Owning a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities – feeding, bathing, teaching it new tricks, and, of course taking it to the vet for checkups. These responsibilities do not seem like a big deal because you fall in love with your dog and take care of it like an actual child; you don’t want to lose it. One of the scariest moments you’d have as a dog owner is seeing your puppy breathing fast and having no clue why it is doing so or knowing what to do. Puppies are most likely to fall sick or get exposed to various health conditions easily.
Puppies are so little and fragile, which makes it scarier to see them behave anyhow but normal. Sometimes, seeing your puppy breathing fast doesn’t always call for alarm. It is just how they react to their immediate environment.
What should I consider as my puppy breathing fast?
This isn’t an easy task, but it is the best way to verify that your puppy is breathing faster than usual. You could also learn how the dog respiratory system works for a better knowledge of your puppy breathing fast, which might be an issue. A healthy adult dog is expected to take breaths between 10 and 34 times every minute while a young puppy takes between 15 and 40 breathes every minute. Taking the breath rate of your puppy requires a lot of patience. You can learn how to measure your puppy’s breath rate using just a stopwatch or any timer.
Common reasons why puppies breathe fast
Sometimes, your puppy breathing fast isn’t always a bad thing. It is completely natural and quite healthy for your puppy to breathe fast. Here are some of the reasons that cause your puppy to breathe fast and does not require medical attention;
- Excessive Heat
Just like humans, puppies do not do so well in extremely hot conditions. They breathe rapidly and start to pant so they can catch their breath even just a little bit. Puppies cool off by panting, and to aid this process; you can turn up the air conditioner or give them cold water to drink. This will gradually reduce panting and keep them at ease.
- Excitement or Hyperactivity
Taking your puppy for a walk or playing with it while teaching it cool tricks can cause it to breathe way faster, especially during the game of fetch. Puppies most times get carried away by all the fun they seem to be having, and getting them to rest might get difficult which might also cause them to breathe faster. A little rest and cool water can reduce this effect.
- Fear
Puppies breathe pretty fast when they get scared. Changing homes, strange faces, and confined spaces are reasons for them to breathe faster than normal. This reduces once you embrace them and show them all the care they need.
Puppy Breathing Fast during Sleep
Seeing your puppy sleep frequently and for long hours doesn’t mean they need medical attention. This is a puppy’s way of developing into a mature dog – most of their growth and development occur during their sleep. New puppy owners find this disturbing and quite scary, especially when their puppy whines, kicks, or bark while sleeping. This is also very common and doesn’t call for any alarm. Puppies breathe fast during sleep because they are probably chasing a butterfly or playing fetch in their dreams and waking them up might not be the best option. It can cause them to bite you unknowingly.
Seeing your puppy breathe fast during sleep or watching them at their REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage could cause you to panic, but it is uncalled for, and you should only worry if it continues to breathe rapidly, even when it awake.
When it is time to visit the Vet
The above reasons show why your puppy breathing fast isn’t a problem and is completely natural, but we have completely unnatural reasons that require quick medical attention. They are;
This is used to describe rapid breathing and panting with no particular or known cause. Puppies with this condition begin to breathe fast randomly with no way to reduce or stop them from doing so.
Dyspnea, otherwise known as labored breathing, is caused by an underlying disease that your puppy is already suffering from, like pneumonia, asthma or kennel cough. These diseases can cause your puppy to take short breaths, find it difficult to breathe and assume weird positions that might make breathing easier.
The above conditions require immediate medical attention. Booking an appointment with the vet would help save your puppy.
Conclusion
Puppies could be fragile sometimes, and the thought of losing them is scary. You don’t have to panic every time you notice your puppy breathing fast. It isn’t always a deadly condition, keeping an eye on your puppy and providing all it needs to develop well would reduce the chances of it breathing fast as a result of any disease. Rapid breathing is most likely to occur in guard dogs than other kinds of dogs due to their frequent guarding activities.
