Shih Tzus pant more than many other breeds because of their flat faces, but panting can also signal heat, stress, pain, or an underlying health problem. The key is knowing what’s normal for your dog and recognizing when the panting has changed in frequency, intensity, or context. A healthy resting dog breathes 15 to 30 times per minute, so if your Shih Tzu consistently breathes faster than 30 breaths per minute while resting or sleeping, something is off.
Their Flat Face Makes Breathing Harder
Shih Tzus are a brachycephalic breed, meaning their skull bones are compressed into a flattened, “pushed-in” facial shape. This looks adorable, but it creates real airway problems. Their nostrils are often abnormally narrow and can collapse inward during breathing. The soft palate at the back of the throat is frequently too long for the shortened skull, partially blocking airflow into the windpipe. Some Shih Tzus also have tissue near the vocal cords that gets pulled inward with each breath, further restricting the passage. A few even have a windpipe that’s proportionally too narrow for their body.
This collection of issues is called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, and it means your Shih Tzu has to work harder than a longer-nosed dog just to move air in and out. That extra effort shows up as panting, snoring, snorting, and noisy breathing, especially during exercise, excitement, or warm weather. A certain amount of this is your dog’s baseline normal. What you’re watching for is a change: panting that’s louder, more labored, or happening in situations where your dog used to breathe comfortably.
Overheating and Heatstroke
Because their airways are already compromised, Shih Tzus overheat faster than most dogs. Panting is a dog’s primary cooling mechanism (they can’t sweat the way humans do), but when the airway is narrow, that cooling system is less efficient. Heatstroke occurs when a dog’s internal temperature reaches 105°F or higher and they can no longer regulate it on their own.
If your Shih Tzu is panting heavily on a warm day, after exercise, or after being in a car or sunny room, move them to a cool area immediately. Offer fresh water and let cool (not ice-cold) air circulate around them. Avoid ice baths or extremely cold water, which can constrict blood vessels near the skin and actually slow cooling. Cherry red gums are a warning sign of heatstroke. If the panting doesn’t ease within a few minutes in a cool environment, or if your dog becomes wobbly, lethargic, or unresponsive, that’s an emergency.
Stress and Anxiety
Dogs pant when they’re emotionally wound up, not just when they’re hot. If your Shih Tzu is panting but hasn’t exercised and isn’t in a warm environment, stress or anxiety is a common explanation. Thunderstorms, fireworks, car rides, vet visits, unfamiliar people, or changes in routine can all trigger it.
Stress panting rarely happens in isolation. Look for the full picture: wide eyes showing extra white around the edges, ears pinned flat against the head, excessive drooling or lip licking, yawning that seems exaggerated and intense, or avoidance behavior like turning away, sniffing the ground, or refusing to engage. If you notice several of these signs together, your dog is telling you they’re uncomfortable. Removing the stressor or giving them a quiet, familiar space usually brings the panting back to normal within minutes.
Pain or Physical Discomfort
Panting is one of the subtler ways dogs express pain. Unlike humans, dogs rarely cry out from chronic discomfort. Instead, they pant, shiver, become restless, or withdraw. If your Shih Tzu is panting at odd times, like in the middle of the night while lying in bed, or during calm moments with no obvious trigger, pain is worth considering. Joint problems, dental disease, ear infections, back injuries, and abdominal pain can all cause this pattern.
Pay attention to whether the panting comes with other changes: limping, reluctance to jump on furniture, loss of appetite, guarding a body part when touched, or a shift in personality. A previously social dog becoming clingy or withdrawn alongside unexplained panting is a combination that warrants a vet visit.
Heart Disease
Small breeds like Shih Tzus are prone to a condition where the heart’s valves gradually wear out and begin to leak. Over time, this forces the heart to work harder. The left side of the heart enlarges, and eventually fluid can accumulate in the lungs. When that happens, your dog’s body isn’t getting enough oxygen, and panting or rapid breathing is the result.
The signs of heart-related panting tend to develop slowly over weeks or months. You might notice your Shih Tzu tiring more quickly on walks, coughing (especially at night or after lying down), breathing faster while resting, or occasionally seeming weak or unsteady. A resting breathing rate that consistently sits above 30 breaths per minute is one of the most reliable early warning signs of fluid building up in the lungs. You can count this at home while your dog is relaxed or sleeping: watch their chest rise and fall for 30 seconds, then double the number.
Cushing’s Disease
If your Shih Tzu’s panting has increased gradually and you’ve also noticed them drinking more water, urinating more, eating more, losing hair, or developing a rounded belly, Cushing’s disease is a possibility. This condition causes the body to produce too much cortisol, the stress hormone. The excess cortisol weakens muscles (including the ones used for breathing), redistributes fat to the abdomen, and puts the body in a chronic state of overdrive.
Cushing’s disease is most common in middle-aged and older dogs. The symptoms develop so gradually that many owners assume their dog is just aging. Excessive panting combined with increased thirst, thinning skin, recurring skin infections, or a pot-bellied appearance is a pattern distinctive enough to bring up with your vet. Diagnosis involves blood testing, and the condition is manageable with treatment.
How to Tell Normal Panting From a Problem
Normal panting in a Shih Tzu has an obvious cause and resolves on its own. Your dog pants after a walk, during play, or on a hot afternoon, then settles down once they’ve cooled off or calmed down. The breathing returns to a relaxed, quiet rhythm within a few minutes. Their gums are a healthy pink.
Abnormal panting looks different. It happens at rest or during sleep. It’s heavier or louder than usual. It doesn’t stop when the trigger is gone. It shows up alongside other changes: coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, restlessness, or behavioral shifts. The gums offer a quick health check too. Healthy gums are pink and moist. Pale, blue, gray, or purple gums suggest poor oxygenation or circulation, which is a medical emergency.
Get in the habit of occasionally counting your Shih Tzu’s resting breathing rate during calm moments. Knowing their baseline makes it much easier to spot when something has shifted. A consistent rate above 30 breaths per minute at rest, panting that doesn’t match the situation, or any gum color changes are all reasons to get a professional assessment sooner rather than later.