My pregnant dog is breathing shallow. Is this normal due to puppies?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No that isn't a normal sign in early pregnancy. I would expect close to birth when the dog is heavy with puppies there can be a change in breathing. If Ash is active, eating/drinking, not lethargic, isn't vomiting or having diarrhea I think she is likely fine. This could all be due to the hot weather if you are experiencing that. If it is cool and this is new then having her examined by your Vet Monday isn't a wrong thing to do. Good luck!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Dogs are pregnant an average of 62 days, so Skye is getting close. It is possible that this is a false pregnancy, but the only way to really tell is with an x-ray or ultrasound exam. At this point of her pregnancy it may be difficult to feel individual puppies, especially due to size of the puppies & if this is a rather large litter. An increased respiratory rate could be a direct result of her pregnancy putting increased pressure on her diaphragm. I think it is well worth an x-ray to know how many puppies are there. Hope this helps. Thank you.

Hello. This very well can be the first stages of labor, & this can last 24-36 hours. Once you start to see her having contractions ( can see her actually pushing ), she should start having puppies in the first 15-30 minutes after observing this. If she starts pushing & no puppies are delivered within an hour, you may need to have her evaluated by your veterinarian, but it sounds like she is progressing nicely for now. You may have puppies very soon! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like she might be showing signs of early labor, but it also could be normal behavior for the end of pregnancy. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam and an x-ray if you haven't already seen them recently - it is very helpful to take an x-ray to count puppies late in pregnancy. That way you know approximately how many puppies to expect. You should also start checking her rectal temperature with a well lubricated digital thermometer three times a day to establish a baseline (make sure it's at the same time every day) - usually a dog's baseline temperature will drop by one full degree prior to labor. If Luna's temperature drops but you don't see puppies within 24 hours you should see a veterinarian to make sure everything is okay.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mama! She is super cute! I would take Mama to an Emergency hospital and have her looked at as soon as you can. Anytime there is concern for breathing it could be life threatening, especially if she is also weak. Puppies can suffer from low blood sugar which can make them weak. The fast breathing could be from a fever, pneumonia, or pain. The distended belly may or may not be related. She could just have worms. The best thing for Mama is to have a Vet do an exam. I hope this helps and I wish Mama a speedy recovery!

If Bull is not acting right and pregnant, I would recommend bringing her to a veterinarian. I would have them evaluate her to make sure she is ok and also check on the puppies. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!