Fast Breathing
Fast breathing in dogs, also called tachypnea, is a rapid breath unlike panting. Its the second most common dog breathing problems. Fast breathing could be the result of dyspnea (labored breathing) mentioned above, low red blood cells, low blood oxygen levels, or blood clots.
You will be able to tell the difference from panting because your poochs mouth may be opened less than when they pant normally, or their mouth could be closed. Other symptoms you may notice are when each breath tends to be shallow rather than deep, and the rate of breathing is faster than usual.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Breathing
First and foremost, you must be cautious while approaching a dog that is sick or injured. Even your own dog may react in uncharacteristic ways, potentially biting you, when she is in pain or scared.
Approach the dog slowly, keeping an eye on whether or not she reacts in any way. If she is unresponsive when you get next to her and place a hand gently on her shoulder, proceed in determining whether she is breathing.
A stethoscope is the easiest way to check for breathing and a heartbeat in your dog. You may wish to place a stethoscope in your dog first aid kit. Practicing ahead of time is the best way to get familiar with doing this.
If your dog isnt breathing, you will need to check for a heartbeat:
Practice finding a pulse and respirations on your dog when there is no emergency.
Dog Emergency Symptoms to Watch out for
Aside from crying out in pain or sudden jerking responses when you touch certain parts of their body (e.g. limbs, abdominal, and back), anxiety or restlessness can be a sign of pain. Some dogs are also visibly unable to move or walk at all or can be seen limping or dragging their back legs.
Tremors or seizures are caused by uncontrollable bursts of activity in your dog’s brain. It can be seen as a muscle twitch or uncontrollable shaking and can last for a minute or more. Other signs can also include collapsing, muscle jerking, stiffening, drooling, tongue chewing, foaming at the mouth or losing consciousness. Seizures are often caused by poisoning, liver or kidney disease, head injuries, strokes, or cancer.
Whilst a dog is having a seizure do not move them unless they are in a dangerous location where they might hurt themselves. Just hold and comfort the dog until he regains consciousness, then take him to the vet. Make sure to put towels down in the car to avoid a mess.
You know something is wrong when your dog is constantly coughing and unable to sleep at all through the night. Certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi can infect your dog’s upper respiratory tract leading to pneumonia or bronchitis. Coughing can also be a sign of heart disease.
Diarrhoea in dogs can often be attributed to parasites, certain food allergies, and intolerances or stress. Although vomiting is fairly common in dogs, repeated vomiting for more than two or three times can be serious and could be a sign that your dog has ingested a toxic substance or has another underlying medical condition that needs to be checked.
For puppies with diarrhoea or vomiting not resolving or getting worse within a 12 hour period, it is important that you take them to the vet. They can dehydrate very quickly leading to further damage of internal organs.
If your dog is showing signs of blood in their vomit or diarrhoea, they should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.
It may be normal to see your dog panting after a long run. But dog breathing problems can quickly become life-threatening. Usually caused by lung and respiratory problems, breathing problems can also be indicative of other problems such as obesity, heartworms, tumours, heart problems, allergies, or injury and trauma.
When your dog has difficulty breathing, you may notice fast, laboured breaths, a wide-open mouth and an extended tongue. You may also notice pale or bluish gums, panting, or your dog coughing a foamy, frothy liquid.
A sure sign of a breathing problem in your dog is when they have a resting respiratory rate greater than 60 breaths per minute. Healthy dogs have a resting respiratory rate of 20 to 34 breaths per minute.
When your dog has a distended or bloated abdomen and is straining or squatting to urinate without producing much or discoloured, it could be a sign of a urinary obstruction which can be life-threatening.
If your dog is unable to urinate, wastes in its body can reach toxic and dangerous levels very quickly. In most dogs, urinary obstructions are caused by bladder stones, urethral stones, and cancer. You need to seek emergency care right away.
Should your dog collapse, lose consciousness or their balance, seek medical care right away. It could be caused by tick attachment which can lead to ataxia or paralysis of the feet and legs that moves upwards. These can also be a symptom of a more serious heart problem or a medical condition that needs treatment.
As with most cases, you always need to watch out for symptoms that last for more than a few days. For instance, if your dog refuses to eat or move at all or is significantly growing worse. Almost all these cases warrant a trip to your vet or an animal ER.
3 Types of Dog Breathing Problems and What to Do
For many pet parents, it’s hard to imagine a life without our dogs. They are an integral part of our lives and they make our houses feel more like home. They add a certain warmth to our space, and our homes feel a little empty without them in it. Which is why, if our dogs suddenly feel ill, act lethargic, or refuse to eat or play, we know something is up.
According to most veterinarians, although some cases may not always be as dire and can wait until your next vet appointment, other subtle signs may be more serious, which when ignored, can be life-threatening.