting even if there’s no real reason to. It’s a nervous habit that is not harmful in any way unless your Chihuahua starts panting for no apparent reason all the time. In this case, consult with your veterinarian immediately.
Excitement
Dogs tend to start panting when they are excited or happy about something, and it can be hard to tell between excitement and fear. If you think your Chihuahua is excited and not afraid, ask yourself: “Is my dog’s tail up?”
Heart Disease
Chihuahuas can develop heart disease as they grow older, and this will cause them to pant heavily. You should take your pooch to the veterinarian if he displays other symptoms, such as lethargy, coughing, and weight loss.
Intense Physical Activity
If your Chihuahua is highly active, he will start panting to cool down. This is normal, and there’s no need to worry as long as his activity level isn’t so high that it’s causing him other health problems.
Side Effects of Medication
Some medications have side effects that can make Dogs pant. If you think your Chihuahua is taking medication and starting to pant more than usual, please consult your veterinarian.
Allergies
Chihuahuas can also start panting when they are suffering from allergies. This usually accompanies other symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and a watery nose.
Should I Worry When My Chihuahuas Start To Pant?
Yes! As we already mentioned above, if your Chihuahua starts panting for no apparent reason or other than the reasons listed above – consult with your veterinarian immediately.
Most of the time, panting is quite normal. Hence, worrying will only increase your stress level, so drop that.
Look and observe the behavior of your dog for a while. If Chihuahuas are just tired of running or jumping around and have started panting, Chihuahua will calm down soon.
However, this is not normal if they pant heavily and rapidly while lying down or sitting. So now is when you start worrying and consult your vet.
What To Do When My Chihuahuas Pant?
Well, the things you need to do, are pretty straightforward. But, it’s best to keep them indoors during the day and into the early evening, as this will give their body time to cool down at night.
There are many ways of soothing your pet when they start to pant. These include:
Feed Them
You can try giving your Chi dog some food or water if it has been a while since they last ate/drank something. This will also help calm their stomach, which may have been tense from the panting.
Here are some of the articles that might help you with feeding your Chihuahuas:
- Homemade Foods For Chihuahua
- Homemade Foods To Avoid For Your Chihuahuas
- Chihuahua Food Buying Guide
- Best Commercial Dog Food For Chihuahuas
- Why Is My Chihuahua Always Hungry?
- Is Your Chihuahua Not Eating?
- Meaty Foods For My Chihuahua
- Vegetarian Food For Chihuahua
- How Often To Feed Your Chihuahua?
Turn On A Fan
Try turning on a fan if it is hot outside or your dog seems to be feeling the heat. This will help cool them down and stop the panting.
If your Chihuahua starts to pant, you should look for signs of any other unusual behavior. If they also drool excessively and have very red gums, it might indicate that they are overheating (hyperthermia). You need to take them inside immediately and try to cool him down.
Here is an article about Chihuahuas Dental Care that will help you deal with their red gums. Please do read it for your Chihuahua’s sake.
Give Them Some Space
Give them space if your Chihuahua is panting because they are nervous or scared. You can try to pet them gently and speak in a soft voice if you think this will help calm them down.
Give Them Some Love Or Attention
If your Chihuahua is panting because it’s excited about something (such as seeing its favorite person), you should give it some love and attention. This will make the dog happy and stop it from panting out of excitement.
Take Them To The Vet
If your Chihuahua is panting for an unknown reason or you are worried about it, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will tell you what is wrong and how to help your dog.
Is Panting An Indication Of Illness?
No, there are several reasons your Chihuahua might be panting, which doesn’t necessarily mean they are sick. Some of the reasons for chihuahuas to start panting are:
Hot weather, icky, physical activity, and excitement can also cause a Chihuahua to become very hot and feel like they need to release some heat.
Fear, pain, and discomfort can also cause a Chihuahua to start panting. This is because the heart rate increases when they are scared or in pain, which causes them to breathe faster (and thus pant).
If your chihuahuas feel sick due to illness or medication side effects, they might also start panting. Chihuahuas might also start panting with allergies, which can be pretty uncomfortable.
So, if your Chihuahua is panting for no apparent reason, it is essential to take them to the vet to rule out any health concerns.
How To Calm Down Your Chihuahuas?
Chihuahuas can get aggressive once in a while, which is quite normal for this breed. But does that mean you can let them stay angry all the time and make a mess of things around you? Of course not!
So, try to calm your dog down as soon as you see signs of anger or frustration in them. You can do many different things to calm your Chihuahuas when they start panting. Some of these include:
- Feed them
- Turn on a fan
- Give them some water or food
- Give them some space
- Speak in a soft voice
- Pet them gently
- Could you bring them to the vet?
Conclusion
Panting is a natural response for dogs, and it’s usually nothing to worry about. However, there are some cases where panting can signify something serious, so it’s always best to consult with a vet if you have any concerns.
Hopefully, one of the methods I mentioned will help calm your Chihuahuas down and stop them from panting. Keep in mind that if your dog is constantly panting, it might be a sign that something is wrong, and you should take them to the vet.
Thanks for reading!
