Why is my dog breathing fast?

One of our readers emailed us a question: Why is my dog breathing fast? That is why in wolfhound we conducted an exhaustive investigation to resolve this concern. The results of our research are presented below.   

My dog breathes fast

The normal breathing rate of a dog is between 10 and 30 breaths per minute. If the breathing rate is above this value, it means that it is a fast breathingThis can occur for different reasons, among which the following stand out:

• Fever or pain. If your dog has a fever or is in pain, he may very well have rapid breathing, so you should seek veterinary assistance immediately.
• Fracture or serious injury. Fractures and serious injuries can also cause rapid breathing in your dog. Likewise, you should seek veterinary help in these cases.
• Nervousness. If your dog is nervous due to some situation, he may show an abnormally accelerated breathing, so he would need a treatment focused on the modification of this behavior. An ethologist is the professional indicated to deal with this type of situation.
• Respiratory difficulties. A dog with breathing difficulties may also breathe fast, which could indicate possible congestive heart disease or lung disease.
• Heat stroke. Heat stroke can cause a rise in the dog's body temperature (especially in cases where the dog is left inside a car), as well as accelerated breathing, reddening of the mucous membranes, among other symptoms. Heat stroke is an emergency that merits urgent veterinary intervention.

My dog breathes very fast

• Dehydration. Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the dog loses more body fluids than it is able to replace, and usually occurs after severe episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. Dehydration symptoms include rapid breathing, dry mouth, sticky gums, sunken eyes and thick saliva. If your dog is dehydrated, you should take him immediately to the veterinarian.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a condition associated with hyperglycemia that causes breathing alterations, general weakness, vomiting and an odor like nail polish remover on the dog's breath, which requires emergency veterinary intervention.
• Intoxication. A number of potentially toxic substances can cause intoxication in the dog, and generate, in addition to other symptoms, rapid breathing. Among these substances are the components of rodenticides, pyrethrins used in insecticides, gasoline, insect bites, chocolate, and many more. Emergency veterinary care is essential in the event of poisoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dog breathe fast when he sleeps?

If your dog is breathing fast when he sleeps, he's probably having an exciting dream. Maybe your canine is chasing another cat he saw on his last walk with you, and don't be surprised if you see him wagging his paws as if he were running!

Is it normal for my dog to breathe fast?

If you notice that your dog's breathing is rapid or that your dog is making a great effort to breathe, it is undoubtedly an emergency, so you should take him immediately to the vet.

To conclude

We remind you that this article is for information purposes only. wolfhound we are not authorized to make any diagnosis, nor to recommend any veterinary treatment. Therefore, if you observe that your dog shows rapid breathing, whether or not accompanied by other symptoms, we recommend that you take him to a veterinarian immediately.