My dog (4 month old Aussie/Poodle mix) has sudden bouts of heavy panting that last 4-5 seconds. This happens about once every other day and has been happening since we brought her home. There are no triggers, and can happen at any time of the day or night. There are no major changes to her diet or exercise. It doesn't seem related to heat or getting excited. It almost looks like a human panic attack. I've tried capturing it on video but it happens and subsides too fast. Is this Cushings?

Updated On January 5th, 2021

Pet's info: Dog | Aussie Doodle | Female | spayed | 4 months and 5 days old | 25 lbs

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

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No, this alone wouldn't indicate Cushing's, and would be odd for a puppy of this age. That said, exercise intolerance, fear/panic, stress, or underlying health issues can all cause what you are describing. I'd take Ann to your vet for a full workup just to rule out any serious health issues, and then from there see if you can find a behavioral trigger that may be causing stress or panic. Working on socialization and calming behaviors (focusing on a treat or toy, distracting with a game, moving to a quiet area to relax, etc) may help with stress triggers or panic triggers.

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