anxiety over crate

When I put our Lab in his new crate last night he started panted really hard and couldn't relax. He ended up having terrible diareah in the night also. Today he's been fine all day but when we put him in his crate tonight same thing again. He didn't want to get in and is panting really hard. I took him out a second time to see if he needed to go to the bathroom...he didn't. He has been in a smaller hard sided crate for months and since it's gotten so warm I bought him a larger wire one so he could have more ventilation. I don't know what to do. He chews on things and can't be left loose all night.

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Hi Deb:  

Sorry you are having this problem.  I'll ask Dr. Hetts to comment here also.

This sounds like Anxiety to me.  If he was in a "hard sided" kennel for a long time, those may be seen as more confining and restrictive and perhaps he build up anxiety about being kenneled.  That may be what you are seeing.  I always recommend the wire kennels at least 1 and 1/2 times the dog's body length for crate training.  

Also, because  it is summer, this could be heat related.  My German Shep also pants in his wire kennel at night.  When the nights got warmer we began placing a fan on low blowing into his kennel and now he sleeps like a baby with no panting.  

So, it may be either head, or anxiety (and high anxiety can cause diarrhea).  

RX:  If it is anxiety related, your veterinarian can prescribe a nightly does of Valium to ease the anxiety and after about 1-2 weeks he should become accustom to the new sleeping arrangements.  

If it is the heat try a fan.  

One more thought, I like to give a dog who is confined to a kennel all night a small drink before going to sleep.  this way if they get thirsty at night they won't wake you up whining for a drink.  Both of you will sleep better.  

As he gets older he should become more trustworthy at night and you can let him sleep outside of the kennel.  But you will simply have to test / experiment with when that time is right.