#Middlebury #Dog
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: We have a large property of several acres, and I let our dog Boomer, a big Labrador mix, run out there every day for at least an hour. Yesterday he came in panting very rapidly and drooling a bit, and looked agitated. He kept that up for over an hour before settling down. Boomer seems fine today, but what could have caused that rapid breathing? – Dan J., Bloomington, Indiana
DEAR DAN: Even though he’s returned to normal, take Boomer to the veterinarian to be checked out, just to make sure there are no underlying issues.
It’s normal for dogs to pant heavily after lots of exertion or on a hot day, but prolonged, heavy panting should catch your attention, especially if it’s accompanied by other behaviors. The causes can be many: On hot days, heat exhaustion or heat stroke are a big concern. A neurological or heart problem could be the silent culprit. Or, Boomer could have gotten into something that’s poisonous to him.
Write down all of the symptoms you noticed during his panting episode, and include the temperature that day, what you fed him, how much he ate and how much water he drank during the day. Take those notes to the vet with Boomer.
If no underlying chronic cause is found, the vet probably will recommend that you keep a watchful eye on Boomer for a few days and make sure he gets plenty of water to drink. I also recommend that you go with him on his next couple of romps to see where he typically roams, looking for plants, chemicals left unattended or anything that he could accidentally ingest.
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