Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog is breathing fast, coughing, and vomiting. Should I see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Bulldog | Female | unspayed | 7 months and 3 days old | 22 lbs

Luna has been breathing fast and coughing or burping a lot. She threw up this morning but we think she ate her food to fast-but the fast breathing has been making us anxious. We switched her food and didn’t mix her old food with it because we ran out, so she just started new food. That could also be it but I just don’t know.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Maria DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 1st, 2019

I highly recommend bringing Luna to a veterinarian to have her heart and lungs listened too. Did the breathing start after she vomited? If so, then she may have aspirated some food. Did it start before? It can be something related to her heart or even her lungs. Without a good physical examination and someone listening to her it is hard to say what it is. I would take her as soon as possible if you feel she is breathing a lot faster and heavier. I get concerned about breathing issues especially in an English Bulldog and is an emergency especially if she is turning blue. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 19th, 2017
Hello. I am sorry that Luna isn't feeling well. If this has been a sudden change, breathing fast and trying to vomit with nothing coming up, or constantly vomiting and bringing up foam, can indicate that maybe she ate something that is stuck in her guts. Puppies do have a faster respiratory rate, so if she is playing, eating, not vomiting, and defecating normally it could be her normal behaviour. If she seems distressed, not playing, weak, or the vomiting is continuing then I would get her to a vet right away. Best of luck with Luna!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 29th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If she ate something toxic, these symptoms could be related to whatever she ate. A foreign body obstruction is also a possibility. I would recommend taking her in to a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having her blood tested and have abdominal x-rays taken. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog is struggling to breathe and throwing up. Is it an emergency?

Labored breathing and vomiting are very concerning signs. In an older, large-breed dog like your girl, I would be worried about bloat as a possible cause of her symptoms - this can be a life-threatening emergency, so needs to be treated right away. Many other things can also cause vomiting, including pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, exposure to something toxic, or an intestinal obstruction. Based on your description, I would recommend taking her to the emergency vet tonight - she may have a serious problem that can't wait until morning.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is sneezing, breathing heavy, and vomiting. When should I see a vet?

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. With this combination of symptoms, yes - I recommend having Mosley seen by the vet. Sneezing as a sole symptom is not an emergency, and his vocalizing during sleep may have been related to a dream. However, the vomiting multiple times has me more worried, and warrants a vet visit - particularly since it's coming on the heels of his respiratory changes. Hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my dog breathing heavily and throwing up for two days?

Hello. Any breathing difficulties in a dog is a serious situation. You can try taking her into a steam filled bathroom & let her breath in the steam for 10 minutes or so. You can also try to break up the congestion by cupping you hand & gently but firmly thumping the sides of her chest. She probably really needs to see your vet to see if she needs medications such as antibiotics or something to open the air passages & reduce inflammation in her lungs in case this is pneumonia or bronchitis. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog threw up, is lethargic, and has labored breathing. What to do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am suspicious that this could be something other than gastrointestinal issues from that. It is hard to know what exactly is going on however he is displaying some signs of potentially being sick such as labored breathing, lethargy and vomiting. I highly recommend that you have Harley evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to perform a physical examination and start there depending on what they think could be wrong. For example, if his lung sounds appear abnormal, they may proceed with chest X-rays. They can then treat accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is struggling to breathe, vomiting white foam, and not eating.

Please have her assessed urgently by a vet, breathing difficulties can rapidly deteriorate and can become very serious. Heart, lung issues or gastrointestinal obstruction can all present similarly and require urgent treatment to stabilise. It is never recommended to stop treat me prematurely or to randomly treat with left over medications as this can delay and confuse diagnosis

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my 9-week-old puppy breathing fast and coughing at night?

I would recommend bringing Pippa to a veterinarian especially if she is coughing and breathing hard. She may have an upper respiratory infection but could also be something more. Your veterinarian can listen to her to make sure her lungs are clear and if not can perform x-rays to make sure she doesn't have pneumonia or bronchitis. Since she is so young I recommend a veterinarian sooner than later. Puppies can get sick and decline quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog coughed mucus and vomited. Why didn't the vet give him meds?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Coughing can be caused by many different conditions including heart disease, collapsing trachea, infectious tracheitis (kennel cough) and pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). I would be concerned about a bulldog coughing after known vomiting, as they are at a higher risk of aspirating (fluid from the stomach going down the trachea and into the lungs instead of coming out the mouth or back into the stomach). I would recommend having Valentino rechecked, and discuss x-rays with your vet to see if there are signs of aspiration pneumonia. However, if Valentino is only coughing a tiny amount, and is otherwise normal, eating/drinking, playing, running around normally, then he likely doesn't need antibiotics as some aspiration pneumonias are sterile (no bacteria present). If the coughing is continuous, or any continued vomiting, or if Valentino is lethargic, weak, not eating, and not acting himself, or has any signs of trouble breathing, then get him to a vet immediately. Best of luck with Valentino.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share