Canine respiration rate

[Tuckervill]

Thought I'd ask here, first.

My new dog, Lucy, weighs about 50 lbs and is about a year old--part Golden Retriever and some kind of terrier. Seems pretty healthy, very active, loves to play with my 5 yo terrier mix, Zeke.

This is something I've noticed about her from the very first day. She has a really fast respiration rate when she's sleeping. In the crate the very first night, I chalked it up to anxiety with her new surroundings. Since then I've noticed it off and on in all conditions.

I just sat on the couch next to her for an hour and a half while she slept and I watched TV. I counted her respirations at NINETY-SEVEN breaths per minute. It's almost as if she's panting--but she's not panting and it's not hot in the house and she'd been resting for an hour and a half. I can see her nostrils flaring and her body is moving with every breath. Zeke (40 lbs.) was sleeping in the chair. He was breathing slow and steady, totally relaxed.

I checked online and normal is about 16-34 breaths per minute. Am I counting correctly? Every time her belly went up I counted. I counted for a full minute because I didn't have a second hand.

I'm going to check her pulse rate when she settles down again for a while. She got up and went outside and is now running around like a banshee.

I hope someone here is familiar with this!

Karen

[froglegs]

Maybe she's dreaming. My dog twitches when he dreams, and his breathing gets heavier too.

[sundial]

Karen, are her respirations like that when she's awake? When my dogs dream, their respirations are sometimes short and shallow.

[Tuckervill]

When she's awake, it's hard to tell because she's so active. She's never just sitting still, relaxed.

I would have thought this was dreaming if I had just casually noticed it, but it went on for 1-1/2 hours this afternoon. No one dreams that long, and from the time you fall asleep until you wake? I have seen her sleep peacefully, but only at night in the wee hours.

Hmph...I think I'll have to watch her some more.

Karen

[Velobambina]

My beloved golden, Agnes, died of lung cancer in May. Her increased respiration was the sign. Apparently, her body adapted to the cancer and until it spread to her lungs, there were no signs that she was sick. The end was fast, 10 days during which her breathing became increasingly more labored. I'll never get over losing her--a very special soul.

If your sweetie's always had fast respiration and the vet says she's healthy, I wouldn't worry. Taking her in for a lung xray will alleviate your concerns, however.

[BikeMomma]

Karen,

You said she's a 1yr-old-pup and active, but does the 50 pounds include a bit of extra weight or is it just solid muscle? Even a young, active dog can have too much meat on the bones, and if she's part terrier, her natural body make-up may be on the smaller size than a full Golden.

And since she's a new dog to you, have you had her tested for heartworms? I found this link, which may or may not be helpful: Rapid Respiration in Dogs.

I agree with Velobambina -- the best and most thorough way to see if Lucy is truly healthy (looks can deceive) is to have a thorough exam, including x-ray. It can be costly, but you'll know. She also may have been injured or sick in some way prior to you getting her, which may be affecting her breathing somehow (fluid in the lungs, etc). The x-ray may rule that out, too.

Either way, I'd check it out with a good veterinarian.

Best wishes to ya & hugs for Lucy,
~BikeMomma

[Tuckervill]

She's not fat. She was starving when she was rescued, and I got her about 4 days after that. She was rescued by someone who dropped her at an animal hospital and one of the employees took her home because this particular AH doesn't do rescue. (My friend who lives in that neighborhood doesn't use this vet for her 7 animals anymore, because of this fact.)

So the deal is, the AH employee said she'd had all her shots but had not been spayed. She sent me a copy of her med record, but you know, she was insistent that I talk to HER and not just call the AH to give her the fax number. That could be for any number of reasons, but I found it odd.

Further, she was eager to "be rid" (my impression, not her words) of Lucy, and I'm okay with that but I usually expect more of a screening process. I did have her round-the-block/rescuer-lady/friend-mentioned-above neighbor to vouch for me, and I have emailed updates and she seems honest and interested enough. I don't want to caste aspersions or anything.

BUT, I had suspected somewhere in my gut that I should at least get heartworms absolutely ruled out. If this woman accepted the dog against the AH's wishes, she could have been in a situation where she felt forced to stretch the truth to save the dog. I know I seem like a big sap when it comes to dogs and she could have figured I wouldn't give up on Lucy if I later found out she was HW positive.

All that to say, I'm glad you brought up heartworms. It solidified something in my gut, and Lucy will be going to my vet tomorrow. I also want to get her hips checked. Thanks.

Karen ::shivering at the cost of heart worm treatment:::how am I going to keep her "quiet?":::y::::