What this means
Breathing normally at rest, a dog barely uses the abdominal muscles, and the chest rises calmly and evenly. When breathing becomes hard, more changes than the rate: the belly works, the nostrils flare, the mouth opens wider, and the dog may stretch out its neck and stand or sit in a way that makes it easier to draw air in. Those changes in posture matter just as much as the rate itself.
It is important to separate real breathlessness from ordinary panting. After running about or on a hot day a dog pants, but settles quickly once rested somewhere cool, and the gums stay pink. Breathlessness at rest, at night, or that does not ease with rest is an entirely different thing.
On the way to the clinic, avoid stressing or overheating your dog. A tense, frightened or overheated dog makes the situation worse. Keep the car cool, avoid pressure on the neck, do not force your dog to lie down, and let it choose whatever position makes breathing easiest.
In flat-faced breeds, harder breathing is sometimes taken as normal, but loud snoring, struggling in the heat and tiring after light exercise are not simply a breed trait. That is worth discussing with a vet rather than accepting as given.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Narrowing of the upper airway
Narrow nostrils and a long soft palate make it harder for air to get through. The pattern is loud snoring, struggling in the heat and tiring quickly.
About the condition: Brachycephalic airway syndrome -
A problem with the voice box
When the voice box does not open properly, breathing becomes noisy and effortful and the bark changes. Heat and excitement sharpen the signs considerably.
About the condition: Laryngeal paralysis -
Fluid in the lungs or chest cavity
Fluid that has gathered stops the lungs expanding. Breathing becomes shallow and rapid, the dog will not lie down and tires fast.
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Problems with the heart
A heart working harder causes breathlessness, coughing and tiredness. The signs often sharpen at night or when lying down.
About the condition: Heart disease -
Overheating
On a hot day, in a closed car or after exercise, the body can no longer cool itself. The dog pants heavily, drools and becomes flat. This is an emergency.
About the condition: Overheating (heat stroke) -
Pain or injury around the chest
After an injury, or with severe pain, breathing becomes shallow and rapid. The dog avoids moving and objects to being touched.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether breathing is effortful at rest, or only after exercise
- The colour of the gums and tongue
- Whether breathing makes a noise
- Whether your dog can lie down, or sits with the neck stretched out
- Whether the belly works with every breath
- Whether there is coughing, or tiring sooner than before
When to book a routine visit
Difficulty breathing is almost always an emergency: go to a veterinary clinic immediately, phoning ahead so they expect you. A routine appointment is the right choice when your dog only breathes noisily after exercise or in heat, snores in its sleep, or tires sooner than it used to.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome Breathing In short-muzzled dogs the nostrils, nasal passages, soft palate and throat are packed into very little space, so air has a harder time getting through. These dogs work harder to breathe than others, especially in heat, when excited or after exertion, and that can turn into real danger. How much it affects a particular dog varies a great deal, so their breathing is worth talking over with a vet.
- Laryngeal paralysis Breathing Laryngeal paralysis is a condition in which the cartilages of the larynx no longer open properly when the dog breathes in, because the nerves and muscles that move them weaken. Less air reaches the lungs, and the dog struggles to cool down, since dogs shed heat by panting. If a dog is struggling to breathe, its gums turn blue or it collapses, it needs a vet immediately.
- Heart disease Heart This is an umbrella term for various conditions in which the heart muscle, the valves or the heart rhythm stop working as well, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body. Some are present from birth, others develop with age, and they can go a long time without any noticeable signs. During a check-up the vet listens to the heart and decides whether further tests are needed.
- Tracheal collapse Breathing Tracheal collapse is a condition in which the cartilage rings of the windpipe weaken and the windpipe flattens, making it harder for air to reach the lungs. It tends to get slowly worse over time, and excitement, heat, pressure on the neck or excess weight can make breathing even harder.
- Chylothorax Breathing Chylothorax is a condition in which a milky, fat-containing lymph fluid called chyle collects in the chest around the lungs. The fluid presses on the lungs and stops them from fully expanding, so breathing becomes harder and harder for the dog. It is a serious condition, and a dog that is struggling to breathe needs a vet immediately.
- Overheating (heat stroke) General health Overheating is a condition in which a dog's body temperature rises to a dangerous level because it can no longer cool itself down. Dogs barely sweat and cool themselves by panting, so heat in a closed car or exercise on a hot or humid day can overwhelm them quickly. Heat stroke damages the internal organs and is life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately.
Body systems: Breathing Heart General health