My Pet Is Having Trouble Breathing: Understanding Normal vs. Abnormal Breathing

A Veterinarian's Guide to Recognizing a Respiratory Emergency

Dr. Rene's Take

"If there's one symptom I never recommend 'waiting until tomorrow' to evaluate, it's difficulty breathing. Pets are incredibly good at hiding respiratory disease until they're running out of reserve. I'd much rather examine ten pets that turn out to be okay than have one owner wait too long because they hoped it would improve on its own."

Introduction

Breathing is something we rarely think about—until it suddenly doesn't look normal.

One moment your pet is resting comfortably, and the next you notice they're breathing faster than usual, making strange noises, or struggling to catch their breath. It can be frightening, and it's not always obvious whether what you're seeing is an emergency.

As a veterinarian, one of the most common questions I hear is: "Is my pet breathing normally?"

The answer isn't always straightforward.

Dogs pant after exercise. Cats may breathe faster after a stressful car ride. Some pets snore loudly but have no serious disease, while others develop only subtle changes before a life-threatening emergency.

This guide will help you understand: how normal breathing works, what's considered normal, what's not normal, how to measure your pet's breathing at home, and when to seek emergency veterinary care.

The more familiar you become with your pet's normal breathing, the more likely you are to recognize when something changes.

How Does Breathing Work?

Every breath your pet takes has one goal: deliver oxygen to the body and remove carbon dioxide.

Although it happens automatically, breathing is a complex process involving multiple organs working together.

The journey begins as air enters through the nose (or occasionally the mouth) before traveling through the throat and into the trachea (windpipe). The trachea divides into smaller airways called bronchi, which continue branching into tiny air sacs within the lungs called alveoli.

Inside these microscopic air sacs, oxygen moves into the bloodstream while carbon dioxide moves out to be exhaled.

The diaphragm—a large muscle beneath the lungs—contracts to pull air into the chest and relaxes to push air back out.

If any part of this system is affected, breathing may become difficult.

Problems can occur in the: nose, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), trachea, bronchi, lungs, pleural space (the area surrounding the lungs), diaphragm, and heart.

This is why many different diseases can cause similar breathing symptoms.

Normal Breathing vs. Panting

One of the biggest sources of confusion for pet owners is knowing the difference between normal panting and difficulty breathing.

Normal Panting

Dogs do not sweat like humans. Instead, they cool themselves by panting.

Normal panting occurs after: exercise, playing, excitement, warm weather, stress, and car rides.

During normal panting, your dog remains bright and alert, the tongue hangs comfortably from the mouth, breathing gradually slows as they cool down, and they recover within several minutes once they rest.

Cats rarely pant. If a cat pants after vigorous play or extreme stress, it should stop quickly once the situation resolves.

Abnormal Breathing

Abnormal breathing is different. Instead of simply cooling off, your pet appears to be working to breathe.

You may notice: rapid breathing while resting, deep abdominal effort, flaring nostrils, standing with elbows away from the chest, neck stretched forward, open-mouth breathing (especially in cats), loud wheezing or gasping, and an inability to settle comfortably.

These are signs that deserve immediate attention.

What Does "Labored Breathing" Mean?

Veterinarians often use the term labored breathing to describe breathing that requires more effort than normal. Your pet shouldn't have to "work" to breathe.

Signs of increased effort include: the abdomen pushing in and out dramatically, the chest expanding much more than usual, neck muscles visibly working, fast shallow breaths, a rigid standing posture, and reluctance to lie down.

Many pets with respiratory distress choose to stand because lying down makes breathing more difficult.

Dogs and Cats Show Respiratory Disease Differently

Understanding these differences can help you recognize problems sooner.

Dogs often show respiratory disease by: panting excessively, coughing, wheezing, noisy breathing, and exercise intolerance. Many dogs continue wagging their tails despite significant disease.

Cats are masters at hiding illness. Instead of coughing dramatically, they may simply: hide, sleep more, stop eating, sit quietly in one position, breathe faster, and keep their neck extended.

One of the most important things every cat owner should know: cats do not normally breathe with their mouths open. Open-mouth breathing in a resting cat should always be treated as a veterinary emergency.

How to Count Your Pet's Resting Respiratory Rate

One of the simplest—and most valuable—things you can monitor at home is your pet's resting respiratory rate.

Choose a time when your pet is: sleeping, relaxed, not dreaming, and not purring (for cats).

Watch the chest rise and fall. One rise and one fall equals one breath.

Count the breaths for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.

For example:

• 5 breaths in 15 seconds = 20 breaths per minute
• 7 breaths in 15 seconds = 28 breaths per minute
• 10 breaths in 15 seconds = 40 breaths per minute

Keeping a log can be especially helpful if your pet has heart disease or chronic lung disease.

What's a Normal Resting Respiratory Rate?

While every pet is different, these general guidelines are helpful.

15–30 breaths per minute: Normal for most healthy pets.

30–35 breaths per minute: Monitor closely, especially if persistent.

Over 35 breaths per minute: Contact your veterinarian.

Over 40 breaths per minute: Concerning, especially if resting.

Over 60 breaths per minute: Medical emergency.

Always interpret the number along with your pet's overall behavior.

A sleeping dog breathing 38 times per minute consistently deserves more attention than an excited dog breathing 80 times per minute after a game of fetch.

Emergency Warning Signs

Seek veterinary care immediately if your pet: cannot seem to catch their breath, is breathing with obvious effort, has blue, gray, or very pale gums, collapses, cannot lie down comfortably, has severe trauma, is choking, has sudden swelling around the face or throat, is open-mouth breathing (cats), or becomes weak while breathing rapidly.

When in doubt, it is always safer to have your pet evaluated.

What NOT to Do

If your pet is struggling to breathe: don't wait until morning, don't force food or water, don't encourage exercise, don't assume it's anxiety, don't place your pet in a hot car without air conditioning, and don't delay treatment while trying to diagnose the problem online.

Instead: keep your pet calm, minimize handling, transport them safely, and contact your veterinarian or emergency hospital immediately.

Coming Next

Now that you understand how normal breathing works, the next part of this guide will explain why pets develop breathing problems, including heart disease, asthma, pneumonia, collapsing trachea, laryngeal paralysis, trauma, allergic reactions, and many other causes of respiratory distress.

Understanding the underlying cause is the first step toward effective treatment.

References

• Merck Veterinary Manual. Respiratory Disorders in Dogs and Cats.
• Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
• American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Consensus Statements.
• American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).