Concerned Yorkie owners often ask questions about panting!
How do you know if your Yorkie is panting excessively? What does it mean? Is it time to worry?
These are all great questions, and this article will explain everything you need to know about quick-breathing Yorkies.
Yorkies will pant quickly most often to cool themselves down. Other times a Yorkie will pant rapidly include after exercising, playing, getting excited, experiencing something new, or even after a stressful event.
All of this will be explained below.
Yorkies & Fast Panting
This is a surprisingly common question many owners have, so you’re not alone here!
It’s certainly worrying watching your Yorkie pant to no end. We wonder if they are okay? If we need to do something? And when it’ll stop…
As explained above, the vast majority of panting is to cool down. Yorkies, like all dogs, cool down via panting and sweating through their paws.
There are actually many other “normal” scenarios that can result in quick panting. So It helps to know these as it will ease some nerves.
What Causes Yorkies to Pant Quickly
Aside from hot weather and going for their daily walk, what else causes Yorkies to pant rapidly?
Why Yorkies Pant So Much:
- After getting excited for any reason
- When anticipating an event (eating or going out)
- When socializing with new people, dogs, or animals
- When traveling in a car
- In response to unfamiliar sounds or events (fireworks)
All of these situations could be what’s causing your Yorkie to pant.
In these scenarios, quick panting is not something to worry about.
- Related article: Looking After Yorkies In Hot Weather
4 Bad Causes of Quick Panting
So when is panting something to worry about?
Let’s explain four causes of panting that warrant further investigation (or even a call to the vet).
1. Stress/anxiety
Yorkies can get stressed or anxious by many things, and of course, some causes are more concerning than others.
A classic reaction to stress or anxiety is excessive panting that’s completely out of place (or can’t be justified)
Sometimes, it could be a specific event in the day that causes a Yorkie stress, which then triggers panting.
On the other hand, if your Yorkie is dealing with long term stress or an existing anxiety condition, then quick panting may happen consistently throughout the day.
Causes of stress/anxiety in Yorkies:
- Under-stimulation
- Insufficient interaction
- Insufficient socialization
- Being left alone too long
- Loud outside noises (noisy neighbors)
- Issues within the household
- Grieving
Further information PetMD
As you can see, many situations can cause excess stress in Yorkies. Some of which can be considered short-term issues, whereas others may be chronic and more serious.
2. Dehydration or heatstroke
Dehydration and/or heatstroke is something that Yorkie owners should address as soon as possible.
Excessive panting is just one of many signs of dehydration and heatstroke.
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting with or without diarrhea
- Reduced energy levels and lethargy
- Excessive Panting
- Sunken, dry-looking eyes
- Dry nose
- Bright red/purple gums
- Sticky saliva
- Seizures
- Disorientation
- Weakness
- Headshaking
- Fainting
Most dogs go about their days being a little dehydrated, so that’s something we can fix easily by actively encouraging further drinking.
Encouraging more water consumption:
Buying more water bowls, replacing the water frequently, incorporating water into meals, or giving ice cube treats are all easy tricks to try.
Heatstroke, however, is more serious and may need veterinary attention. The most serious symptoms like seizures, fainting, weakness, and disorientation typically signify heatstroke.
3. Allergies
Unfortunately, Yorkies are prone to different kinds of allergies, along most other breeds.
From food allergies and pollen allergies to chemical allergies, all allergies can trigger rapid panting.
It’s also important to remember that allergies can develop slowly over many years.
Your Yorkie may not have had any allergies in the past, but it doesn’t mean they can’t develop one in the future.
4. Underlying health issues
Specific health issues may also trigger excessive panting…
These health issues all list heavy panting as one of their symtpoms.
We don’t have the knowledge that vets do, so it’s crucial to keep up to date with general health checkups! We can’t diagnose serious issues like this at home without the help of an expert.
Health issues typically come with additional symptoms too, so if you notice any of the following, we suggest speaking to your vet.
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Food refusal
- Unexplained behavioral changes
- Excessive sleeping
- Whining
- Quick weight gain or loss
What’s Normal Panting vs Excessive Panting?
So how are we supposed to know when the panting is normal or something to worry about.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific number of pants that we can count to know if the panting is okay, or troublesome.
It’s all about context and the recent events leading up to the panting. This is how we know if the panting is normal or not.
Whenever you see your Yorkie panting quickly, take a second to consider what they’ve just been doing…
Can the panting be justified?
Has your Yorkie just played, exercised, gone out in the sun? Are they waiting for food or responding to a loud noise outside?
- If you spot your Yorkie panting when they have no reason to be, this is when it’s worth considering the possibility of stress/anxiety issues, dehydration, allergies, or health issues.
For example, If your Yorkie has been relaxing in a cool shaded quiet room with nothing in particular going on, then there’s no reason for them to pant. Any kind of panting in this situation would be out of place.
So before worrying about your Yorkie panting, it’s crucial to first consider what your Yorkie has been doing recently and whether or not it can be justified.
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Why Do Yorkie Puppies Breathe So Fast?
Yorkie puppies breathe faster than adult Yorkies as they have not yet learned to efficiently regulate their own body temperature.
This is actually the same for puppies or all breeds!
Until young pups learn how to breathe and cool down effectively, their breathing will be a little quick and erratic. This is completely normal!