Expert: Jannie Balliett - 5/24/2009

Question
I have a 11 month old female boxer. She wieghs about 65 lbs. and the last vet visit he said she was healthy. It is warming up in Michigan and as it does my puppy is panting heavier. Is it normal for her to pant heavily and excessively for an entire walk and about 30 minutes following a walk? It was about 75 degress. It doesn't happen every day but has happened before. Once the panting happened before and it wasn't following any exercise. It seems to last for far to long. What could be causing this? Or is the heat what's bothering her?

Answer
Excursion causes over heating-- in animals and humans.

Animals "sweat" with their tongues-- they don't have sweat glands like we do.

Boxers are the short muzzled-nose breed and prone to excessive heat and being hot easily.

She is over heating on the walks and that causes her to pant. She gets hot quickly and needs more breaks than other breeds.

The Boxer breed was bred to safeguard its master, and protect, thus they bark and will attack if family is threatened, even though they are the working breed family.

They are not herders or runners, or hunters; bird and rabbit game, so they aren't bred to withstand running and heat.

Don't push here: shorten the walking time. Gauge it by her breathing and panting. Once she begins to pant-- walk over.