Wondering why your dog sometimes breathes so quickly while sleeping?
There can be various causes for this and many of them are really harmless.
In this article, you will learn why your dog is breathing rapidly while sleeping and when you should consult a veterinarian.
In a nutshell: That’s why your dog breathes quickly while sleeping
If your dog is breathing rapidly while sleeping, it doesn’t always have to indicate a serious illness. Maybe your little dog is simply dreaming and processing what he experienced during the day.
It can happen that the respiratory rate increases. Fear, stress or nervousness before going to bed can also be triggers.
But serious illnesses such as anemia, laryngeal paralysis or heart failure could also be behind it. So consulting a veterinarian if something seems strange to you is a good idea.
We can also offer you the online veterinarian Dr. Recommend Sam! The initial consultation is free and takes place via Whatsapp video call. Try it!
Dog breathes rapidly while sleeping: 5 possible causes
There really can be many different reasons for your dog’s breathing suddenly getting faster while he’s sleeping.
Our dogs are all just as individual as we are and the causes and symptoms of an increased respiratory rate can be just as different.
Here are a few possible causes of an increased respiratory rate in dogs:
1. Regulation of body temperature / heat stroke
Is your puppy panting in his sleep and you’re worried? It doesn’t always have to be an illness. Maybe your pup is just warm.
Because dogs cannot sweat, they regulate their body temperature through breathing. So, to a certain extent, rapid panting or breathing is quite normal in dogs.
However, it becomes critical when your puppy is breathing so heavily because he is overheated and at risk of heat stroke! In this case, you need to go to the vet immediately!
2. Your dog is dreaming
Just like us humans, dogs also need sleep to process what they have experienced and learned. In the REM sleep phase, your dog dreams most intensively, which can lead to him panting, breathing faster and his eyes or limbs twitching.
It can happen that your dog breathes quickly with its mouth closed while sleeping. Even if the breathing sometimes sounds strange, it is completely normal and even important for your dog to dream!
Puppies in particular need time to dream and do so more than adult dogs. Maybe that’s why your pup is breathing fast in his sleep. No reason to worry!
3. Is your dog scared?
Does your dog breathe quickly in the evening? Just before bed?
Maybe there’s something there that scared him. Has something fallen or is there something in his basket that scares him?
Whatever the trigger, if your dog breathes faster or pants before bed, it can be a sign of anxiety, stress, and nervousness.
It might help if you move his crib to another spot.
4. Disease: sleep apnea, laryngeal paralysis, anemia, heart disease
If your dog is breathing rapidly while sleeping, this can have harmless causes, but in an emergency it can also indicate an illness.
So you should watch your dog closely and if something seems strange to you, it’s better to go to the vet more than once.
Does your old dog breathe fast in his sleep? The oldies in particular are of course susceptible to age-related diseases. Increased panting, rapid breathing CAN indicate heart disease, anemia, laryngeal paralysis or other diseases.
These diseases are definitely not to be trifled with! Sleep apnea, which causes regular pauses in breathing, can also be the reason for irregular breathing in your dog.
5. Build / short snout
Is your dog breathing rapidly through his nose, or trying? Unfortunately, many dogs have severe breathing difficulties due to their anatomy. This particularly applies to short-snouted dogs and flat-nosed dogs such as pugs, Pekingese and French or English bulldogs.
In fact, some of these dogs do experience shortness of breath on a really regular basis, which may be the reason they breathe rapidly while they sleep. If you have one of these at home, please have it checked out by a veterinarian!
Other possible causes of an increased respiratory rate in dogs
In addition, there are a few other causes that could cause your dog to breathe faster:
- overexertion
- Fever
- respiratory diseases
- allergy
- Pains
- poisoning
- overweight
What is the normal breathing rate in a healthy dog?
To put your mind at ease, it’s good to know what a dog’s normal breathing rate actually is and how to measure it.
This is very simple and easiest to do when your pooch is sleeping. In this resting phase you count the breaths per minute. One breath means inhaling and exhaling once.
A normal breathing rate for dogs is between 15 and 30 breaths per minute. However, this can vary somewhat depending on height and age. Puppies and small dogs often exhibit slightly faster breathing.
Tip:
Feel free to count your dog’s breaths in sleep mode several nights in a row or every now and then. This way you can determine where his normal resting frequency is and more easily determine if there are any deviations.
When should I take my dog to the vet?
You should take your strange breathing dog to the vet if:
- something seems strange to you – listen to your gut feeling!
- your dog has regular breathing pauses
- your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting
- your dog has a fever
- your dog seems apathetic
- your dog is constantly afraid or panicking and therefore can hardly sleep
- your dog always breathes very quickly in the evening and pants
- your dog seems exhausted and sleeps a lot during the day
- your dog has no appetite
- your dog has red eyes or pale mucous membranes
Do you already know dr. Sam? The online vet is available to you almost around the clock, 365 days a year! Via Whatsapp video call you can talk to a veterinarian and find out what’s wrong with your dog!
This way you can find out whether your dog might need to go to the clinic for a blood test or whether Dr. Sam puts your mind at ease, noting that the symptoms are only associated with active dreaming. Maybe this is something for you? An initial consultation is free.
What you can do for your dog now
It is important that you keep calm and don’t panic, whether it’s a harmless cause or a serious illness.
Try talking to your dog in a soft voice and calming him down with loving strokes.
If your puppy is breathing very quickly while sleeping, this is normal to some extent. Baby dogs generally breathe faster than adult dogs and dream more too. That’s good and important, because they need sleep to process what they’ve experienced.
If your dog is just too warm and panting at night, consider moving his crib to a cooler room. Your dog might also like a cool leather bed!
Tip:
Monitor your dog closely and consult a veterinarian if you are unsure why your dog is breathing rapidly while sleeping.
How can it be prevented?
Depending on the cause, the preventive measures are also different. Do you have a dog with a short muzzle? Have a veterinarian determine if he can breathe freely or if he may need surgery to help him breathe easier.
You also prevent yourself by informing yourself and that’s what you’re doing right now! This way you can maybe rule out a few things and no longer feel so at a loss. At least you now know that some causes of rapid breathing during sleep are perfectly harmless.
However, especially in summer it is important not to overexert yourself or endure extreme heat! Never leave your dog alone in the car when the temperature is above 20 degrees. Otherwise there is a risk of life-threatening heat stroke!!!
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The vets behind the portal are available to you daily from 08:00 to 24:00, even if you cannot reach another vet!
Conclusion
If your dog is breathing rapidly while sleeping, it doesn’t always have to be a worrying cause!
Of course it can also be the case that your dog has one nightmare has, but also someone else action-packed dream can cause your dog’s breathing rate to increase during sleep. That’s not bad!
Dreaming is just as important for our dogs as it is for us humans.
If your dog is breathing rapidly in the evening because of some reason Fear maybe you can change up your evening routine or find a new spot for his basket. Be there for him and show him that he doesn’t need to be afraid.
You now know what a dog’s normal breathing rate is and can check it yourself regularly. This will help you stay calm and better assess what is normal and what is not.
If you are unsure, consult a vet as a precaution. Whether at your place or by first contacting the online veterinarian Dr. Sam – a professional check will bring you certainty and serenity!