What could be some causes of panting other than the obvious?
 

I understand that dogs pant to cool themselves off but why would they pant otherwise, unless they were ill? My Cinnamon started this about 5 months ago (she is 2 1/2) . I should add that she has also seemed to gain alot of weight in the last few months too and wonder if it could be from being overweight. I did take her to the vet once, early in the summer and asked him and he shrugged it off and said some dogs just do pant alot...he said he had a beagle that used to do it all the time. So, I just accepted his answer.
But now I realize she does it anytime she exerts a little energy and if it is hot outside, it only take a few steps before she starts.Even when she gets inside in the air condtioning she continues to pant. In many other ways too, she doesnt seem like herself. She is not very playful anymore and sleeps alot.

I did start home feeding several months ago and my family blames that for her gaining weight and also say the weight is why she pants and is not energetic. The thing is, I have 3 little dogs that I feed that way and the other two havent gained at all, so Im not sure that is true.

It just doesnt seem normal to me. She has had a hard last 6 months if that matters. She has lots of digestive issues and allergies. I have spend more on her at the vet than the other two combined and hesitate to go again for the same issue when he has already said it is normal, but I dont want to miss anything. I have considered taking her to a new vet to get a consult on the diet issue, the allergies, so I could ask about the panting also.
Am I crazy...has anyone else had a dog do this? I know this dog well and though I have taken her to the vet a few times when I didnt need to (inverse sneezing)I usually am very much in tune with her health. I should add that when she is panting she doesnt seem distressed in any other way and often if I put her in a tub with cool water just briefly, if often stops.
Please help me figure this out. Thanks
Laura

I would really worry about heart problems. Congestive heart failure will cause weight gain because of water retention and shortness of breath. Heart worms can cause this. Has she had her heart checked? I hope that it is just that she is over weight though.

My parents yorkie is a little overweight and gets tired a lot faster than Lacy does and he'll pant a lot. So panting could be from being overweight and out of shape. If you don't have her on a regular reventative, I would check for heartworms too because heartworms affect the lungs.

Dogs also pant if they are nervous or excited. Some dogs do just pant more than others

Take her
 

back to the vet and ask them to do bloodwork. It could be her thyroid.

My Zada did the exact same thing. I had her checked out thinking it was her heart, but her heart was very stong. He took blood to check her thyroid and that was the problem. He put her on a clear liquid called Leventa (levothyroxine sodium) three months ago and she had a re-check August 27th and it's now normal, but she stays on the medication and will have another check in a year. She is more energetic, has lost a pound and doesn't pant as often. You may want to have your babies hormone level checked too.

What is your feeding regimen? There may be some huge clues there...there were for my situation!