Dog is Breathing Fast but Not Panting – Top 3 Reasons Why

Panting is typically a cooling mechanism but if a dog isn’t feeling hot, here are some other reasons why your dog could be breathing fast but not actually panting. It’s important to take note of how quickly your dog is breathing because it could be due to Tachypnea, which is just excessive breathing, and this may require prompt veterinary assistance.

1. Your Dog Has an Infection

An infection such as rhinitis could cause your dog to begin breathing fast but not pant, and this is when there is an infection or inflammation of the mucus membranes inside of the nose. Nasal passages can be damaged if your dog suffers from sinusitis and that could create a nasty infection that could easily spread to the lungs. Most often a viral infection is the cause such as canine distemper, and then a bacterial infection can result from the viral infection.

Rhinitis could include other symptoms such as sneezing, snoring, breathing through the mouth, and nasal discharge. Labored breathing and also pawing at the face could be indicative of rhinitis as well. You may also notice inflammation around the eyes and tears. Antibiotics are usually given for infections, antifungal medications may also be prescribed. In the event the situation has caused damage, surgical intervention may be required to fix parts of the nasal passage.

2. Your Dog May Have Anemia

If your dog suffers from anemia, he may be breathing quicker but not be panting. Anemia is when your dog lacks sufficient red blood cells. Red blood cells are vital for carrying oxygenated blood throughout the body, so a dog with anemia is going to feel more lethargic. You may notice that your dog is breathing heavier and quicker and he may not be able to run around and exercise as normal.

Anemia can also cause pale mucous membranes and lead to a dog not eating. This is a life-threatening condition and needs to be treated by a veterinarian immediately. If the anemia is severe then there’s a chance that a blood transfusion may need to be given in order to save his life, especially if other alarming symptoms have emerged.

3. Your Dog is Super Stressed or Excited

There are instances where your dog might be breathing fast but not panting because he is stressed out o really excited. If a dog is stressed out often times he is also scared about something, and it’s stress and fear combined that could make him begin to breath much quicker. Any anxieties or phobias he may have will cause him to begin breathing quicker if triggered by that event.

Likewise the opposite situation could cause your dog to be breathing quickly. This means that quick breathing could happen when he is too excited or happy about something. This could include situations such as people he likes come over to visit or if you have taken him to the dog park. The best way to stop the rapid breathing after these events is to calm your dog down as best you can.

Normal Heart Rate for Dogs

The normal heart rate for a dog at rest ranges from 60 beats per minute to 140 beats per minute, as different sized dogs will have different heart rates. Smaller dogs will be on the higher end and usually are between 100 beats per minute to 140 beats per minute. Bigger dogs will range between 60 beats per minute to 100 beats per minute. It’s important to note that these numbers are for when a dog is at rest, and if your dog has just been running around these numbers will be higher.