My pitbull is breathing fast, not eating, and drinking a lot. Is it an emergency?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A high resp rate may be related to heat, anxiety, or excitement. Of course there are other, worrisome things that it could be too, including heart disease, pneumonia. or other infection. However, theses dogs usually are not playful and excited for exercise. Same for the picky eating- it could be totally normal for him or it could be a sign of infection or other problem. Long story short, if you’re worried about Xerxes checked out by a vet just to make sure we’re not missing something important. Best wishes to you and Xerxes!

I'm so sorry, I am worried that Grace is very sick. Please take her to an emergency vet. If she is having trouble breathing (breathing hard), please go right away; unfortunately there isn't anything I can recommend for you to try at home. Some possible causes for what you describe include pneumonia, cancer, or heart failure. When you get to the vet, they will be able to supply oxygen to help her breathe more comfortably, and will likely recommend a chest X-ray to get an idea of what is going on so they can recommend appropriate treatment options.

Puppies breathe faster than adult dogs, up to 38 breaths /minute. You should get some wormer and worm your puppy. Round worms and other worms can cause puppies to get somewhat anemic, so their breathing rate can go up. Also pain (tummy ache from the worms) can cause an increased rate.

It sounds like Putta is very sick. Any pet exhibiting changes in the respiration needs to see the veterinarian quickly as this can indicate problems breathing which can be fatal. There are many potential causes and this could range from poisoning to parasites to heart disease. I recommend a play safe and have your pup examined quickly. Best of luck.

This is an emergency and Husky needs to go to the vet as soon as possible. Dogs are very good at masking illness and will only be lethargic like this when they are severely ill, or in shock. This can happen from an infection, heart disease, lung disease, metabolic disease, brain disease, or poisoning. The fact that Husky is breathing fast is very concerning that she is not getting enough oxygen, which can quickly become deadly if not treated appropriately. The emergency clinic will be able to ensure that she is well oxygenated and can determine that cause of this problem. I hope everything goes well and Husky gets better soon.

In dogs, 50% of mammary tumors are malignant. I am concerned about her breathing as well, and it could be she is in a lot of pain. I would take her into a vet now to get checked out. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Poor Treasure! It could be that she is in pain or she could be very sick. It's quite concerning that such a young puppy is breathing fast, not moving, not eating, drinking, or peeing. These symptoms in such a young dog are a medical emergency, and she has to see a vet immediately. She needs veterinary care now to diagnose what is causing these symptoms so she can be treated. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Good luck with her, and thank you for contacting Pet Coach!