Unlike exposure to other toxins, many Agent Orange symptoms tend to take several years to decades to present, and can cause a host of health issues. Initial symptoms tend to include common side effects found with many other illnesses, as well as neurological and psychological problems.
Heavy breathing or panting. Most dogs will pant from time to time because they are stressed or excited, but when dogs pant for no apparent reason and the panting becomes excessive, this can definitely be a sign that a dog is experiencing pain.
Possible causes include heart failure, lung disease, buildup of fluid in the chest, trauma (damaged diaphragm), and tumors. Do not mistake normal panting for labored breathing. Panting, which is shallow, rapid, open-mouthed breathing, is not a medical problem; it is what hot, nervous, excited, or exhausted dogs do. Dogs pant to lose heat. Because dogs do not sweat anywhere except on the pads of their feet, this cooling process is very important.