Stray dog breathing heavy, rolling on back in humid weather: What to do?

How lovely of you to take in this dog! This panting could be due to stress, pain, or a medical condition like heart disease. If you don't want to keep her, take her into the shelter in the morning; otherwise, have her seen by a vet tomorrow should you want to keep her.

This puppy may be in serious condition and requires veterinary attention as soon as possible. If there is a nearby veterinary ER, go there. The pale gums are cause for serious concern. Keep it warm and do not offer food or water if it is unable to swallow or unresponsive. Unfortunately, there is little else to be done without being seen by a veterinarian.

Hi, a puppy of 3 months old is too young o be left alone at night outside. i suggest bringing him in and keeping him in a crate to keep him comfortable. Make sure he has plenty of cool water and is an a controlled climate. Keeping him inside where it is cool is better for him. I would keep an eye on his breathing, and the color of his gums. They should be pink like a human's gums, not pale or blue. if they are pale or bluish he is having trouble breathing and needs to see a vet as soon as possible or he could die. You can also take his temperature. A dog's temperature should be between 99.5-102.5F. If it is higher, he needs to be cooled off with cool water until you can get to a vet for medications. If it is lower, then he needs warmth. Either way, a too low or high temperature is cause for a trip to the vet when your vet opens. Good luck, i hope this helps!

Hello. It does look like the wound needs some stitches, but it also does not look too badly infected. There could be many reasons for the dog to pant rapidly, including lung infections & parasites, heartworm disease, or other infections in the body. Be careful with the paracetamol because too much can cause serious liver issues in dogs ( we are unable to dispense dosing advice ). If you can have him seen by a vet, this would be best, otherwise, keep him cool & hydrated & keep the wound as clean as you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This poor dog could be shivering because of pain or being cold. If you are concerned about rabies, do not approach him, but you would see aggression from the dog as well as foaming at the mouth if he had it. I would called your local animal rescue to come and get him right away. He likely needs veterinary treatment, which they can provide. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Lola may just be worn out and over-tired from playing so hard with the other dog. One thing I would be concerned about is if she may have become over heated while playing. If you are able to take her temperature rectally it would be very helpful. Normal temp for a dog is 101.5. Anything over 103.5 would be concerning enough to take Lola to the vet. You can also monitoring her respiratory rate. Count the number of breaths she takes in 1 minute, anything over 60 would be concerning (unless she is panting). If her temperature and respiratory rate are normal then I would recommend monitoring her for the next 12-24 hours. If she is still acting abnormal after this time then I would suggest take her to the vet.

If your dog had been exercising or out in the heat it is possible his temperature could have increased due to this, but 104.1 is a pretty high temperature if you feel it was truly an accurate reading. We can see dogs temperatures get that high if they are really hot/excited/stressed and they are overweight or brachycephalic (smoosh faced) but I am concerned that his energy level was decreased. If he still doesn't seem himself tomorrow then I would bring him in for an exam. If overnight his temperature gets very high again, or he becomes weak, has trouble breathing, or his gums become pale in color or he starts having other symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea then I would consider bringing him in to the emergency vet.