Breathing difficulties in dogs

Difficult or laboured breathing is called dyspnoea. It can manifest in different ways and be of varying severity, but it is potentially life-threatening and can cause great suffering to your dog. If your dog is having difficulty breathing, go to a vet immediately.

What to do if your dog is struggling to breathe?

Contact a vet immediately
Keep calm and try to calm your dog - not getting air is seriously anxiety-inducing, but stress can make it even worse

Symptoms of breathing difficulties in dogs

A dog with breathing difficulties tries to stand or sit as long as they can, and then lies down on their chest. Dogs have the most difficulty breathing when laying on their side or back. Your dog may breathe with its mouth open and the corners of their mouth pulled up. Nostrils may widen and the abdominal muscles will be engaged. Breathing may be loud and rapid.

A dog's mucous membranes become bluish or purple and pale in the event of a lack of oxygen. A dog with heat stroke has very red mucous membranes and you can hear that the dog's breathing is not normal.

Reasons why a dog has difficulty breathing

The breathing problems can be caused by something stuck in the airways. Heart failure with fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema) causes breathing difficulties, as does pneumonia.

Another example is fluid in the chest that prevents the lungs from filling with air. Anatomical factors such as narrow nostrils, long soft palate, narrow nasal cavity or a narrow trachea can also cause breathing difficulties.

Make sure your dog isn't or getting overheated. If they are, cool them down with something like a wet towel. Heatstroke can cause breathing problems, especially in flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds, but breathing problems can also trigger heatstroke

Dog barking or excessive panting

Hissing is a dog's way of regulating its temperature and is a normal reaction when it's hot or during heavy exertion. Excessive panting may indicate incipient hyperthermia (heat stroke). If a dog has been in heat, a hot car, moved a lot when it's hot outside so you suspect overheating, cool them down.

Flat-faced dogs and large dogs with thick warm fur are more sensitive to heat stroke. Being overweight also increases the risk of heat stroke.

Learn to count your dog's breaths

Feel free to count your dog's breathing while he sleeps, so you know what is normal for your dog. During repeated checks, a dog should not have more than 30 breaths per minute at rest.

FAQs about breathing difficulties in dogs

About the Author

Amanda Andersson is a content writer Agria Djurförsäkring in Sweden, specialising in animal welfare. Previous experience includes Volvo on Demand, and 60plusbanken in Sweden.