50-60 breaths per minute normal for a dog?

[DWW]

Hey, well I'm going to take the pups to the vet just to get them checked out but one has me concerned.

They are about 7 months old now and one of them is fatter (and always has been) than the other. He has always seemed to have a little bit of rapid breathing since the summer even when he was just born. Just now, while he was laying down in front of the TV I counted for him and it was around (at least) 50 breaths per minute. Just short and shallow.

I didn't even have him running or anything, has been pretty idle for the past 3 hours.

Is this normal for some dogs? I'll admit we haven't walked them for a few months sadly.

Our last dog had messed up breathing right before he died (his lungs filled up from fluid due to hundreds of tumors and lung cancer that we didn't know about till his last 2 days ) arg it makes me nervous. I know its not the same thing but I can't help but think the dog won't live as long as his brother and this is some defect :frown:

They've both been to the vet numerous times over the past 5 months for regular stuff and the vet never mentioned/took note of it.

 

well, i would say thats too much for a human infant...but im not sure about puppies. Mention it to the vet next time.

 

[GasX]

dog metabolism dne human metabolism.

That said, my one year old dog is breathing at about that rate and he is the picture of perfect health.

 

[Ness]

I don't think it is too much a matter of concern. Not being much of an expert here, a dog can change it's breathing pattern based on many things, not just activity. If it's hot out, if the air is heavy/humid.. if it is sleeping, etc. Be advised, also, that a "breath" for a dog can be made up of a few inhales right next to each other and one deep exhale following. One of my dogs is sleeping next to me right now "Hmmhh Hmmhh Hmmhh... Phhhhhhhheew" probably about 3 or 4 seconds every pattern, which would certainly put him at around 60 inhales per minute.


Also, if it is a smaller dog, it may just be that it doesn't have a large lung capacity and needs to breathe a bit faster.


If you are that concerned, give your vet a call in the morning and see what they have to say. Any good vet will tell you honestly that it's either okay or that you should rush them over.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Could just be the way the dog is put together. Are they on heartworm prevention meds?

 

[DWW]

Yep both are on the heartworm once-a-month meds.

They are golden retrievers. I'd suspect the little one is around 45-50 pounds and the big one is around 60 pounds.

 

[GasX]

Is his breathing labored or is his respiratory rate just fast?

 

[DWW]

He doesn't seem to be in discomfort at all

...on the contrary he will lay on his back with tongue hanging out (sometimes not always) with that sort of dog smile on

it doesn't sound labored