Fast breathing in dogs can be caused by heat, excitement, or pain, and also by heart or lung disease. See a vet if it happens at rest.
Normal rate
A resting dog breathes about 15 to 30 times a minute. Over 40 at rest is abnormal.
Causes of fast breathing
- Heat, exercise or excitement.
- Pain.
- Anxiety.
- Heart disease or fluid in lungs.
- Lung disease.
- Anemia.
- Poisoning.
How to check
Count breaths for 30 seconds at rest and double.
See a vet
If fast breathing persists while resting.
Emergency
Blue gums or labored breathing.
Normal breathing rate
A healthy resting dog breathes about 10 to 30 breaths per minute, and a sleeping dog should take fewer than 30. Count breaths for 30 seconds and double it. A rate persistently over 40 at rest is abnormal and should be checked.
- Fast breathing (tachypnea) at rest can come from heart failure, lung disease, pneumonia, pain, fever, anemia, heatstroke or poisoning.
- Heart failure is a common reason in older small-breed dogs with mitral valve disease.
- Normal panting after exercise or heat is different from labored breathing at rest.
What to do
Watch for blue or pale gums, belly heaving, an extended neck, restlessness, coughing or collapse. These are emergencies. Take the dog to a vet right away. A sleeping respiratory rate log is used for dogs with heart disease to monitor changes, and veterinarians recommend calling when the rate exceeds about 30 sleeping breaths per minute. Tests include X-rays, ultrasound and blood work.
Normal breathing rate
Dogs at rest breathe about 15 to 30 breaths per minute, and sleeping rates over 30 may signal heart or lung trouble. Fast breathing can follow exercise, heat or stress, but also appears with pain, fever, anemia or heart failure.
What to do
Count breaths for 30 seconds while the dog is resting. See a vet if the rate stays above 30 or if there is coughing or blue gums.
Normal and abnormal breathing rates
At rest a healthy dog breathes about 15 to 30 breaths per minute, and under 30 is the usual threshold that vets use when counting a sleeping dog. A resting rate above 40 breaths per minute is considered abnormal. Panting after exercise, in heat or with excitement is normal cooling behavior.
Causes and what to do
Fast breathing at rest can signal heart failure, pneumonia, anemia, pain, fever, heatstroke, allergic reaction, poisoning or lung disease. Heatstroke is an emergency when body temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Pale or blue gums, labored breathing, collapse or breathing with an open mouth in a cat need urgent veterinary care. Count the sleeping respiratory rate for a minute and tell your vet. Poison control at the ASPCA is (888) 426-4435.
Based on data from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the ASPCA
