Why is my puppy breathing fast and feeling very hot? Is it a fever?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can understand your concerns with having a new puppy. It is likely that your new puppy is finally starting to come into his own. As your puppy grows and matures he will start to develop his personality. This can lead to higher activity levels and more playfullness. As long as he is still tail wagging, running, jumping and overall seems happy, he is likely just fine. After quick spurts of play, puppies can also have heavy breathing episodes, but it should only last for 1-5 minutes at the most. If your puppy seems like he is in respiratory distress, coughing, gasping for air, etc, then its best to have him evaluated by your vet. At that point I would suspect he may have an airway infection, underlying heart disease, or a laryngeal disorder. However, if your pupy is still playful, eating, drinking and normal acting, then he is likely just fine and is having over exerting moments of play. Just try to limit his play to no more than 20-30 minute intervals two times a day to keep him healthy. I hope this helps and best wishes with your new puppy Winter. Take care.

This is probably normal for your puppy but if you are concerned then I would recommend having her examined by your veterinarian. It is always wise to have the heart and lungs of a new pup examined to make sure everything is as it should be. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I would recommend bringing Pippa to a veterinarian especially if she is coughing and breathing hard. She may have an upper respiratory infection but could also be something more. Your veterinarian can listen to her to make sure her lungs are clear and if not can perform x-rays to make sure she doesn't have pneumonia or bronchitis. Since she is so young I recommend a veterinarian sooner than later. Puppies can get sick and decline quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Something is definitely making her feel bad, but this is not specific to any one problem. The fact that she has a high temperature makes me suspicious that she has an infection. The best thing you can do is have a vet check her out to identify and treat the problem. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and Maggi gets better soon.

I would recommend bringing him in for an exam. Sometimes rapid breathing can be a sign of discomfort or illness. It is possible he may need a few rounds of deworming, or could have an infection and associated fever. Either way, around 8 weeks is when he should be getting his first round of vaccines and an exam, so I would simply talk to your veterinarian at that appointment.