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.
1 This occurs when a dogâs adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. 2  Along with heavy panting, symptoms can include excessive hunger and thirst, hair loss, and a pot-bellied appearance. 3  Treatment varies but may include adrenal-suppressing drugs or surgery.4  Respiratory disorders.et to know what your dogâs everyday breathing and panting looks like so youâll more quickly notice suspicious changes. Some common reasons dogs pant heavily include: Heatstroke or poisoning. Itâs normal for a dog to start breathing harder or panting after exertion.