Heavy panting especially during car rides.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Georgia does pant heavy quite often. I find it odd. She's young and healthy and quite active. 

During the warmer months I thought it was due to heat. But now the weather is cooler and I still see it.

It's cold right now and every time we are driving in the car lately her panting is extreme and worrisome. 

I have an appointment with the vet on Monday for something else, but any ideas or other things to consider before meeting with my vet are welcome.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Nancy, Spud does this especially when he was a pup and in a crate.  May I suggest, before your vet visit, you get a short video and have the vet witness what you are seeing. 

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

That's a vGood idea.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Anxiety?

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's What I was thinking.

[Laura & Sophie Doodle]

My doodle would pant - hot or cold - nearly all the time as a younger puppy but after she turned about 10-12 months she rarely does it like she used to (or maybe we're just conditioned to it now).

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My guess is anxiety or stress.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Thanks. I was thinking anxiety or car sickness. I do notice it's getting worse and we spend a lot of time in the car.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Nancy, I had a foster who had a horrible time in the car. Never car sickness but anxiety. 

The story is lengthy and I had to consult Jane, Guinness and Murphy's trainer all the way in Connecticut for some answers before she was adopted out.

The bottom line was the fast scenery was too much.  Eventually, she traveled in a crate in the car where she could not see so much. She did well in a van sitting low.    In the crate she was comfy and secure.  That might be an option down the line for you.  If you have an SUV you might need to find a way to remove one of the seats so the crate does not have a window view.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Thanks. She seems to do much better when I open the back window a few inches and she can stick her nose out the window. I have a normal car and not an SUV.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

One more thought....since dogs are soooo perceptive, how are YOUR emotions when you are driving? Are you nice and relaxed, or do you tend to feel rushed, aggravated with traffic, etc. Winnie doesn't have trouble with anxiety, but her excitability goes through the (car) roof if I am the least bit tense. A bit of soft music can help both of us! :-)

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Thanks. That's a good point and one I've thought about. We do sit in traffic jams quite often. I will try the soft music. She sits very quietly and still, just heavy panting.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Just an update.

The vet says Georgia does not appear to be an anxious dog. 

While we were at the vet she was panting a bit also but it was warm in her office and she doesn't like going to the vet. She said some dogs just pant a lot. She didn't rule it out but not to worry about it at this point.