My 4-month-old puppy breathes fast while resting. Is this normal?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That rate doesn't sound abnormal if she was resting. If the respiratory rate is high when she is resting (greater than 30 breaths per minute), that would be cause for concern. Also, make sure her gum color is nice and pink. If not, I would have a veterinarian take a look and listen to her. Good luck and kisses to Molly!

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.

The increased respiratory rate could be from him dissipating heat but it could also be pathological. I cannot tell you for sure just based on your description. I suggest you take a video of him breathing heavy at rest and then take him in to your vet for an examination. Show the vet the video and see what they think. The vet will take that video combined with their examination findings and let you know if it seems like his breathing is normal or abnormal. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.

I would recommend that you have Rousey checked out by a vet. Breathing that quickly is not normal. While sleeping, she should breathe less than 20 times in a minute. Increased respiratory rate at night could indicate heart or lung disease, anemia, or pneumonia. If she has fractured ribs, she could benefit from pain medications. She should probably also be checked for intestinal parasites, which are easily picked up while hanging out on the streets.

Hello. Sometimes puppies can breath faster than an adult dog & this can be very normal. But if you think she is running a fever, then you should have your sweet girl evaluated by your veterinarian as son as possible. Hopefully, all is OK. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.