New puppy breathing heavily after travel. Is it anxiety or illness?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you have noticed a change in her breathing pattern and she appears to have labored breathing, I would recommend getting her in to be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Without a video, it is difficult to say for sure what the problem is. I hope this helps! Please let me know you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

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.

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.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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.

If this breathing heavy is only occurring when Tater is resting, it could be that he is dreaming and his breathing is changing in response to the dreams. Dogs dream and they can show behaviors such as barking, leg movement, and breathing changes in response to their dreams. Given that he is fine otherwise, I would monitor him for now, but certainly it's okay to have him seen by a vet just in case to make sure everything is ok health wish with him :-)

Hi and thanks for posting! If Hunter is having some breathing trouble, I would recommend he see a veterinarian ASAP for exam. Your veterinarian will listen to his lungs and heart and may take an x-ray to help determine the cause so he can get the most appropriate treatment. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If there are no other signs and you are not suspecting any intoxication you could monitor him at this stage for the next 2 hours and see if he settles down. If not a check up would be ideal to understand the underlying cause and treat appropriately. Unfortunately at this stage the presentation is quite generic and differentials are many.