When you gain a pound of fat, your body makes seven new miles of blood vessels. This means your body must work harder to pump blood through all of these extra new vessels, which may put a strain on your heart, and may reduce oxygenation and nutrient replenishment in other tissues.
Panting is a sign that your dog is excited, hot, or both. But panting is also a warning sign. If your dog is taking a break from exercise and continues to pant heavily, this could be a sign of heatstroke â a medical emergency. Move your dog to a cool spot or indoors immediately.
However, excessive panting can be a sign of illness, heat stroke or stress. It's important for you to know how much your dog usually pants so you can address the issue if panting becomes excessive. Heat Stroke. Each dog is a little different in how much he pants during and after exercise. Knowing your dog will help you identify heat stroke, which often occurs during a tough workout or exercise during hot weather. If your dog is panting for longer than 10 minutes after your exercise, contact your veterinarian. Other symptoms of heat stroke include excessive drooling, red tongue and gums, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy and seizure. To treat heat stroke, make sure your dog is drinking water.