The following may be responsible for your dog’s rapid breathing. Contact your Vet if symptoms persist.  Read on…

1. Pleural Effusion

This is often the most common cause of congestive heart failure in canines.  Dogs suffering from Pleural effusion accumulation a fluid like substance in the pleural space in the chest cavity often times causing lung & chest to be incapable of expanding fully and to have poor ventilation. Lung lobes often will collapse and severe amounts of the accumulation of the fluids can be life threatening.  In many known cases, bacterial pneumonia can spread into the area between the lungs and thoracic wall, the pleural space, causing infection called empyema. In some instances, the fluid in the pleural space is blood. When the fluid is blood, this is caused by trauma, lung cancer, or a bleeding disorder. Other causes of pleural effusion can be heart failure, chylothorax, other types of cancer, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, or infections. Large pleural effusions can press on the lungs and cause respiratory problems.

2. Pneumonia

Dog Pneumonia tends to target canines with very low immune systems from corticosteroid therapy, chemotherapy, or chronic illness. Dogs with chronic bronchitis, collapsing trachea, and foreign bodies in the lower airway frequently develop bacterial pneumonia.  Contact your Vet if these symptons persist.

3. Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a condition associated with severe hyperglycemia. In Diabetic Ketoacidosis fats are metabolized for energy because sugar is not available.  Your vet can give you more information and prescribe a recovery program for you pet.

4. Toxoplasmosis

The term Toxoplasmosis is serious business.  It occurs in dogs when they ingest undercooked meats or the stools of infected cats. Cats are the definitive hosts and only cats excrete the oocytes in their stool. Dogs and humans can act as intermediate hosts; however, they cannot infect others since they do not excrete the oocyte spores.  If you suspect your canine has ingested undercooked meats or cat stool, contact your vet ASAP.

5. Chocolate Poisoning

Who would think chocoalte could be deadly? Chocolate contains caffeine alkaloid called theobromine. While not toxic to people in the amounts present in commercial foods, thebromine in these amounts can be quite harmful to your dog. A small dog weighing five to ten pounds can die after eating four to sixteen ounces of milk chocolate; a medium sized dog weighing twenty to forty pounds can die after eating sixteen to thirty-two ounces; a larger dog after eating about two pounds. Unsweetened chocolate contains higher concentrations of theobromine and is therefore more toxic. A dog can die after just eating four ounces. Contact your vet at once if your canine has ingested chocoalte. 

6. Old Age

Old age in most animals will cause them to become short of breath at times.  This is normal and shouldn’t be a cause for alarm unless the condition worsens.  Older dogs will often show signs of lack of breath or rapid breathing. Keep a close eye on them and call your vet if you suspect infection or other symptoms listed above.