Discover the reasons behind your dog's panting, especially at night. Learn about the common causes of excessive panting.

If symptoms get beyond heavy panting (or don’t stop within 30 minutes to an hour) and into gastrointestinal issues, Dr. Brooks said it’s time to take them to a veterinarian.

Signs to watch for include “heavy panting, heavy breathing, excessive drooling, especially after regular activity,” Shannon said. Other signs of heat-related problems include lethargy and a ...

She explains that more serious signs of heatstroke include heavy panting, confusion, brick-red gums, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, and seizures.

“It’s very important to pay attention to heavy panting, heavy breathing. They will start drooling sometimes,” said Godfrey. The vet also says certain breeds are more vulnerable.

The early signs of heat stroke are “heavy panting, trying to seek coolness, trying to get to shelter,” Bureau said. “Then past that, they’ll look wobbly, dizzy, they might throw up.

Heavy panting, pacing, wide eyes, or attempts to flee can all signal stress. If your dog shows these signs during the show, it may be best to calmly remove them from the area, and return later.