Why Is My Dog Panting At Night And Drinking Lots Of Water ( Vet-Approved Reasons)

Are you wondering why your furry dog is panting at night like he has just run a marathon and guzzling down water? Do not worry because we have got you covered.

Panting is absolutely common in dogs as a cooling mechanism. But when it becomes excessive, it's time to uncover the reasons.

Dogs pant due to dehydration, anxiety, obesity, or changes in weather like hot temperatures. It also involves many medical issues. So, before you start preventing the behavior, find out the reasons we have written in-depth.

Common Reasons For Dog Panting At Night And Drinking Lots Of Water

Panting is the technique that dogs use to cool themselves down. This is a self-taught and natural habit in dogs. So, if your dog pants at day or night and drinks more water most of the time, this is normal. However, excessive panting can be concerning sometimes, and you need to figure that out.

Check out if your dog's breathing rate is normal or not. The rate is between 10 to 40 per minute. So, if you see any abnormalities, then be sure your dog is panting. In such cases, the reasons can be,

• Exercise
• Pain
• Nausea
• Smoke Inhalation
• Parasites
• Medication
• Heat Stroke
• Asthma
• Anemia
• Pneumonia
• Compressed Lungs
• Kennel Cough
• Stiffening of Airways
• Windpipe Issues
• Collapsing Windpipe
• Pressure on Windpipe
• Fungal Respiratory Infection
• Bacterial Respiratory Infection
• Lung Diseases such as cancer
• Laryngeal Paralysis

Now, let us see some of the common reasons why your dog is panting at night and drinking a lot of water.

1. Dehydration

Your dog is suddenly drinking lots of water and panting because of dehydration. It can be due to exercise, illness, or more active playtime. If they do not get enough water after these physical activities day by day, they can be dehydrated. Especially on summer days under the scorching sun, a long playtime can dehydrate your dog.

The symptoms can be bright red dry gums, skin tenting, or excessive panting. 

Dogs breeds that are more active, like Rottweilers, stay active all day long. They may pant at night as they lose a lot of energy. Or did not consume an adequate amount of water. So, they show excessive water-seeking behavior.

2. Anxiety Or Stress

Your dog becomes anxious or stressed for many reasons, just like you. You may not be aware of your dog's anxiety, and he may be panting because of this. Your stressed dog now finds it hard to sleep at night, panting and drinking more water.

Has there been any change in your dog's surroundings recently? Is it a festive season where many crackers or fireworks are making too much noise? Or are you not spending enough time with your dog?

All these can make your dog anxious. Especially separation anxiety. He may miss you at night and wander in the house. He may whine at night, panting or pacing.

3. Dogs With Respiratory Problems

Respiratory problems can be the reason why old dogs pant and drink lots of water. However, respiratory problems can be for young dogs, too.

It means the dog is having difficulty breathing. There is not enough oxygen flow in the bloodstream. So, he may pant and seek for water. The signs are that your dog's tongue is purple, blue, or gray. Or he may be coughing, breathing heavily, or wheezing.

Common respiratory diseases are pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, lung tumors, etc.

There is the breed brachycephalic that is more prone to respiratory disease. These dogs struggle to breathe and may pant excessively. So, check your dog's breed.

4. If Your Dog Is Overweight

Your furry four-legged friend might have put on some extra pounds. Thus, he now needs more energy and power to do daily activities. Things have become harder to do and exert more energy. As a result, he may pant. Also, after doing some exercise or work, he feels thirsty and wants more water.

Obesity is not good for both humans and animals. It can lead to several diseases. Even completing daily tasks becomes more difficult. Dogs may pant because of the excess pounds.

So, check if your dog is overweight. Here is a general table of approximate weight according to dog breed. But your dog's weight can vary with gender, age, breed, or health. To know the ideal weight of your dog, consult your veterinarian. They can best tell by observing all the criteria related to weight.

5. When Dogs Are In Pain

Your innocent dog can not express any uncomfortableness or pain in words. He can not tell you he is in pain. Dogs are good at hiding pain. So, heavy panting can be a sign that the dog is in pain or injured.

It can be a gastrointestinal problem. The dog is facing bloating, gastric problems, or anything abnormal regarding the abdomen. Sometimes, dental issues can make dogs stressed. These pains are not visible. You may not be able to find out by an outer check.

Other common problems for dogs are swelling, arthritis, or injuries. These active, playful creatures spend a lot of time playing. While doing so, they can get injured. In such cases, dogs lick the pain part or do not put much pressure on the leg.

Allergies are also common among dogs. It can occur for certain foods or dust.

You can check out enlarged pupils or reduced appetite, even for his favorite treat. He may lie down and drink more water or panting.

6. Temperature and humidity

Dogs face a harder time regulating their body temperature than humans. Excessively hot or humid weather can make them pant excessively and drink more water, trying to cool down.

The safest humidity level should be 30% to 70%. High humidity can be dangerous for your furry friend. Too high or too low humidity levels cause other health problems, too. They can struggle with respiratory infections, dry skin, dehydration, or even allergies. Sometimes, dogs face heatstroke. So, you can imagine how important it is to balance the temperature of your dog. 

Breeds having characteristics with a flat face or short nose are more sensitive to heat.

Signs that your dog's body temperature has increased too much or decreased from a normal rate is increased heart rate. They may pant more at night after a whole hot day. But when the air is humid, panting may not work effectively. Thus, your dog drinks more water.

Some Medical Warning Reasons Why Is Your Dog Panting At Night

Excessive panting is a sign that your dog has some medical problem. Have a detailed look at which disease may make your dog panting more at night.

Heart Disease

Your pup's nighttime panting is bothering you. Have you checked if there is any heart disease? Now, this can be a serious matter.

Dogs can suffer from several heart diseases or heart failure like humans. If the heart is not panting at a normal rate, then it can cause panting, especially at night. There is not enough oxygen pump throughout the body. Your little friend may be suffering from a serious heart problem, and you are not aware of it.

Heart disease symptoms can be panting, heavy breathing or breathing difficulty, and coughing. They may get tired easily after a short playtime. They even breathe heavily after a short distance walk.

Panting is giving you an initial indication, and you should consult a vet immediately.

Cushing's Disease

Cushing disease is like a sneaky problem for dogs. This messes with the dog's hormone level and makes them panting and drinking a lot of water. This disease is also known as hyperadrenocorticism.

There are some common signs to look out for,

- More hunger and thirst

- Frequent urination

- Fatigue

- Baldness

- Skin infections

- Swollen abdomen or a pot-belly appearance.

Cushing disease occurs when a tumor forms on either the pituitary or adrenal gland. This causes an excessive production of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cortisol and steroid production in dogs' bodies increases. Cortisol is a stress hormone.

By the increased level of stress, dogs get more anxious. They may spend restless sleep and pant. Dogs with Cushing's disease may also experience behavioral changes. 

Hormonal Disorder

When it comes to our furry friends, hormones play a crucial role in regulating their bodily functions. Their overall well-being also depends on that.

So, your dog can experience hormonal imbalances that can wreak havoc on their systems. Hormonal fluctuations can disrupt the body's temperature regulation. Your furry friends pant even when they don't need to cool down. This can be particularly noticeable at night when the ambient temperature is lower. This time, panting becomes more apparent.

Hormonal imbalances can also manifest in other ways. Dogs can show changes in appetite, weight gain or loss, skin disease, aggression, or even reproduction behaviors.

If you notice any of these unusual behaviors alongside excessive panting at night, consult with a veterinarian.

Anemia

Dogs and humans have many common diseases, and anemia is one of them. Anemia is responsible for a decrease in red blood cells. Gradually, it reduces the supply of oxygen to the tissues.

When a dog has anemia, their body tries to compensate for the lack of oxygen and increase the heart rate. This increased heart rate leads to panting more. They try to inhale more oxygen.

Panting helps them regulate body temperature and increase airflow. And you already know panting is a natural process for dogs.

There are specific dog breeds, such as Doberman Pinschers and Greyhounds, that develop anemia more than breeds. If you have any dogs from these breeds, check their RBC count.

In addition to panting, dogs with anemia may exhibit other symptoms. They may show less interest in activities they used to enjoy before. Or feel difficulty in exercising or get tired easily. In severe anemia cases, dogs may collapse. Such as pale gums, weakness, fatigue, and a decreased interest in activities they once enjoyed.

Diabetes

Yes, your furry pal can get diabetes. If your dog suddenly starts drinking excessively and urinates more, and this continues for a long time, it could be a sign of diabetes. This is a metabolic disorder. For more urination, dogs feel more thirst and, yes, nighttime panting.

There are two types of diabetes dogs may be affected by: diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.

In diabetes mellitus, it creates a condition where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. It can also happen if the body is not responding to the insulin it produces. This causes blood sugar levels to increase.

Now, to get rid of this extra sugar from the body, the only way is through urine. Thus, dogs urinate more and have the urge to drink more water. Other signs of diabetes include dogs being lazy, having a strange breath odor, vomiting, or diarrhea. All this makes them really weak and panting.

This diabetes should be treated ASAP. Otherwise, it can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Kidney Problems

Your senior dog panting at night and drinking lots of water? It can be a kidney problem, which is common in senior dogs.

Kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste from the blood. But when it does not function correctly, it builds up waste products. As toxins are filtered out of the bloodstream, they also draw out excess water, resulting in increased urination. This can cause dehydration and a greater need for water intake. So, dogs may start panting as a coping mechanism.

What To Do When My Dog Panting At Night? (4 Tips To Help Prevent )

You need to help your dog stop panting at night and also drink excessive amounts of water. You can apply some tips to prevent the issue. Because not pet parents really like to see their pets doing weird behavior.

Before that, find out the exact reason for nighttime panting to apply the cure.

1. Give Your Dog Freshwater

Since dogs can be dehydrated and hot, ensure their access to fresh water all the time. In time to cool down, he can immediately use the water. Also, you should supervise your dog's water intake. Dogs need 1 ounce of water per body weight. If you can not calculate the ratio, then contact your veteran. Especially in summer seasons, be careful about the proper supply of freshwater.

2. Create A Comfortable Sleeping Environment

You are dealing with your dog's night panting behavior, so make sure they have a comfortable sleeping environment. They need proper rest. With a comfy bed or environment, their stress may be reduced.

Also, try not to make noise at night. This can frighten your dog. Giving them a dedicated sleeping space where others enter is limited.

Keep your dog mentally and stimulated. Then, make sure the humidity level is 30-70%. This is a safe temperature for dogs.

3. Maintain A Healthy Body Weight

We already discussed how obesity can make your dog panting more and tired all the time. Be strict with their food bowl and treat consumers. We did not mean not to give less food to your dog. Instead, consult your vet, then make a food routine with sufficient amounts. So, they get all the nutrition and energy, and they also do not get fat.

Keep them engaged in regular play and physical activities. This helps obese dogs a lot in reducing extra weight.

4. Go To The Dog Veterinarian

Now it is time to make an appointment with your vet as you point out abnormal panting and consumption of water. There may be some medical issues that you can not figure out by external checking.

Only a vet can do necessary tests, checkups, and x-rays to find out the main problem. Also, they are experts on pets. So, if you share the problem, they can best help you.

Also, they can suggest the cure methods. Hence, a regular checkup becomes a must for your dog. You do not want your beloved pet to struggle with hidden problems and stay in pain.

Conclusion

We understand your concern about "Why is my dog panting at night and consuming lots of water?" Panting is a normal cooling-down mechanism for dogs. But when the behavior seems abnormal, now it is concerning.

But without worrying much, try to find out the reasons. There can be too much hot weather, anxiety, or any medical problem. But the best thing is to consult a vet. He can best indicate the correct problem and suggest the solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Know How Much Your Dog Drinks Daily

To track your dog's water intake, stay consistent by filling the bowl with the same level. Measure how much water is left at the end of the day. Be careful about spilling water. Also, if you have multiple pets, use separate bowls.

Why Is My Dog Drinking Lots Of Water And Peeing A Lot?

If your dog drinks more water than usual, he will pee a lot. This depends on how the water is being processed in the kidneys.

What Is Panting In Dogs?

While panting, the air movement stays confined to the upper airway. This stops where the trachea starts to divide. So, consequently, breathing the cool air from outside absorbs the heat from the body. Also enables the evaporation of saliva in the mouth. Gradually, this reduces the body temperature.

How Much Water Dogs Need To Drink Per Day?

Dogs need to consume 1 ounce of water for every pound they weigh each day. To put it in perspective, one ounce of water is equivalent to one-eighth of a cup.