What if my dog's chest is protruding and her heart is beating fast?

Hello. The normal heartbeat of a dog should be around 120-160 beats per minute. If his heartrate is greater than 200 beats per minute at rest or when sleeping, this is abnormal & could be due to a conduction disorder in the heart. He may also have an abnormal rhythm that mimics a elevated heart rate. The only way to sort out what might be happening is to have your veterinarian auscultate his heart & possibly do any ECG to identify the rate & any rhythm abnormalities. I hope all is OK & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not possible to know well what is going on without being able to evaluate this area. This could be just extra skin but on the other hand this could also be something like a growth. I recommend that you check in with a veterinarian who can examine him for further assessment and treatment. They can then decide if any therapy is needed if this is something significant. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I’m sorry to hear Kona isn’t feeling well. What you describe could be heart disease and there could be fluid build up in his lungs. I recommend taking Kona to a vet right away for an exam so they can listen to his heart and lungs. He may also need xrays of his chest to see what’s going on inside. Other possibilities include infectious diseases like kennel cough or the flu, parasites like heartworms, or cancerous processes. Either way, Kona needs to be seen by a vet to determine what’s wrong and start treatment. Good luck and kisses to Kona!

Hi and thanks for posting. This sounds a bit concerning. Something certainly sounds off with Sophi today. In order to get a better idea of what is going on, I would recommend Sophi see her veterinarian very soon. Your vet will do an exam to help pinpoint the issue. Your may recommend diagnostic testing such as blood work or x-rays to further evaluate her so they can help her feel better soon.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. No, this isn't a dumb question at all! When a dog gets excited or plays heavily, the heartbeat naturally increases. It's normal to see this increase, and in some dogs, it may be super fast and hard. Now without seeing Yeti in person, I can't say for certain it is normal, so I do recommend a vet visit just to be safe. I hope this helps!

You should get your dog seen by our veterinarian right away. Rapid heartbeat in dogs could indicate that he is in pain, has heat disease, an electrolyte imbalance or another hidden condition. Left untreated it can lead to injury of the heart itself and/or congestive heart failure. Your vet will do an exam, blood work and x-rays to determine the cause of the illness and suggest an effective treatment plan.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you are noticing an increased respiratory rate and her belly becoming larger, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having x-rays done to help determine what the cause of these symptoms could be. 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.