My 11-year-old toy poodle breathes slow while resting. Is it normal?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is normal for puppies to have a fast respiration rate, even at rest. As long as her gums are nice and pink and she’s not struggling to breathe she should be fine. Kisses to Iana!

Congratulations on your new puppy Freddie! The best time to count the respiratory rate is when they are resting and not stimulated. Normal resting respiratory rate for puppies is roughly 15-30 breathes per minute. When he is stimulated, it will be higher. If you are noticing anything worrisome, make an appointment with the veterinarian for an exam. You can also record a video of him breathing during the times of concern so your doctor can how he looks. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes that would be completely normal, as long as there is no increase respiratory effort, abdominal breathing and excessive respiratory sounds (more than a pug would normally do!). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It is a little high. I would wait after a few minutes of calm and quiet and recheck it. A dog at rest should have a respiratory rate under 30/minute. At sleep, preferably under 20/minute. Increased respiratory rates, even without distress, could be caused by heart or lung disease or anemia.

Small dogs typically have a higher respiration rate than larger dogs. Average is 18-34 breaths per minute. 30 is within the normal range but if this seems very unusual for Teddy, it cannot hurt to have him assessed by a veterinarian.

Heavy breathing during rest may be heart related. I wouldn't suspect a tracheal problem unless she is actively coughing when awake and especially during excessive motion or play. I would have your vet listen to her heart for any obvious murmurs and then go from there. If a murmur is present, then the vet will want to do a cardiac workup for Karma so that we can get a handle on things before they progress. I do hope that Karma's heavy breathing is just a coincidence and that she is going to be ok moving forward. Best of luck and take care.

While this respiratory rate is higher than the normal resting respiratory rate for a normal dog, some dogs have a higher resting respiratory rate and this May be hers. As long as her activity level is normal, she is eating and drinking and going to the bathroom okay I would just keep an eye on her and continue to monitor this. If it appears that she is in any sort of respiratory distress and she is using her abdominal muscles to breathe more, I would get her seen by a vet immediately. If she hasn't had a health exam since you adopted her I would get her seen by a vet for a routine check-up just to make sure everything is okay. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via phone or text consultation.