Why is my dog breathing fast with an enlarged heart and tooth?

52 breaths per minute is considered tachypneic and points to some breathing problem such as an upper respiratory or pulmonary congestion or a heart condition. The fact that this is even worse when she is resting is also pointing to a possible heart condition. I suggest you schedule an exam with your veterinarian for an exam.

Oh my. Poor girl! These symptoms are suggestive of a possible adrenal gland problem. Increased drinking, stomach bloating, tachycardia (increased heart rate) as well as tachypnea (increased respiratory rate) are common signs of Cushing disease, Pheochromocytoma and heart disease. I would highly recommend seeking yet another vets opinion about Twinklesa and get some actual tests ran on her. She needs baseline bloodwork (CBC, biochemistry) and radiographs of her abdomen and chest in order to diagnose her underlying condition. The results of those tests should be able to point the vet in the right direction towards her treatment. If she has already had those tests done and the vets are still unable to come up with a diagnosis, then I would recommend considering a referral to an internal specialists. Your vet should be able to send the referral through and get Twinkles seen within a weeks time. I hope you get to the bottom of what is causing Twinkles symptoms and can get her the proper treatment soon. Best of luck!

Hi, Sorry to hear Dolly has this heart issue. Anesthesia is always risky, even for perfectly healthy pets. It puts a lot of responsibility for the heart to maintain adequate blood pressure and anesthesia is generally more risky with any heart issues than normal anesthesia. I would recommend that if the teeth just need a general cleaning, to not undergo the procedure and just maintain good dental health by brushing with doggie tooth paste and giving dental chews. If the teeth have a major issue such as a fracture or extraction that is necessary to address, it becomes balancing the risks of leaving a tooth inside that should come out, versus the risks of anesthesia. To fully assess the heart you can get an echocardiogram performed by a cardiologist and consult with them about anesthetic risks. Although if the teeth are fine otherwise, I'd say just maintain vigilant dental health and Dolly will be fine. Hope this helps! -Dr. Gordon

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Increased resting respiratory rate is always a concern. It could be caused by heart problems or lungs disease (infection, inflammation, lung mass etc). Sometimes faster respiration is due to collapsed trachea and upper airways infection (common in Yorkies) or abdominal pathology. Please, get in touch with your vet as Bella should be checked over. Your vet may recommend chest x-ray, heart scan or abdominal ultrasound to make the final diagnosis.

I would recommend that you have Bella examined by a vet as soon as possible. Open mouth breathing in a dog that is in a cool, comfortable environment can be caused by heart disease, lung disease, anemia, severe pain, among a few others. Rapid heart rate can also be caused by these things. When you get to the vet, they will do a physical exam and may recommend x-rays to make a diagnosis.

I agree that this is a pretty rapid respiratory rate for Daisy, particularly if she's resting while breathing this quickly. As you mentioned, it's very possible that this fast breathing is due to post-operative pain. However, if she's currently receiving pain medication after surgery, it's a bit less likely. Other causes of rapid breathing can include stress or anxiety, blood clots in the lungs, heart disease, pneumonia, among others. Regardless, it would be best to take Daisy to the vet urgently for evaluation. If the vet suspects pain as the cause, they will be able to prescribe additional pain medications. Otherwise, they will be able to perform any necessary diagnostic testing, which may include chest x-rays or blood clotting times to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that everything goes well for Daisy!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Honey Bear The heart rates you are counting are normal. If she is breathing fast then that is an emergency so she absolutely should be taken to the Vet to be sure she is oxygenating properly. Having trouble breathing is very uncomfortable for a pet. Causes for increased respiratory rate in an older dog are: heart failure, anemia from internal bleeding, cancer, pneumonia, fluid around the lungs, hot outside, fever, Cushing's disease. I wish Honey Bear the very best!