Why is my senior dog breathing fast at rest? Could it be anxiety?

While this respiratory rate is higher than the normal resting respiratory rate for a normal dog, some dogs have a higher resting respiratory rate and this May be hers. As long as her activity level is normal, she is eating and drinking and going to the bathroom okay I would just keep an eye on her and continue to monitor this. If it appears that she is in any sort of respiratory distress and she is using her abdominal muscles to breathe more, I would get her seen by a vet immediately. If she hasn't had a health exam since you adopted her I would get her seen by a vet for a routine check-up just to make sure everything is okay. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via phone or text consultation.

It really depends on the situation. They can breathe fast normally with exercise, excitation and an increase in environmental temperature. If you are sure that none of those are a factor and her breathing rate has definitely increased from normal, then it could be due to a problem affecting the heart, lungs, or red blood cells. In this case it's best to have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent further complications. Below is a link to a good guide on how to evaluate her breathing before scheduling a visit to the vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Maisie.

These types of behaviors could be caused by pain, anxiety, internal medical issues, cognitive dysfunction from old age, seizures, etc. Without seeing a vet, it is hard to tell what could be going on and I can't really make any specific recommendations. Be available to comfort him. You can also try doggie pheromones like Comfort Zone or Adaptil.

Thank you for your question! The increased panting could be due to a number of things. Based on your location, the outside temperature could be making things a bit more warm for Reese and as he is an older guy, he most likely does not tolerate the heat as well as he used to. Due to his age, I would certainly want a basic blood panel run on Reese to see if there are any systemic causes of the panting. I know this is not necessarily a low cost option but it would give you the most information to start with. If the cataracts are causing blindness and consequently causing anxiety due to this, there unfortunately is not much for a low cost option to help with the cataracts. I would see if putting a fan nearby reduces his panting. For anxiety, you can try an Adaptil collar and diffuser (all available online) to see if this helps with anxiety and the panting. If no improvement, I would definitely get in to see your regular veterinarian for a further, more detailed workup. Hope this helps and do feel free to contact me with any further questions / concerns you may have.

It is possible that he has an underlying heart condition if his breathing continues for consecutive days in a row at this rate. I would recommend alerting his owners of this abnormal breathing so that they are informed. They may have already witnessed this themselves or may even be aware of a condition he has already. However, you are right to inquire about this, because breathing rates <30 breaths per minute while in a deep sleep are considered abnormal and the #1 cause of this is an underlying heart condition and potentially heart failure. Best of luck with Cody and informing the owners of your concerns for his overall health and well-being.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Onyx. I would recommend bloodwork to look for any underlying disease that can cause panting. Cushing's disease for example, is an adrenal gland disorder that will cause the dog to pant excessively. In middle age to older patients panting can also be the result of canine cognitive dysfunction. This is a disorder somewhat similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. There is no specific test for this, it is determined by your veterinarian asking you questions. Finally, anxiety can result in panting. There are anti-anxiety medications available help if this is the case. I hope this information helps!

I am so sorry that Dylan is having a hard time. You are right to be worried. At his age, I would be worried about heart failure or cancer potentially making his breathing abnormal and causing him to be restless. Pneumonia is another concern. Unfortunately there isn’t anything you can do at home to help him breathe better. You need to get him in to see a vet right away. Seek a veterinary ER now. If you don’t have an ER in your area, call your regular vet—they likely have a recording for how to reach a vet after hours.