Why does my overweight dog breathe heavy

Why is My Dog Breathing Heavy?

Dogs can be amazing companions keeping you company and making sure that you are safe. Every dog has their own personality, behaviors, and actions, such as breathing. Many dogs breathe heavy for many different reasons. So why is your dog breathing heavy?

Dr. Jess breaks down the reasons why your canine companion breathes heavy.

What is Heavy Breathing?

Heavy breathing is an open-mouthed way of respiration in dogs.

What heavy breathing looks like: Your dogs tongue many droop out of one side of their mouth and their breathing may be faster (also known as tachypnea) and deeper than when not breathing heavy.

Many times the dog will slobber while breathing heavy and many times the heavy breathing comes with airy sounds of your dog taking big breaths of air in and out.

Why Do Dogs Breathe Heavy?

Dogs breathe for many reasons. The reasoning may be good or bad, pain or excited, or could be anything from hot or overheated to anxious dog problems.

Open-mouthed respiration is a normal canine behavior.

But let me explain a few of the most common reasons why your dog may be breathing hard.

Breathing Heavy as a Way to Exchange Oxygen.

Dogs and puppies can breathe heavy just like normal breathing in the sense thatit also allows oxygen into the dogs bloodstream and helps to remove carbon dioxide during the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange in the capillaries in the lungs.

Breathing heavy is breathing, but more deep allowing even more oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged in less time.

Breathing Heavy to Lower Body Temperature.

Its importance is to lower the bodystemperature.

Breathing, espcially deep breathing,can also be a cooling mechanismfor the dog.

Deeper breathing is necessary because dogs do not have an effective or efficient system of sweating like most mammals do, including humans.

Dogs lack the number of sweat glands that would be necessary to help reduce excess heat and cool their bodies off effectively.

Dogs do have sweat glands in a few places, such as the bottom of their feet.

Instead, dogs cool their bodies using the evaporation of moisture from their mouths and tongue during panting and heavier breathing, and by exchanging the hot air of their lungs with cooler external air.

Taking heavier breaths allows your dog to release heat in the form of hot breath, and exchange it for cooler air from the environment (as long as that environmental air the dog is breathing in is LESS than 102*F!).

When a dog becomes hot, lets say from exercising, they will breathing heavier and faster (tachypnea) to try and cool their bodies down, much like the way humans breathe heavily when doing aerobic exercise!

The hotter a dog becomes, the more intense the panting becomes, deeper and faster breathing.

Dogs will start to breathe heavier and faster when they get even a little bit warm and will breathe harder and faster the warmer their bodies get, no matter the reason why they were originally panting.

Forshort-faced dogs, like bulldogs, Boston terriers, boxers, and pugs, they can become hotter much quicker because of their face shape, also known as being brachiocephalic or having a really cute smushy-face with all those adorable wrinkles!

Breathing deeper, harder, or quicker may also mean that your dog is thirsty, so make sure to give your pet clean and fresh water regularly.

Breathing Heavy out of Excitement or Happiness:

Heavy breathing may simply be a sign of happiness in your dog. Your dog may breathe deeper and faster when you come home from work because they are excited to see you, for example.

Your dogs tail will usually bewagging in a happy way. Your dogs body and facial features will be relaxed with their eyes bright and happy.

Once the situation calms down, so should the increased respiratory rate.

The increased breathing will slow down and eventually cease.

Continued mild panting with an open mouth and bright eyes is normal in a relaxed, content dog.

In fact, many people consider this to be their dogs smile.

Breathing Heavy Due to Stress:

Heavy breathing may have nothing to do with happiness or body temperature.

In fact, it may be out of a different type of excitement and not the fun kind the stressful type of excitement.

Many dogs will start to breathe heavier when theyare excited byfear, anxiety, or stress.

Fireworks, car rides,separation anxiety (cage or kennel anxiety for example),vet visits, moving or moving boxes, guests in the home, vacuum cleaners, and other stressful events are very common reasons why dogs breathe heavy due to stress.

Look at your dogsbody languageto help you determine if your dog is showingsigns of distress.

Some of these distressed body language patterns include but are not limited to:

• shaking or shivering,
• hiding or crouching,
• ears down,
• tail down or tucked between legs,
• drooling accompanying the panting,
• no eye contact,
• head turned away,
• etc.

Remove your dog from the stressful or scary situation as soon as possible and you will likely see the heavy breathing resolve itself.

Breathing Heavy From Pain or Discomfort:

Similar to the point above of breathing heavy out of stress, your dog will likely pant out of pain or discomfort it is a very real and common reason why dogs breathe heavy.

In fact, it is one of the many signs that us vets use to help us determine if a dog is hurting!

Once your dog reaches a certain pain or discomfort level, they will most likely start to breathe heavy. The breathing can become harder and faster (tachypnea) the more intense the pain becomes or the longer that the discomfort is there.

Also, breathing heavy can be part of a dogs allergic reaction from an ingested (or eaten) or topical (on the skin) substance that your dog is allergic too.

Where Do Dogs Breathe Heavy?

Anywhere and everywhere. Anywhere where a dog can be thats a place where they could potentially start breathing heavy.

Can Breathing Heavy Be A Negative Sign?

breathing excitedly is normal. However excessive, heavy breathing is not normal but somewhat common unfortunately in the vet clinics emergency room.

Thats why its so incredibly important to check in with your veterinarian to know whats really going on with your dog if you have concerns over their breathing.

If your pups breathing is making a raspy or wheezy sound, they may be having difficulty in breathing.

So if your dogs breathing pattern seems excessive compared to normal you MUST contact your local vet immediately to discuss the details they may need to be seen immediately.

If your dog is lying on their side and breathing heavy and doesnt want to get up or cant catch his breath or is not responding to things that they normally would respond to, then they may be experiencing a medical emergency.

Breathing Heavy Due to Medical Concerns:

Here are just a few common medical issues associated with dogs who are breathing heavy:

• Heat Stroke or Fevers: Dogs with an apparently high fever or higher body temperature may breathe heavier to help lower theirbody temperature through the same process as is explained above.
• Dogs with certain metabolic syndromes and diseases such as Cushings disease, which is a condition caused by excessive production of the stress hormone cortisol, can cause excessive breathing. Remember the whole bit above about stress and panting??? M-hmmmm!!!! Other metabolic issues can be seen with the same sign of panting.
• Motion sickness, which mostly affects puppies, but sometimes dogs never grow out of it. Medications and training can help with motion sickness.
• Heart Failure may breathe heavy due to having a hard time breathing during easy exercise or may even have a cough due to excess fluid buildup in the chest.
• Foreign bodies in respiratory tract, such as a stick or dog toy stuck in the respiratory tract.
• Injuries to chest cavity
• Stomachbloat may cause your dog to breathe heavy, due to extreme pain and the decreased lung volume (because the stomach has expanded and therefore there is less rom inside the dog for the lungs to expand because of the over-inflated stomach), and sometimes in preparation for vomiting. This is an emergency and your pet should be evaluated immediately if they are vomiting or dry heaving and breathing harder and faster.
• Respiratory tract or Lung conditions such as pneumonia or bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchioles, the branches of the respiratory system that lead air into the lungs), making it harder to breathe
• Lung masses and tumors, which can cause there to be less room in the lungs for air exchange.
• Anemia, low red blood cell count. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to the bodys organs. With lowered numbers of these cells, your dog must breathe faster or deeper, or both, in order to get the oxygen into their system that they need to function properly.
• Toxins/Poisonings may cause heavy breathing as well as many other signs
• Excess weight can cause your dog to breathe heavier on a regular basis.

Labored Heavy Breathing:

Labored breathing, aka Respiratory distress, aka dyspnea, is a medical emergency.

It is characterized by strained or laborious respiration or attempts at breathing in and/or out.

This may be accompanied by sounds of distress likecrying or whining,wheezing, or whistles from the nostrils or windpipe due to blockage either by a foreign body or from inflammation of the respiratory tract.

If at any time you see that breathing is extremely intense or has been going on for a very long period of time and cannot be explained, you should get your dog to the nearest veterinarian immediately.

Its always best to play it safe and let your vet check things out. When in doubt, take your dog to the veterinarian for medical attention.

At the very least- contact your vet to discuss the issue and your concerns!

Diagnosing Heavy Breathing Concerns:

How do veterinarians determine what is going on and why your dog is breathing heavy?

There are a multitude of diagnostic tests that can help determine what is going on inside your pup.

Some of the more common testing that your vet may conduct on your pup include:

• Radiographs (x-rays)
• Ultrasound
• Blood work
• Physical exam / lung auscultation (listening to the lungs via a stethoscope)
• EKG to look at the electrical conductivity of the heart
• Lung biopsies when a mass in the lungs is seen

Preventing Excessive Heavy Breathing:

1. Check The Temperature before going out for a walk or leaving your dog inside your car, you should check the temperature and the weather. Do NOT leave your dog inside a car as they can overheat quickly which can lead to serious medical problems and death. Make sure the temperature inside and outside the car is good for your dog before taking them on car rides.
2. Keep Your Dog Hydrated always provide clean and fresh water for your dog so it wont get dehydrated or overheat.
3. Decrease Anxiety you can either train your dog to calm down from new or strange things or let your pet take anxiety treatment BEFORE going out for a car trip. Not allowing them to become anxious is KEY is the perfect way to keep them happy and prevent dog car anxiety!
4. Give Your Dog Love and Comfort comfort hugs, kisses, and other forms of love between you and your canine is a perfect solution for your pet whenever it feels fear, anxiety, excitement and etc. This allows them to calm down and focus on something more positive.

Summary:

And if your dog has medical issues, be aware of the possible heavy breathing that coincides with them.

Lastly, contact your vet with questions and concerns about why dogs breathe heavy.

Heavy Breathing in Dogs

Heavy breathing in dogs is often a medical emergency. If your dog is breathing heavily for no apparent reasonthey havent been exercising or experienced stress or excitementconsult a vet immediately. This is especially true if the heavy breathing is accompanied by lethargy, coughing, eye or nose discharge, a change in the color of the gums, collapsing, weakness, an elevated sleeping respiratory rate, bleeding, bruising, or a known trauma.

Panting can be normal for dogs, especially after being active, in warm weather, under stress, or excited.

However, if this panting becomes persistent or turns into heavy breathing, it may be an underlying sign of illness or injury. Some conditions related to abnormally heavy breathing can be life-threatening if not appropriately diagnosed and treated.

10 Types of Heavy Breathing in Dogs

Heavy breathing is a general term that can include many types of abnormal breathing in dogs, such as:

1. Labored BreathingLabored breathing is a medical emergency. Dogs that are having trouble breathing often stand with their front legs wider apart to allow their chest to fully expand. They may also stretch their necks. Labored breathing can be accompanied by coughing; pale, gray, or blue/purple gums; or fluid from the mouth or nose. If you see these signs, take your dog to an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. There can be many causes for labored breathing, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, pneumonia, pulmonary contusions, pneumothorax (air around the lungs limiting their ability to expand), fluid around the lungs (blood or infection), cancers, or bronchitis.
2. Rapid BreathingRapid breathing is normal if your dog is exercising, excited, or stressed, but it should not continue when they are resting or sleeping. If your dog has an increased respiratory rate (usually greater than 30 breaths per 60 seconds) when sleeping or resting, this is a medical emergency; there may be an underlying issue with your dogs lungs, heart, or airways.
3. Breathing Heavily Through the NoseFlaring of the nostrils can be connected to heavy play or exercise, stress, aggression, or excitement. However, if your dog is nose-breathing heavily while at rest or is experiencing labored breathing, it is a medical emergency.
4. Breathing From the StomachHealthy dogs should have normal rhythmic breathing, and their chest and abdomen should move in and out together. If the abdomen is pushing as your dog breathes out, it could mean they are having trouble removing air from their lungs. This is considered a medical emergency thats often seen in dogs with congestive heart failure, fluid or air around the lungs, or bronchitis.
5. Shallow Breathing/Shortness of BreathIf your dog is taking short, quick breaths when they dont have hiccups, have not been exercising, and are not under stress, it may indicate a deeper issue that should be evaluated by your vet.
6. Breathing Heavily While RestingHeavy breathing at rest or during sleep can be the first sign of a problem with the lungs or airways. The sleeping respiratory rate (or SRR) is monitored in dogs with heart disease or congestive heart failure because it can be an early sign that their lungs are filling with fluid.
7. Breathing Heavily at NightBreathing heavily at night or when sleeping may be a sign of underlying lung or airway conditions. If your dog is also pacing or coughing, has an outstretched neck, has changes in the color of their gums, or is having difficulty getting comfortable, these can be signs of congestive heart failure, and your dog should be evaluated as soon as possible.
8. Older Dog Breathing HeavilyWith older dogs, underlying conditions such as heart failure, lung cancers, and bronchitis may cause heavy breathing, so these dogs should be watched more closely.
9. Puppy Breathing HeavilyHeavy breathing in puppies may mean theres an underlying medical issue, or it might just be that your puppy is excited. If your puppy is bright, alert, playful, and eating well, heavy breathing may be nothing to worry about. Puppies are also prone to heavy breathing during sleep due to dreaming. However, if your puppy is lethargic, has nasal or eye discharge, is vomiting, has diarrhea, is coughing, stops eating, or gets tired quickly during their usual exercise or activities, have them evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Puppies can be prone to pneumonia, heartworm disease, lungworm, and even congenital heart issues.
10. Stuffy Nose and Breathing HeavilyYour dog may breathe more through their mouth if they have nasal congestion. If the heavy breathing is paired with lethargy, nasal/eye discharge, changes in facial symmetry (bulging eyes or sinuses), chronic sneezing, or changes in appetite, call your veterinarian for guidance. Causes for a stuffy nose include allergies, viruses, infections, pneumonia, cancers, or foreign objects in the nasal cavities.

How to Help a Dog Thats Breathing Heavily

Heavy breathing should not be ignored and can be fatal if left untreated.

Your dog should be seen by a veterinarian immediately if they:

• Cant get comfortable or lie down
• Pace constantly
• Are severely lethargic
• Are weak or collapsing
• Are standing with an outstretched neck
• Have a change in the color of their gums from pink to blue, purple, gray, or white
• Have a swollen belly
• Have fluid coming from their mouth or nose
• Have yellow or green eye or nasal discharge
• Stop eating
• Are vomiting or have diarrhea

Less concerning signs include:

• Chronic coughing
• Increased sleeping respiratory rate (greater than 30 breaths per minute)
• Slightly decreased appetite
• Intermittent vomiting/soft stool
• Exercise intolerance (for example: Your dog used to walk 1 mile with no problem, but now your dog lies down after a few minutes of walking or excitement.)

Unfortunately, there are no home remedies for heavy breathing in dogs, especially in severe situations. Getting them to a veterinarian as soon as possible for examination, diagnostic testing, and possible therapy is crucial.

Why Is My Dog Breathing Heavily?

Heavy breathing is a clinical sign of many medical conditions in dogs. These include:

• Left-sided congestive heart failureWhen this happens, the main pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) has to work harder to push blood out to the body, usually because of a narrowed heart valve. Some blood might even leak backward into the left atrium. This raises the blood pressure in a dogs heart and the lungs, which causes fluid to accumulate in their lungs.
• PainDogs in pain may pant or breathe heavily. For example, a dog with pancreatitis may have significant abdominal pain, which can cause heavier breathing.
• PneumoniaViruses, bacteria, and fungus can all cause inflammation or infection in the lungs. This leads to heavy breathing with coughing, nasal and eye discharge, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite.
• BronchitisChronic inflammation or decreased elasticity (flexibility) in the airways and lungs can lead to heavy breathing and coughing.
• Heartworm diseaseHeartworms can infest the heart and block the blood vessels between the heart and lungs. This can cause scarring of the lungs and congestive heart failure. Even after treatment, the lungs may have permanent scarring, which decreases the elasticity of the airways.
• CancersCertain types of cancers can affect the larynx (the beginning of the airway), trachea (the tube-like airway structure going from the mouth to lungs), or the lungs. Primary lung cancer is rare in dogs, but metastatic lung cancer (meaning it has spread from other areas to the lungs) is quite common.
• Lung BullaBulla are walled-off air pockets within the lungs. Small bulla may burst and be of no consequence, but larger bulla may cause major breathing issues when they rupture. This condition can cause air to build up around the lungs, making it difficult for the lungs to expand. This can be fatal if left untreated. Veterinarians are unsure to the cause of bulla in the lungs, but it is thought these are congenital or caused by trauma to the chest cavity.
• LungwormDogs can get parasites that infest their lungs, causing inflammation and infection.
• Pulmonary hypertensionThis is a medical condition caused by high blood pressure (hypertension) in the arteries of the lungs. It can lead to coughing, trouble breathing, fainting, heavy breathing, congestive heart failure, collapse, or sudden death.
• Pulmonary contusionsContusions, or bruising of the lungs, are usually caused by trauma to the chest cavity from penetrating wounds or blunt force trauma. It can take up to 3-5 days for the bruises to fully form, so its extremely important to monitor a dogs breathing up to a week after a trauma.
• Noncardiogenic pulmonary edemaPulmonary edema refers to abnormal fluid within the lungs that may reduce the amount of air your dog gets with every breath. Noncardiogenic means the edema isnt caused by underlying heart disease, but instead could be caused by things like drowning, choking, or electrocution.
• Acute, severe bleedingBlood loss from ruptured tumors, rat poison, clotting issues, or trauma can lead to anemia or low red blood cells. Red blood cells are carriers of oxygen to our bodys cells, so having less of them means there is less oxygen in the body, which can lead to heavy breathing.
• Cushings diseaseThis is a condition where the adrenal glands produce too much stress hormone and cortisol. The body responds with increased thirst, urination, and panting. You may also notice a bloated abdomen due to abdominal muscle weakness. This condition can also cause chronic skin and urinary tract issues.

How Vets Diagnose Heavy Breathing in Dogs

The first step is to identify any underlying conditions that might be causing the heavy breathing. Your vet will likely rely on a number of tests and procedures, including:

• Thorough physical examination and listening to the lungs and heart
• Chest x-rays
• Blood tests, including a complete blood count, chemistry, and acid/base status
• Heartworm testing
• Pulse oximetry to measure oxygen levels in the bloodstream

More specific testing may also be recommended, including:

• Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) to rule out heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, fluid in or around the lungs, tumors of the heart, and heartworm disease
• Bronchoscopy (endoscopy of the airways) to help look for inflammation, growths, or foreign objects, or to sample tissues
• CT scan to detail abnormalities in the airways and lung tissue
• Baermann fecal testing to rule out lung worms

Treatments for Heavy Breathing in Dogs

Treatment is based on the underlying cause of the heavy breathing:

• Left-sided congestive heart failure is often treated with oxygen therapy, hospitalization, and diuretics to remove fluid from the lungs to stabilize the pet. Once your pet is stable, oral medications are sent home to help support heart function. In milder cases, oral medications may be started without hospitalization. If your dog is coughing persistently, has an elevated sleeping respiratory rate, collapses or faints, has exercise intolerance, or seems lethargic, get them evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible, as this can be fatal is left untreated.
• Pain is treated with analgesic (pain-relieving) medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs, such as carprofen or Galliprant), steroids (such as prednisone), and/or anticonvulsants (such as gabapentin) or opioids in a hospital setting (such as fentanyl, hydromorphone, or morphine).
• Pneumonia treatment depends on the underlying cause. Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, while anti-fungals, or anti-virals are used to treat pneumonia caused by fungal or viral infections. Treatment may also include oxygen therapy and intravenous fluid therapy. Severe cases of pneumonia can be fatal if left untreated. Bring your pet to a veterinarian if you notice heavy breathing with any of the following: persistent coughing, vomiting/diarrhea, decreased appetite, nasal/eye discharge, or lethargy.
• Bronchitis is treated by trying to decrease allergens in the home, as well as giving anti-inflammatories (often prednisone or Temaril-P) and bronchodilators (such as albuterol or terbutaline). Short courses of antibiotics may be necessary to prevent infection. Bronchitis can range from mild to severe, so monitor your dog closely for persistent or worsening issues and report these to your veterinarian.
• Heartworm disease requires a standardized protocol of injections to kill the worms. Treatment is typically administered in a hospital, since these injections can be fatal. Heartworm disease may also be treated with steroids, antibiotics, and sometimes sedatives to keep your dog calm over the 6-8 month period of strict rest. Left untreated, this disease is always fatal. If your dog is coughing, cant exercise, and/or is lethargic, take them to a vet as soon as possible, especially if your dog has not been administered heartworm prevention or if you have lapsed in dosing intervals.
• Cancer treatment is dependent on the type and location of cancer. Most cases are treated through surgery and chemotherapy, with or without radiation. Sometimes steroid therapy is used for certain types of cancer therapy. Unfortunately, most cancers are fatal if left untreated.
• Ruptured lung bulla that cause symptoms such as air filling the chest and lung compression are treated with a chest tap (thoracentesis) to remove the air. If no air refills, then no further treatment is needed. If air continues to fill up the chest, the vet may place a surgical chest tube, order a CT scan to investigate the location of the bulla, and recommend surgery.
• Lung worm is treated with anti-parasitic medication or dewormers such as fenbendazole. These are usually easy to treat and are not often fatal.
• Pulmonary hypertension may require treatment from a medication called sildenafil (sold under the trade name Viagra) to decrease blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Severe pulmonary hypertension can lead to fainting, collapse, congestive heart failure, or sudden death, so speedy diagnosis and therapy is necessary. Mild pulmonary hypertension usually shows no clinical signs, except perhaps coughing, and may or may not require therapy.
• Pulmonary contusions are treated with time and sometimes oxygen therapy. Usually, these contusions go away in 7-10 days, but in severe cases where they cause decreased oxygenation and heavy breathing, the vet may need to induce a coma and place your dog on mechanical ventilation.
• Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is also treated with time and oxygen therapy. Again, in severe cases where the edema causes decreased oxygenation and heavy breathing, inducing a coma and placing a dog on mechanical ventilation is necessary until the edema resolves.
• Acute, severe bleeding is treated based on where it is. The veterinarian may recommend surgery to stop the bleeding and remove the source of the hemorrhage. Rat poison toxicity is treated by removing any blood buildup from around the lungs, often with chest tap and starting vitamin K therapy, which helps the blood clot. Unfortunately, this condition is fatal if left untreated.
• Cushings disease is sometimes treated and sometimes not. If your dog is frequently panting, drinking, and urinating a large amount, or develops chronic skin changes or frequent bladder stones, consider Cushings disease testing and therapy. Cushings disease is usually not fatal and often left untreated due to possible side effects from the medication used to treat it (trilostane).

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