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I've noticed this since he was a small puppy and he is now almost a year old. I had forgotten about it, but now I'm sitting here watching him sleep and wondering if I should make a vet appt. He just breathes very rapidly and shallow, about 60-65 breaths a min, but otherwise no signs/symptoms of distress. When he was younger we assumed it was because he was a baby. All other aspects of him are completely normal, very active with no issues etc. But as I look at my other dogs, none of them do this. They all are breathing as one would expect while sleeping, slowly. Also, when he was neutered he was on a monitor under anesthesia and they never said anything about it, so I'm just wondering if this just might be his normal.
Observe his eyes when he's sleeping like this. If his eyes are in REM, he may be just dreaming.
If he is dreaming, shallow fast breathing like this doesn't last very long- a few minutes at most. I've had lots of dogs who do this during dreams; sometimes it's the only indication that they are dreaming, but most often, a paw will twitch, a leg may jerk, and the dog will bark or whimper lightly under his breath. Eye REM is almost always present.
If it lasts any longer than about 10 minutes, and if you notice him breathing rapidly while awake with no reason for it, I would sure call a vet.
Is he a GSD, by any chance? Both our GSDs have been/are occasional shallow, rapid breathers, and our vet says it is typical for the breed--not all the time, but now and again, and it's quite normal. I have to say that I've only noticed it while they're awake, not while they're asleep, except like what Mike says, briefly during REM sleep. So do get your dog checked by your vet.
Observe his eyes when he's sleeping like this. If his eyes are in REM, he may be just dreaming.
If he is dreaming, shallow fast breathing like this doesn't last very long- a few minutes at most. I've had lots of dogs who do this during dreams; sometimes it's the only indication that they are dreaming, but most often, a paw will twitch, a leg may jerk, and the dog will bark or whimper lightly under his breath. Eye REM is almost always present.
That describes what Rudy does, whenever he's having a particularly exciting (or scary?) dream. I always wonder what he's dreaming about, but my best guess is squirrels.
all 3 of mine are shallow and ripid when dreaming...sometimes for as long as 30 mins...ruby also "talks" in her sleep, jasper is a grumbler and Dozer is aparnetly a growler, jump and runner.
if its constant thoguh...id give the vet a call and ask if they think its worth checking him out...if hes only doing it in his sleep and not getting short of breath ect during normal activites i cant see it being much of a problem,
it could also be a slightly elongated soft palet
My dog is breathing really heavy and fast he's never done that before. only if he is dreaming. he was absolutely fine earlier he was energetic but when I gave him mince he changed. he also has a smelly ear but I can't see anything inside his ear you can only smell the odor on his ear if you actually put your nose to his ear the outside of his ear is wet and so is his neck it smells like sour towels if you leave wet towels long enough they start to go sour. can anyone help me with this.
My dog is breathing really heavy and fast he's never done that before. only if he is dreaming. he was absolutely fine earlier he was energetic but when I gave him mince he changed. he also has a smelly ear but I can't see anything inside his ear you can only smell the odor on his ear if you actually put your nose to his ear the outside of his ear is wet and so is his neck it smells like sour towels if you leave wet towels long enough they start to go sour. can anyone help me with this.
I didn't quite understand you. Is he awake or sleeping and not dreaming while he's breathing like that?
Fast heavy breathing while resting can be a sign of something serious. He could be in pain. He could have fluid building up in his chest. He could have bloat. It could be any number of things, most of them not very nice. He really should see a vet, the sooner the better.
My 10 week old puppies has lot, of energy during the day but last two night went going to sleep he will breath very hard and wake his self up like every Maybe Other Minute With his nose not able to catch his breath
My dog is breathing really heavy and fast he's never done that before. only if he is dreaming. he was absolutely fine earlier he was energetic but when I gave him mince he changed. he also has a smelly ear but I can't see anything inside his ear you can only smell the odor on his ear if you actually put your nose to his ear the outside of his ear is wet and so is his neck it smells like sour towels if you leave wet towels long enough they start to go sour. can anyone help me with this.
Can't help with the heavy breathing, but for the ears, odor is a sign of an ear infection.
Go to your local pharmacy and pick up a bag of cotton balls, and a bottle of witch hazel.
Pour a small amount on the cotton ball and cleanse the ears, getting as far in as you can.
Try not to get the cotton ball too wet, so it doesn't seep way into the ear canal.
That will cause the dog discomfort, and he /she, will keep shaking it's head.
Bob.
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