Having a new puppy in the home is a fun time for every family member. You get to enjoy all the puppy kisses while the kids have a new playmate to help run off their extra energy. While a new puppy is a joyous family addition, there are instances when you’ll find yourself getting worried as an owner. One such time is when you find your new puppy breathing fast while they are sleeping.
Hearing your puppy’s breathing race while they are resting is terrifying. However, it doesn’t always mean something is wrong. In fact, there are several reasons your pup may be breathing fast in their sleep, including playing before they doze off, the temperature where they are sleeping, and even dreams. Of course, while those reasons aren’t causes for concern, some things can cause rapid breathing during sleep that should be checked by your pup’s veterinarian.
Let’s take a look at why your puppy could be breathing fast while sleeping so you can better determine what’s going on with your new fur baby.
Understanding Your Puppy’s Respiration
Before we look at the reasons your puppy is breathing so fast while they sleep, we need to take a good look at normal puppy respiration. Puppies naturally breathe faster than adult dogs. The respiratory rate of an adult dog at rest is between 10 to 30 breaths per minute. When a puppy is at rest, its respiratory rate should fall between 15 to 40 breaths per minute. Why the difference? Puppies are still growing. This means they have a faster metabolism and cellular growth rate that needs more oxygen. It is normal for a puppy to appear as if they are breathing heavier than a grown dog when they are asleep.
Before becoming concerned with your puppy’s breathing rate while they are asleep, you should check their respiration rate. To do this make sure your puppy is truly asleep and not just lying down to rest. If your pup is snoozing deeply, set yourself a timer for 1 minute and count how many times the puppy’s chest rises and falls while they breathe. This will let you know whether your puppy is truly breathing faster than normal or simply sleeping well.
Possible Reasons Why Puppy Is Breathing Fast While Sleeping
Now that you understand what your puppy’s normal respiration rate should be, let’s take a look at the reasons your new pooch could be breathing faster than normal.
1. Play and Exercise
A puppy playing or exercising before falling asleep is one of the most common reasons they will breathe fast. Puppies are full of energy. They spend a lot of their time playing with toys, running through the backyard, and exploring the world around them. All this activity means the puppy needs more oxygen to release all the carbon dioxide that has built up in their bodies so their cells can be replenished. This type of breathing after a hard day of playing is normal for puppies and isn’t a cause for concern. You’ll notice that after a bit of rest, usually 10 to 15 minutes, your puppy’s breathing should return to normal rates.
2. Dreaming
The cutest reason for a puppy breathing fast while they sleep is dreams. Yes, your puppy dreams just like all of us do. When dreaming is the reason for your puppy’s increased breathing while asleep, you’ll often notice other things as well. Your pooch may twitch and jerk. You may even hear them whimper, growl, or even howl. While it’s normal to be concerned when you see your puppy making these motions and sounds, there’s no reason to wake them. However, if you’re worried about their respiratory rate, simply nudge them awake and see if their breathing regulates.
3. Temperature
Puppies will take a nap anywhere. If it’s hot outside or in your home and your pup stretches out for a nap, it could be too hot. This can also happen when your puppy passes out near a heat source like a heater or heating blanket. Panting and quick breathing is a dog’s way of losing that extra body heat. However, puppies are susceptible to heat stroke. If you notice your pooch breathing heavily and you think the heat is the problem, try to help them cool down by turning on the AC, pointing a fan in their direction, or bringing them inside where it’s more comfortable. You should also ensure your puppy has access to plenty of water to avoid getting too hot.
4. Emotions
The life of a puppy can be an emotional rollercoaster. Leaving their mothers and members of their litter, coming to a new home, and meeting their new family can trigger a lot of emotions. Fear, anxiety, and stress cause a puppy’s cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol is the hormone that causes a flight or fight response. Cortisol also raises a puppy’s heart rate. This elevation often results in increased breathing rates. Once your puppy is in a deep sleep, their stress should reduce. You’ll also find that this doesn’t happen as often as your pup gets familiar with their new surroundings.
When You Should Worry
While most of the time a puppy breathing fast while they are sleeping isn’t concerning, there are instances where other, more dangerous issues are the underlying cause. As we’ve already mentioned, if you notice your puppy is breathing fast while sleeping and you’ve eliminated causes like dreaming, temperature, play, and stress, monitor their respiratory rate for 60 seconds.
If the puppy is taking more than 40 breaths per minute and it doesn’t subside in 10 to 15 minutes it could be a cause for concern. When this is the case, check your puppy for other signs of illnesses. Look for pale gums, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, a bloated abdomen, or signs they are in pain. If you notice any of these signs in your puppy, schedule a veterinarian visit immediately. Illness in puppies can advance quickly. Being fast to act will give your puppy a better chance at a full recovery from whatever illness is affecting them.
Here are a few other causes as to why your puppy could be breathing fast while sleeping that would require medical attention:
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are multiple reasons why your puppy is breathing so fast while they are sleeping. Thankfully, the most common causes for this aren’t dangerous. However, there are situations where your puppy’s fast breathing can be a sign of something more serious. When you notice your pup is breathing harder than it should be, give them a few minutes. If nothing changes, look for other signs of illness. If you see any, take your pup for a veterinarian visit immediately.
Featured Image Credit: dogboxstudio, Shutterstock
