My sick dog's breathing feels like a stutter. Is it an emergency?

If your pup is having a lot of trouble breathing and you are concerned he is in respiratory distress, then I would have him seen by a vet as soon as possible. It's always fine to have your dog checked out by a vet if you are very concerned. Otherwise, I'd wait the three days and see if he improves before taking him back into the vet. I hope he feels better soon!

This may be due to allergies, infection, laryngeal paralysis or hyperthermia just to name a few causes. In an older dog, heart disease cannot be ruled out. Respiratory distress should be addressed as soon as possible by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. If it is hot outside or inside, remove Burt to a cooler area. Use a fan and cool cloths to gradually cool him off.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pilot. He may have an upper respiratory tract infection based on the symptoms you have described. Affected dogs will typically have a gagging cough that may or may not bring up a white foamy material. They can sneeze and have eye or nose discharge. Some dogs are lethargic and will not eat as much. If his symptoms persist until tomorrow, he will need to see his veterinarian. If he is refusing to eat or drink, then I would have him seen today. In the meantime, keep him home and away from other dogs as he may be contagious. I hope this information helps!

Breathing difficulties is always an emergency so you need to take Kittoo to your local vets as soon as possible. Pneumonia is one of the possibility, distemper can also affect the lungs but it usually affects young dogs. Breathing problems can also be caused by heart diseases, upper airways diseases (collapsed trachea, bronchitis etc), anaemia, even painful problems within the abdomen. It is not possible to say what is going on without examining Kittoo, so you really need to take him to your nearest vets to find out what is going on.

He needs to be examined by a veterinarian right away. Your vet can take an x-ray of his chest to evaluate his lungs and airway. He could have pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, or fluids in his chest. Please call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment.

Poor Stewie! Since it sounds like he's having some trouble breathing and is very uncomfortable, I would really recommend taking him to an emergency vet tonight. If he has asthma, he may need injectable steroids to help open up his airways and make it easier for him to breathe. If these symptoms are new, it's also possible that he may have some other problem causing him to feel ill and act lethargic. In that case, he may need blood work or x-rays to help determine the problem.

Hello. Any new breathing problems should be looked at immediately. Even if Boris has had this problem for a while, if it has suddenly gotten worse, he should be looked at quickly, even if it means a trip to the emergency clinic. I hope he is doing better soon & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach