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
    • Sedated nasal examination