Many dog owners sometimes notice that the dog breathes often. This can be considered as a completely normal phenomenon, but it can also indicate serious diseases. To determine what this is connected with, it is necessary to take into account some features. The normal respiratory rate in dogs is 10-30 breaths per minute. To determine the number of sighs, you need to put a hand on the chest of the pet and detect one minute.
Throughout the day, the dog’s breathing can often change. If the pet does not bother, then he breathes his nose and calmly. But if the dog makes it by mouth, then this action is not always a cause for concern.
Reasons that are not related to disease
Consider first the frivolous reasons. Frequent breathing is possible after an active walk. Also, this symptom may appear after training or playing with other pets. Dogs have no sweat glands, so the dog often breathes with his mouth open to cool. It can also be fright, stress or joy.
Disease
Another thing is when the dog breathes often for no apparent reason (described above). The most common problems may be those associated with the breathing apparatus: pulmonary edema, bronchitis, pleurisy, or pneumonia. When the dog is breathing heavily and often, it may have asthma or heart failure.
Breed features
Some breeds, such as pugs, are doomed by nature to respiratory problems. They have narrowed nostrils and throat airway. They are also much more likely to overheat, which also contributes to increased breathing. Therefore, if the dog often breathes by sticking out his tongue, this can be considered the norm. A similar phenomenon can be observed with an increase in body temperature or tightness of the neck with a collar.
Other reasons
If the pet did not observe any physical exertion, and breathing quickened, then this may mean the following:
- shock;
- myocardial infarction:
- poisoning;
- severe pain.
In this case, you need to immediately contact a doctor to examine the animal and find out the exact cause.
Pregnant and lactating dog
A pregnant dog breathes often if childbirth is finally at hand. In this case, nothing threatens her health. If breathing has not been reduced after childbirth, and the puppies are born dead, it is urgent to call a veterinarian, as the animal requires surgical intervention.
If a nursing dog often breathes and makes clumsy movements, then this indicates that its blood levels of calcium and glucose are reduced. In this case, the help of a doctor is also necessary, since otherwise the animal may die.
What to do?
Why does the dog breathe often? There can be many reasons. If, in addition to breathing, the dog has lethargy or anxiety, it whines, then specialist intervention is necessary. If it is not possible to invite a veterinarian to your home, you should carefully deliver her to the hospital.
If a nursing dog breathes frequently, then the help of a veterinarian is also needed. The consequences can be very different.
In the absence of extraneous symptoms, the dog’s rapid breathing in unnatural situations requires examination. It will help to identify disorders associated with the work of the heart.
If the dog often breathes with an open mouth, then the owner needs to carry out the following actions.
First of all, you need to measure the body temperature of the pet. With hyperthermia, frequent breathing is considered a sign of respiratory diseases. Next, you need to invite a veterinarian for an examination, who must schedule a test to establish an accurate diagnosis.
If the street is hot, the cause may be heat stroke. To do this, the owner needs to water the dog with cool water and take it to a cold place. You can also wipe the body with water and put a dampened towel on your head. Then call a doctor.
At normal body temperature, frequent breathing can be a sign of asthma. In this case, only medication will help. Therefore, you must immediately go to the hospital.
If fainting and blue tongue are possible with rapid breathing, this means heart failure. After calling a doctor, the owner should put heating pads or bottles of warm water on the dog’s paws and ensure peace of mind for the pet.
Heart failure
Listed above are all the main possible causes when a dog breathes frequently. But the most common disease is heart failure. We will talk about it in more detail. All heart diseases can be divided into three groups:
Congenital malformations are more common in young pets. Very often in this case, the animals die, as the body is still quite weak. Acquired defects, as a rule, in middle-aged animals, well, age-related - in animals older than eight years. In addition to rapid breathing in heart disease, other symptoms may occur in pets.
Small dogs stop playing, sleep longer, do not gain weight at all due to poor eating.
In adults, even at rest, shortness of breath may appear. The dog is very sluggish, during a quiet walk, she may faint. There is the possibility of rapid weight gain due to the large consumption of water.
All of these symptoms are the cause of a pet’s heart problem. Also here can be attributed an unstable gait, weakness, refusal of food.
In the case when rapid breathing is a sign of heart disease, you should transfer the pet to feeding in small portions, as well as reduce the amount of physical activity and walking. The doctor should prescribe special medications. They should be taken exactly according to the instructions.
Conclusion
So, from all of the above, we can distinguish the most common causes of rapid breathing in a dog:
- Overheating or heat stroke.
- Nervous excitement. This can be, if the pet is transported for the first time in transport or is in an unfamiliar place for him.
- There are some damages that are invisible to you. Various bruises or abrasions, the consequences of a fight with other dogs and more.
- Heart attacks This usually occurs in adult dogs in case of overheating.
- Pregnancy.
- Feeding newborn puppies.
- Cold.
- Heart failure.
- Various tumors.
Thus, to exclude negative cases, it is better not to self-medicate your pet, but to seek help from a professional who will conduct an examination, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. The only thing you can do is provide peace to the animal.