Priority: Immediate

Overview

• This is an emergency.
• Contact your veterinarian or after-hours emergency care facility immediately.

Symptom Considerations

• If your dog has trouble breathing, it can quickly become life threatening.
• 2 considerations are:
  • Respiratory rate (how many breaths per minute)
  • Respiratory effort (how hard it is to breathe)
• Your dog should take between 10 and 30 breaths per minute.
• Look at your dog’s side and count the number of times he breathes in a minute.
• Notice if muscles seem to be working too hard.
• Some questions to prepare for:
  • What is your dog's respiratory rate at rest when at home?
  • How hard does your dog seem to be breathing?
  • Has your dog had breathing problems in the past? When?
  • Were the previous incidents similar?
  • Does your dog make new noise(s) when breathing - snoring, wheezing, coughing, etc.?
• Your dog may need:
  • X-rays
  • Blood work
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Medications to make breathing easier

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