Actually, every dog likes to romp around in the great outdoors, in wind, weather and sunshine.
It is completely normal for the furry nose to get out of breath. Rapid breathing is still not rapid breathing.
what if yours dog hyperventilating? The measures, symptoms & causes we will tell you in the following guide.
What is hyperventilation in dogs?
Hyperventilation in dogs is initially nothing more than agitated and rapid breathing, which is tantamount to panting.
Because of the hasty breathing, the dog takes in too much oxygen at once. This creates an imbalance between the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
It is also possible that an excess of CO₂ in the blood leads to hyperventilation. The trigger here is not taking in too much air, but holding your breath.
What are the symptoms to tell if my dog is hyperventilating?
How to tell your dog isn’t just out of breath but actually hyperventilating, you can tell by the following symptoms:
- your dog is making funny noises
- your dog is shaking all over
- your dog is panting excitedly
- your dog is panting
Important
If hyperventilation occurs once, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern – as long as there are no other symptoms that can indicate a possible disease.
How do I react if my dog is hyperventilating?
Hyperventilation can, in some cases, be the result of anxiety and panic.
And when your dog begins to hyperventilate, you don’t yet know what exactly set the trigger.
Your first reaction here must be to keep calm.
Whatever the reason, it’s not unlikely that hyperventilating scares your dog.
If you now transfer your worry and panic to him, his condition will only get worse – and that can be dangerous for him.
Did you manage to calm your own nerves? Then take a close look at your dog. Do you see any other abnormalities, such as these signs:
- Your dog retreats
- Your dog crouches in on itself
- The chest rises and falls every second
- Your dog is breathing extremely shallowly, the tongue is hanging out of the mouth
- The tongue has a dark red/blue/blackish colouration
If you see any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. From poisoning to a lower respiratory tract infection, anything is possible.
Please also check whether your dog could have eaten something wrong or whether he showed cold symptoms in the days before the hyperventilation.
Good to know
After consultation with the veterinarian, you can give your dog a steroid such as prednicortone. This helps dilate the bronchi and make breathing easier.
What are the causes and triggers of hyperventilation in dogs?
There are many causes and triggers for canine hyperventilation – and the following are definitely one of them.
stress, panic, fear
Your dog was startled by something and stopped breathing? Then too much CO2 in the blood leads to hyperventilation.
Conversely, it may be that something is stressing him out. Your dog is hyperventilating out of fear. This fear can also occur at night, causing your dog to hyperventilate while sleeping.
Sensory overload can also lead to hyperventilation in your dog.
heat
Of course, summer is the most beautiful season.
But the sun also has its pitfalls – for example when a dog has taken a nap in the blazing midday sun or has romped around too much.
Sunstroke or heat stroke can be the result – and set the trigger for the hyperventilation that follows.
Disease of the upper & lower respiratory tract
Is your dog suffering from the beginning of bronchitis or even the beginning of pneumonia?
Then he will desperately gasp for air, breathing is very fast and shallow – hyperventilation occurs.
Poisoning & suffocation
Depending on which poison has found its way into the dog’s body, a choking attack can occur.
In a desperate attempt to absorb oxygen from the air, the dog begins to hyperventilate.
What are the health consequences if the dog hyperventilates?
The health consequences of hyperventilating are manifold.
If your dog keeps hyperventilating – probably due to stress – your dog is under constant stress.
This in turn can lead to further health problems and abnormal behavior.
Is there an illness or poisoning behind the hyperventilation or also sunstroke?
Then the health consequences can very quickly become fatal.
Can certain dog breeds be more prone to hyperventilation?
Yes, there are some dog breeds that are more prone to hyperventilation than other fur noses. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- French bulldog
- Belgian pygmy griffons
- English bulldog
- Continental bulldog
- American bulldog
- chihuahua
- Japan Chinese
- Maltese
- pug
These breeds are so-called brachycephalic dog breeds, which have a flat face, short muzzle and shortened airways.
It is normal for these dogs to also experience the following: The dog hyperventilates during sleep.
Conclusion
Is your dog hyperventilating? Then there can be different causes and triggers behind it, such as Stress, a respiratory disease or poisoning.
The dog is hyperventilating out of fear – because he doesn’t know what’s wrong with him and he needs help.
The most important measure on your part is to remain calm, observe the dog closely and, if necessary, take him to the veterinarian.
In the long term, hyperventilation has no positive effects on the dog, as it causes enormous stress for the furry friend.
It’s also possible that your dog is one of the brachycephalic breeds, where hyperventilation is unfortunately normal.
What experiences have you had with hyperventilation and dogs? We would be happy if you share them with us in the comments.