Why is my dog breathing fast and tilting his head? Is it serious?

Max sounds like he is very ill and he likely has an internal illness or organ malfunction that is causing his overall lethargy, heavy breathing (can be a sign of pain, underlying lung disease, heart disease or infection) and unwillingness to move. This sounds serious and there isn't much you will be able to help him with at home, he needs to be seen by your vet. For an older dog I worry about things that may not be treatable and also major illness that can take its toll if not identified quickly and treated quickly. He likely needs bloodwork analysis and chest radiographs to start. Once his underlying illness has been properly identified then the vet can discuss treatment options with you, if available. I am so sorry that Max is so ill, but the next best thing is to take him in and make a decision concerning his quality of life and likelihood of having a positive outcome with treatment. I wish you all the best and hope that things do work out for your pet Max. Best wishes and take care.

I recommend that you have your dog examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. A dog at rest takes about 10 to 30 breaths per minutes. Breathing at a faster rate may indicate fever, pain, anxiety, or a problem with the lungs or chest. Rapid, labored breathing is indicative of congestive heart failure and/or lung disease, shock, heat stroke, dehydration, and ketoacidosis associated with diabetes, kidney failure, and some tyes of poisonings.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Please get him in to see a vet. Your vet will probably recommend a chest X-ray to get a better idea of what is going on. In a 9 year old chihuahua some possible causes include heart failure, pneumonia, or cancer. If he seems labored in his breathing, do not delay, please take him to the vet right away.

52 breaths per minute is considered tachypneic and points to some breathing problem such as an upper respiratory or pulmonary congestion or a heart condition. The fact that this is even worse when she is resting is also pointing to a possible heart condition. I suggest you schedule an exam with your veterinarian for an exam.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. Tachypnea is not a specific disease, but a medical term. It is used to describe an elevated respiratory rate. This can be due to numerous conditions such as pneumonia, heart diease, fluid in the chest, etc. Typically x-rays of the chest are needed to diagnose the problem causing the elevated respiratory rate. Based on these results, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

Poor Max! The problem is that he cannot talk tell you why this is happening. It sounds like he is experiencing a multitude of problems. Additionally, the abnormal breathing could indicate a serious health condition. I recommend to have Max examined by his veterinarian today to start figuring out what is wrong. Only a physical examine can start to narrow down the reasons. Bring in a fresh stool sample as well in case the doctor wants to test for parasites. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The main concern is that he is having to position his head in this fashion to breath. That is very worrisome for pathology in the lungs. Whenever there is a change in breathing pattern, the pet should be examined. I recommend to have him examined right away. It's better to be safe than sorry. I hope this helps.