Panting in the car

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Bellaboo18

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Tilly is 2 years old and has always traveled in the car well. She's happy to get in, travels calmly and gets out again fine. The last couple of times we've been out she's seemed ok but panting continually. We head out early so I don't think it's been too hot and the rest of her body language seems normal. Any ideas?

We've been in the car more than usual this week so step one is going to be cutting back on travel. I've always thought she associates the car positively but something seems to have thrown her.
 
tda said:
It's been odd weather here , even though it has not been very sunny, it's still been 20°+, so maybe it's just warmer than you realise
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Thank you, what's strange is we travel to Canicross and although we've been doing mainly walking due to the heat and start at 6.30 or 7am she doesn't pant when we get there and get going.
 
She's obviously unhappy about something with the journey then. My lad now prefers to sit on the back seat in his bed, before he was all for the front seat
 
Just a thought, but have you recently changed tyres, replaced rear brake pads or similar?
I had a quite sharp gsd that did similar, out of the blue. The only thing that was found was a small flat spot on a rear tyre that produced a very small vibration. Rear tyres changed and dog stress panting went.
Bit like some horses, they can pick up on the most minor mechanical changes.
 
tda said:
She's obviously unhappy about something with the journey then. My lad now prefers to sit on the back seat in his bed, before he was all for the front seat
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I agree. I'd been looking at the beds that you strap into the back seat anyway as we're doing more travelling so I'm going to order one of those now and see if that helps. She was sleeping in the front seat with her seatbelt on so something must have spooked her.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Just a thought, but have you recently changed tyres, replaced rear brake pads or similar?
I had a quite sharp gsd that did similar, out of the blue. The only thing that was found was a small flat spot on a rear tyre that produced a very small vibration. Rear tyres changed and dog stress panting went.
Bit like some horses, they can pick up on the most minor mechanical changes.
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I can't tell you how grateful I am for this reply.

Just over a week ago someone broke in to my car, smashed the passenger window and stole my purse from the glove compartment. I've since had the window fixed but have noticed when I close the door it sounds like there's glass in the door. I wouldn't be surprised if she can hear it when we're driving and it's spooked her. She is sensitive (I hate saying that!) but I wonder if something sounding off/different has upset her.
 
Bellaboo18 said:
I can't tell you how grateful I am for this reply.

Just over a week ago someone broke in to my car, smashed the passenger window and stole my purse from the glove compartment. I've since had the window fixed but have noticed when I close the door it sounds like there's glass in the door. I wouldn't be surprised if she can hear it when we're driving and it's spooked her. She is sensitive (I hate saying that!) but I wonder if something sounding off/different has upset her.
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Definitely worth getting it checked out, to rule it out x
 
I just wanted to update the thread for anyone searching a similar problem in the future.

I had the glass removed from the car door, scaled the travel back, kept the windows down so there was plenty of air flow and gave her a ginger biscuit an hour before travel.

Something worked as the panting stopped *but* sadly this was the first sign something wasn't right and shortly after she started to sit sloppy. X-rays have now showed cruciate ligament disease. So I feel it was pain but maybe a pain she tolerated when there wasn't a strange sound and she didn't feel sicky etc...
 
Cinnamontoast said:
Does she normally jump in? I’d lift or get a ramp, particularly as I think you’re aiming for surgery. I mean, I imagine you’re doing that already anyway.
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I always lift her in. She won't be going in the car apart from her vet visits for a long while now (assuming we go for the surgery). Not sure if you noticed this is an old thread that I've updated :)
The panting has gone but it was definitely the start of showing she was in pain.
 
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