Normal panting versus a breathing problem
Dogs pant to cool down, and also when excited, stressed or after exercise. Normal panting settles once the dog rests or cools off. A breathing problem is different: the dog breathes hard or fast when resting, in a cool room, or while asleep, or the effort looks like work.
Veterinary terms you may hear include tachypnea (fast breathing) and dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing). You do not need to remember these, but describing exactly what you see helps your vet.
Signs of labored breathing
Watch for:
- Breathing that is faster than usual when your dog is calm or asleep
- Visible effort, with the belly or chest heaving
- Open-mouth breathing in a dog that doesn’t usually do so
- Noisy breathing, wheezing, a honking cough or harsh sounds when breathing in
- Standing with elbows out and neck stretched, or refusing to lie down
- Pale, gray or bluish gums or tongue
- Restlessness, anxiety, or reluctance to settle
- Coughing, especially at night or after exercise
- Tiring easily on walks
Ask your vet about counting your dog’s resting breaths. Many vets teach owners to count breaths per minute while their dog is asleep or calm, and to track it over time, particularly for dogs with heart disease. Your vet can tell you what number is a concern for your dog.
Common causes in older dogs
Only a vet can determine the cause, but these are among the conditions vets commonly consider.
Heart disease
Heart conditions (some dogs are put on a restricted-sodium diet; see low sodium dog food) can cause fluid to build up in or around the lungs, leading to coughing and fast or labored breathing, often more noticeable at night or when lying down. It is one reason a new cough or restlessness at night in a senior dog should be checked.
Laryngeal paralysis
In this condition, the voice box does not open properly when the dog breathes in. It is seen most often in older large-breed dogs, such as Labradors. Signs can include a change in the bark, noisy breathing, gagging or coughing, and trouble in heat or when excited. It can become an emergency.
Tracheal collapse
The windpipe weakens and narrows, and is most often seen in small and toy breeds. A honking cough is typical, often triggered by excitement, pulling on a collar or hot weather.
Bronchitis and pneumonia
Older dogs can develop chronic airway inflammation or lung infections. Signs may include coughing, nasal discharge, fever, lethargy and reduced appetite.
Other causes
Other possibilities include lung or chest tumors, fluid around the lungs, obesity, anemia, allergies, pain, heat stress, and certain toxins or medications. Flat-faced breeds can have chronic airway problems that worsen with age. Because pain and anxiety also change breathing, see our guide to pain relief for older dogs for additional signs of discomfort.
Breathing at night and at rest
A senior dog who pants, paces or cannot settle at night should be checked, even if she seems fine in the daytime. Possible reasons include heart disease, pain, cognitive dysfunction or other illnesses. Keep notes, and consider recording a short video of your dog’s breathing to show your vet.
When it is an emergency
Go to an emergency clinic right away if your dog:
- Is struggling to breathe or gasping
- Has blue, gray or very pale gums
- Collapses or faints
- Is breathing with an open mouth and extreme effort at rest
- Has a coughing fit or noisy breathing that doesn’t settle
- Becomes overheated, with heavy panting, drooling and weakness
Call ahead if possible. On the way, keep your dog as calm and cool as you can, avoid stress and don’t force them to lie down if they prefer to stand or sit. Do not give any human medications.
How vets diagnose and treat
Your vet will listen to the heart and lungs and may recommend chest X-rays, blood work, heart tests such as an ultrasound, or examination of the throat. Treatment depends on the cause and might include medication for the heart or airway, oxygen, treating infection, weight loss, changes to equipment such as switching from a collar to a harness, or surgery for certain airway conditions. Routine senior blood work can also help identify other conditions that might contribute.
Keeping your senior dog comfortable
Once your vet has made a diagnosis, you can help by following the treatment plan, keeping your dog at a healthy weight, avoiding heat and hard exercise, using a harness instead of a neck collar, keeping stress low, and providing a cool, well-ventilated resting place. Report any change in breathing, cough or energy promptly. For the wider picture of conditions that become more common with age, see senior dog health issues.