Have you ever run up the stairs breathlessly and thought you were in bad shape? Or perhaps you went to the doctor and your healthcare provider indicated that your breathing was too quick or too slow? But your puppy now has rapid breath, what to do?
Just like in humans, dogs and puppies breathing quickly or off cadence is usually nothing to worry about, but it can also be an indication of a more serious underlying cause.
A puppy’s normal heart rate is faster than an adult dog’s, so that’s important to keep in mind when monitoring your pup.
Fast breathing in puppies is often referred to as Tachypnoea. This can occur due to stress, respiratory distress, heart disease, or lung cancer.
As pet parents, we understand that health conditions with your new puppy can be alarming, so we’re here to give you a full rundown of what is considered Tachypnoea, when to be concerned, and the possible reasons for your puppy’s rapid breathing.
Keep reading for more information!
What is a Puppy’s Normal Breath Rate?
A puppy’s normal resting breathing rate is 15 to 40 breaths per minute. This is already a little higher than an adult dog’s, which is 10 to 30 breaths per minute.
If you are observing your puppy next to your adult dog, you may be alarmed at how much quicker your puppy is breathing, but don’t worry! Puppies take more breaths at rest than adult dogs because they are growing rapidly.
This means they require more oxygen to fuel their cellular growth and metabolism.
Breathing rate is determined by the body using chemoreceptors. These special receptors are constantly detecting the levels of CO2 and O2 within our bloodstream, which can change based on activity, mood, stress levels, etc. The same system is present within our dog’s bodies.
What is Considered Fast Breathing for a Puppy? How Can You Tell?
Now that we understand a base level of how our puppies’ breathing works, let’s move on to when you should be concerned. The first step is detecting fast breathing, or Tachypnoea, in your puppy by finding your puppy’s breathing rate.
The best way to do this is while your puppy is fully asleep. While your puppy is deep in sleep, they are in a complete state of rest, so this avoids a skewed observation that can happen if your puppy just finished playing, jumping, or running around.
Once your puppy is asleep, set a timer for 60 seconds and count the number of times their chest rises and falls. That number is their breathing rate.
As we stated before, the normal respiratory rate should be between 15 to 40 breaths. Anywhere in this range is completely normal and you can rest assured there is nothing to worry about!
If your puppy’s breathing is outside the normal range, this may be cause for concern. There are several reasons your puppy could be breathing quickly, we will cover this in the next section.
Reasons Your Puppy is Breathing Quickly
It is a good idea for new puppy owners to be educated on the potential causes and medical conditions associated with irregular breathing. Below we have gathered the most common reasons for your puppy’s fast breathing, including normal and abnormal instances.
If you are worried about your pup, it is best to visit the vet to get an accurate diagnosis of your pet with a full physical examination.
Normal Functions
There are various reasons why your dog could be experiencing a rapid respiratory rate. Some of these are signs of a properly operating respiratory system in healthy dogs. The following instances could be the reason for a fast breathing rate in your dog:
Exercise
Puppies are rambunctious creatures that love to play and run around. If your puppy has been engaging in physical activity, this can lead to heavy breathing.
This is simply your dog’s body working to provide enough oxygen to the heart so that it can continue to participate in the activity.
When dogs’ bodies produce energy fast during exercise, they use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
Increased carbon dioxide leads to a drop in the pH of the blood which makes it more acidic, causing those receptors we mentioned earlier to spring into action which results in faster breathing to intake more oxygen.
This is completely normal, and their breathing should return to its usual rate when your pup calms down.
Stress or Excitement
Dogs can experience excitement, stress, and anxiety just like humans do. Perhaps your pup is entering a new home, meeting new people, or interacting with new animals, this can be stressful for your puppy.
Sometimes these situations are good and bad. Fast breathing can be caused by psychological factors such as those mentioned. As your dog becomes more comfortable and calm in a new situation, their breathing should level out.
The best way to prevent this type of fast breathing is to recognize other signs of anxiety such as excessive shedding, panting, yawning, or drooling.
If you see these, you should remove your pup from the situation to provide a more relaxing environment.
You can also try introducing stressful or new situations in small doses and short bursts so that your dog does not get too overwhelmed resulting in fast breathing.
Temperature Control
Another reason you could notice faster breathing in your dog is due to hot weather. Dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds such as Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs, use panting to regular their body to a normal temperature because they cannot sweat.
Panting expels the hot air from their bodies and evaporates water from the tongue, which causes air to flow over the dog’s wet mucous membranes in its mouth and nose.
Heat can be produced because of exercise or the environment, such as on a hot day. It is important to monitor your dog’s activity on warm summer days as overheating can lead to heat stroke and other breathing issues.
A good time to play with your pup is early morning or evening.
Dreaming While Sleeping
If your puppy is breathing fast while sleeping, this could be the result of them dreaming! During the fourth rem cycle of sleep, you may notice rapid eye movement, increased heart rate increases, and breathing gets irregular. Dreams usually last between 1 and 7 minutes, so your pup’s fast breathing will not last long if this is the cause.
While dogs cannot tell us what their dreams are about, scientific evidence concludes that our dogs probably dream about everyday activities such as chasing birds, playing a game of fetch, or interacting with other dogs.
Medical Conditions
On the other hand, an increase in your dog’s respiratory rate or even difficulty breathing can indicate respiratory problems or heart conditions.
If your dog’s breaths are consistently at a high rate, it may be best to seek medical advice. Below are some health issues that your puppy’s respiratory rate can indicate:
Health Problems That Cause Fast Breathing:
- Asthma
- Heart Disease
- Lung Disease
- Lung Cancer or Lung Tumors
- Kennel Cough
- Laryngeal Paralysis
- Bacterial Upper Respiratory Infections
- Fungal Upper Respiratory Infections
- Stiffening of Airways
- Tracheal Collapse
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pneumonia
- Compressed Lungs
- Hernia
- Anemia
Heart Diseases Explained
The heart and the lungs work closely together inside the body. The heart pumps blood to the lungs which allows the lungs to expel carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen.
Only severe cases of heart defects will cause tachypnoea, or fast breathing, in puppies. Many of these health problems will result in disease as your dog grows into an adult. While heart diseases are not a common result of fast breathing, it is still possible.
Lung Diseases Explained
Lung diseases are the most common type of condition associated with fast breathing or other breathing problems in dogs. This is because breathing takes place in the lungs. Labored or fast breathing can be an indication of a lung disease the lungs speed up to compensate for lowered oxygen intake.
Should I Be Worried if My Puppy is Breathing Quickly?
As we know, your puppy’s fast breathing can be simply from overexertion or a more serious health issue. For many dog owners, it can be difficult to pinpoint which is the case with your dog.
Here are some other symptoms in addition to rapid puppy breathing, or tachypnoea, that could be cause for concern in your puppy:
- Noticeably labored breathing (engaging stomach muscles to help breathe)
- Swollen belly
- Pale gums or blue gums
- Loss of appetite or reluctant to drink water
- Open-mouthed breathing while at rest
- Out-of-character drooling
If you notice any of these symptoms in addition to breathing problems in your puppy, it is important to take them to your trusted veterinarian as quickly as possible.
How Can A Vet Diagnose the Cause of Fast Breathing?
To diagnose the cause of fast breathing in your puppy, your vet will need to perform a full physical examination. This will allow them to determine whether the problem is stemming from the heart, circulatory system, lungs, or trachea.
This examination may include questions about medical history and diet, X-rays, listening to the chest with a stethoscope, feeling various body parts including the abdomen, and lymph nodes, and feeling for a pulse.
The vet will also observe your dog for psychological factors that could be causing the fast breathing.
As part of your dog’s survival instincts, most dogs will hide signs of disease in the early stages. This can be challenging for vets and may require additional screening tests to properly diagnose your pup.
How is Fast Breathing in Puppies Treated?
The treatment of Tachypnoea, or fast breathing, will depend on the cause determined by your veterinarian.
For example, Kennel Cough is treated with prescription antibiotics, while the treatment of a compressed lung involves surgery that opens up the dog’s lung to allow oxygen to pass through.
Additionally, if your dog is breathing quickly due to behavioral issues such as stress or anxiety, special training sessions with a certified dog behaviorist may be recommended.
Ultimately, many different treatment routes depend on the specific condition your pup is suffering from. Some common treatments involve pain relief, intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, or other prescription medications.
Summary
The normal breathing rate of a puppy is faster than an adult dog’s. If you are observing your puppy and notice a rapid breathing rate, or Tachypnoea, this may be cause for concern.
The best way to detect fast breathing in your puppy is to count their breaths while they are asleep since this is a true resting period.
The normal respiratory rate should be between 15 to 40 breaths. If your puppy’s breathing rate is outside of this range, this could be Tachypnoea.
Tachypnoea, or rapid breathing, can occur due to normal occurrences such as exercise, stress, or body temperature regulation, or more serious issues such as respiratory distress, heart disease, or lung cancer.
Lung diseases are the most common condition because the lungs speed up to compensate for the lack of oxygen.
To diagnose the cause of fast breathing in your dog, your veterinarian will conduct a wellness check that can consist of observation and x-rays to examine the heart and lungs for any abnormalities.
Possible treatment will depend on the cause of your dog’s fast breathing, but common remedies are prescription medication for pain relief, oxygen therapy, or even special training sessions.
We hope this article answered all of your questions about why your puppy is breathing fast and what you should do as a responsible pet parent. Thanks for reading!
Sources:
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2021/09/05/why-is-my-puppy-breathing-fast/#
https://www.thomasvillevet.net/site/blog/2020/12/30/dog-breathing-fast
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