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Why is my dog breathing fast?
Should I be concerned if my dog is breathing fast?
As a pet parent, you’ve probably noticed your dog breathing fast at times. This is fairly normal and common when your dog has been exercising and running around a lot, and perhaps so too in hot weather. Dogs can’t regulate their temperature in the same way that humans can — canines don’t sweat — so panting is a way for them to cool down.
So, if your dog is breathing fast in those situations, it’s not necessarily anything to worry about. But, as with other health conditions that affect dogs, it can be an indication of an underlying problem.
If your dog is breathing heavy while resting, or your dog is breathing fast but not panting, don’t dismiss it as ‘one of those things’ — it could be time to contact the vet.
Here, we’ll look at the possible causes that might trigger the question ‘why is my dog breathing fast?’
Why do dogs breathe fast?
Once we rule out your dog breathing fast after exercising and due to heat, which would usually slow and subside when your dog has recovered from his or her exertions, why do dogs breathe fast? There can be a number of reasons why a dog is either breathing fast or breathing heavy while resting (or both). These can include:
- Pain
- Heart Condition
- Pneumonia and other respiratory infections
- Asthma
- Heat stroke
Pain
Dogs are pretty good at hiding pain; they’re masters at it, quite often. While us humans typically make it obvious when something’s hurting, dogs can be much more stoic, merely getting on with life as best they can and tolerating pain and discomfort.There are subtle signs though — and one of these is a dog breathing fast, as well as sleeping more (or less, pain can make a dog uncomfortable) and flinching when stroked.
Heart Condition
Sadly, a dog breathing fast may be an indicator of a heart condition, which is a serious issue. Fast and abnormal breathing is listed as a symptom of a heart attack in dogs. If your dog’s heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to his organs, including his lungs, less oxygen will make it to his organs, which will lead to faster, more superficial breathing.In dogs that have a heart condition, they may breathe faster if they are lying down. When sitting upright their breathing will slow down.
Pneumonia and other respiratory infections
Breathing fast is a symptom of pneumonia and other, similar, respiratory infections. A dog might be unable to get sufficient oxygen to where it’s needed in his body, so breathing is faster in an attempt to inhale more oxygen and improve the flow.Asthma
If your dog suffers from asthma, irritants can lead to wheezing and coughing — and your dog is likely to breathe with their mouth open. In a severe asthma attack, a dog’s airways will become swollen and constricted — leading to a lack of oxygen and resulting in your dog breathing heavily. Asthma may even cause your dog to gasp and breathe rapidly in an effort to obtain air.Heat stroke
We already know that dogs can breathe heavily and even start panting if they’re hot — it’s their way of cooling down. But heatstroke is something completely different and far more serious; the condition is also known as heat exhaustion.If your dog has heatstroke, he or she will probably be doing more than breathing heavily — they could be excessively panting and showing other worrying symptoms, including foaming at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea and having seizures.
Heatstroke needs urgent treatment. Cool your dog off by applying a wet towel with cool (not cold) water to his body. Once his body temperature has decreased, it’s a good idea to bring him to the veterinarian to confirm he is recovering.
Is it normal for puppies to breathe fast?
If you have a puppy, you might be wondering, ‘why is my puppy breathing so fast?’ or ‘is it normal for puppies to breathe fast?’ The answer is — yes, it can be normal, though you should always monitor the situation and if anything appears concerning, contact your vet.Puppies tend to have a faster breathing rate compared to adult dogs. They have a higher metabolic rate, smaller lungs, and tend to exercise more frequently, and with more intensity, than adult dogs. Puppies don’t keep still, so when they rest, they may breathe faster and more heavily as their bodies recover.
As puppies grow, their breathing rate naturally slows too. Lungs develop in size and increase capacity, so less oxygen is needed: an 8 week old puppy breathing fast while sleeping is more common than a puppy several weeks older.
Are certain breeds predisposed to breathing fast?
It’s well known that there are specific types of dogs that experience breathing difficulties. Dogs classed as ‘Brachycephalic breeds’ have a condition called Brachycephalic Syndrome. This affects dog breeds with squashed, flat faces — think of the Pug, the Bulldog, the Boxer and similar.Breeds with Brachycephalic Syndrome have deformities in the upper airway, which cause breathing difficulties. These dogs have a lower tolerance to heat, can struggle after exercise, and can demonstrate labored, heavy breathing. Helping your dog to maintain a healthy weight is one way of improving quality of life with this condition.
What to do if your dog is breathing fast
If your dog is breathing fast, the first thing to do is to try to understand why. As a pet parent, you know your dog better than anyone, and are best placed to realize whether this is unusual behavior.
First, check your dog for signs of any injuries that might be causing him or her pain. Inspect the mouth, eyes and nasal passages to check there’s nothing there, like a foreign object — a splinter, grass seed, snapped off branch — that could be hurting your pet. Gently touch your dog’s stomach and abdomen area and see how he or she reacts; expect them to flinch or pull away if there’s an issue there.
If there are no obvious signs of an injury, the question of ‘why is my dog breathing so fast?’ will have to be answered by a veterinarian. Book an appointment.
Your vet will ask you about the symptoms your dog has shown to help determine what might be causing his heavy breathing, including when you first noticed them and any changes you’ve observed. The vet will inspect your dog’s gums; pale gums or gums that are gray/blue in color. That can indicate a lack of oxygen.
If a dog has black gums, look at the inner part of their lower eyelid. If it’s blue (pink is the healthy color) then it’s another sign your dog isn’t getting enough oxygen. A lack of sufficient oxygen is an indication of potential heart or lung problems.
Should your dog have pneumonia or a respiratory infection, he or she may also have a fever, be coughing and sneezing, appear lethargic, and have discharge from his eyes and nose. Infections that work their way into the lungs cause pneumonia. Antibiotics will likely be necessary should your dog be breathing fast as a result of an infection or pneumonia.
Depending on what your veterinarian sees during the examination and based on the symptoms your dog is experiencing, additional testing may be recommended.
For example, if your vet noticed wheezing or crackling when listening to your dog’s lungs, they will recommend a chest x-ray to view the inflammation that’s in your dog’s lungs.
A tracheal wash can help determine what is causing the infection, as the fluid that’s collected can be looked at closely under a microscope.
Knowing the type of bacteria causing the infection will help with choosing the best treatment. Blood, urine and fecal samples may be taken. Should your veterinarian suspect heart disease, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiography may be administered.
How to prevent your dog breathing fast
Some of the causes that can lead to your dog breathing fast can be prevented — although not all of them. There’s very little you can do to prevent a heart condition, for example. But, you can help to prevent some of the reasons.
Preventing your dog from overheating is an obvious step to take. Avoiding walking your dog in high temperatures is good practice — when the weather is hot, aim for an early morning walk and another later in the evening, and stay out of the sun. As we’ve learned, heat stroke is a major cause of a dog breathing fast but is so easily avoided with a bit of care and common sense.
Pneumonia is another main cause. Can anything be done to prevent that? Actually, yes. Pneumonia can arise from other, less serious, respiratory infections. So, if you suspect your dog has a respiratory infection you should take your pet to the vet for treatment before it worsens — and potentially turns into pneumonia. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian, even when your dog appears healthy, are important so that your veterinarian can catch any health concerns before they become more serious.
Breathing difficulties in dogs can be expensive to treat. If your dog is breathing fast or breathing heavy while resting, start searching for pet insurance today.
Cost of Breathing Fast
The cost of treatment for your dog breathing fast depends on the cause. For example, should your dog develop pneumonia, the average cost of treatment is about $550, while treatment for heat stroke can average $5,000. Regardless of the condition, the cost of treatment will vary based on the location and its cost of living.
Read more about breathing difficulties in dogs here.
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