By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Watching your dog breathe quickly while asleep can be unsettling. Often it is nothing more than a dream, with a few fast breaths, twitching paws and soft whimpers that settle within a minute or so. But a sleeping breathing rate that stays high, night after night, can be one of the earliest signs of fluid building up in the lungs from heart failure. The good news is that counting your dog's breaths takes less than a minute and gives your vet genuinely useful information.
Key takeaways
- In a study of 114 healthy adult dogs, the average sleeping breathing rate was 13 breaths per minute, and no dog averaged more than 23.
- A sleeping rate that is consistently above 30 breaths per minute is worth a call to your vet.
- Brief bursts of fast breathing during dreams usually settle on their own.
- Laboured breathing, blue or pale gums, collapse or restlessness that stops your dog settling is an emergency.
- If your dog has a heart murmur or heart disease, your vet may ask you to track the sleeping rate at home.
What is a normal sleeping breathing rate for a dog?
Researchers asked owners of 114 apparently healthy adult dogs to count breaths while their dogs slept at home. Published in Research in Veterinary Science, the study found an average sleeping rate of about 13 breaths per minute. No dog had an average above 23, and healthy dogs generally stayed under 30. A later study in The Veterinary Journal found that most dogs and cats with heart failure that was well controlled on medication also had sleeping rates under 30. That is why many vets use 30 breaths per minute as a practical threshold for home monitoring.
How to count your dog's sleeping breathing rate
- Wait until your dog is deeply asleep and relaxed, not dreaming, and not just after exercise or on a hot day.
- Watch the chest or belly rise and fall. One rise and fall is one breath.
- Count for 30 seconds and double it, or count for a full minute.
- Record the number with the date and time. A few readings over a week show your dog's normal.
Some phone apps can help you log readings. Share the results with your vet, especially if you notice a trend upwards.
Dreaming or something else?
A dreaming dog may breathe quickly and irregularly for short bursts, often with twitching legs, eye movements or small noises. These episodes usually pass within a minute or two, and breathing then settles back to a slow, steady rhythm. Fast breathing that is steady and persistent, rather than in short bursts, is more likely to have a medical cause.
When to see a vet urgently
Go to a vet straight away if your dog:
- Is working hard to breathe, with the belly pushing with each breath
- Has blue, grey or very pale gums
- Cannot settle or lie down comfortably, or sits with elbows out and neck stretched
- Collapses, faints or seems very weak
- Has a swollen belly
- Breathes fast after being in the heat, or is panting heavily with drooling, vomiting or wobbliness
Book a vet visit within a day or two if the sleeping rate is consistently over 30, has risen clearly from your dog's usual number, or comes with a new cough, tiring easily on walks, or appetite loss.
Common causes of fast breathing during sleep
Heart disease and congestive heart failure
VCA explains that in left-sided congestive heart failure, fluid leaks into the lungs, causing coughing, difficulty breathing and reduced energy. Other signs include coughing at rest or during sleep, an increased resting breathing rate or excessive panting, appetite loss, a swollen belly and pale or bluish gums. VCA advises contacting your vet immediately if these signs appear in a dog with a heart murmur. Read more in heart disease in dogs.
Heat
RSPCA Australia lists constant panting and rapid breathing among the signs of heatstroke, along with drooling, vomiting, weakness, confusion, tremors and collapse. Flat-faced breeds have a reduced capacity to cool down by panting, and overweight, very young and older dogs are also at higher risk. A dog that is still breathing fast while lying down in a warm room may simply be too hot, but heatstroke is an emergency.
Pain, anxiety and other causes
Pain, fever, anaemia and lung disease can also raise breathing rate, and a dog that is uncomfortable may breathe faster than usual. If you are unsure, record a short video of the breathing to show your vet. For awake panting, see why is my dog panting heavily.
What your vet may do
Your vet will listen to the heart and lungs and check gum colour. Depending on what they find, they may recommend chest X-rays, a heart ultrasound, blood tests or blood pressure measurement. Treatment depends on the cause, and dogs with heart failure are often managed long term with prescribed medicines and home monitoring of the sleeping rate.
Prevention and everyday care
- Learn your dog's normal sleeping rate while it is healthy.
- Keep your dog at a healthy weight.
- Avoid exercise in the heat of the day, and provide shade, airflow and water.
- Keep up with regular health checks, especially once your dog is older or if a murmur has been found.
FAQ
My puppy breathes fast when asleep. Is that normal?
The healthy-dog study above looked only at adult dogs, so its numbers may not apply to puppies. Brief fast breathing in a dream is common. If breathing is laboured or your puppy seems unwell, see a vet.
Is 40 breaths a minute while sleeping too high?
For an adult dog in a cool room, a sleeping rate this high is above the usual threshold of 30. Call your vet for advice.
Should I wake my dog if it is breathing fast?
If it is a brief dream, let it pass. If breathing is laboured or does not settle, wake your dog gently and check how it is.
Talk with a vet
If your dog's sleeping breathing rate has crept up, or you are not sure whether what you are seeing is normal, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can review your counts and videos and help you decide on next steps. If your dog is struggling to breathe, go to an emergency vet now. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Rishniw M, et al. Res Vet Sci. 2012;93(2):965-969. Sleeping respiratory rates in apparently healthy adult dogs.
- Porciello F, et al. Vet J. 2016;207:164-168. Sleeping and resting respiratory rates in dogs and cats with medically-controlled left-sided congestive heart failure.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs.
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. How can I protect my dog from heatstroke?
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.