Why is my 4-month German Shepherd puppy struggling to breathe?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Zeta has been having labored breathing. Difficulty breathing can be a sign of primary respiratory disease, such as pneumonia, fluid in the lungs or chest, or even lung cancer. Heart disease can also cause fluid to build up in the lungs, which can lead to difficulty breathing, especially at night. I recommend monitoring her breathing rate and effort. If she is breathing more than 40 breaths per minute, or using her abdomen to help her breathe, I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds like there are a few things going on with Mavis. If she can't put pressure on her front right paw, that means she is in pain. Pain would also cause her to have trouble getting comfortable, and can lead to the panting. The sneezing and coughing could be due to a respiratory infection. Please take her into the vet in the morning for these issues.

Yes, it is normal for them to breathe fast, twitch and even vocalize in their sleep. As long as he is normal when awake there is no concern. The nose can normally have a little watery discharge from time to time. If he starts to sneeze frequently or has mucous discharge, then this would indicate a problem like infection or allergies. I hope that helps and all is well with Haku.

It could just be allergies, but that doesn't usually cause shortness of breath. Try to keep her calm and reduce activity. Keep the room cool and use a fan. If she still seems short of breath, she needs to be checked out by a vet ASAP.

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.

He really should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have an issue with his heart and your vet can take an x-ray of his chest, run an EKG, and/or an ultrasound of his heart to diagnose and then determine if treatment is needed. it is difficult to know the cause without having an examination by a vet.

I’m sorry Delilah isn’t feeling well. Many things can cause these symptoms. However because she is an older German Shepherd I would be concerned about a possible bleeding mass in her abdomen. These are common in shepherds. However many other problems such as heartworm disease, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and anemia from other problems would also be on my list of concerns. I’m glad you are going to have her seen tomorrow. If she gets worse tonight you can always take her to an emergency clinic if you are concerned. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.