TL;DR: Respiratory distress is a life-threatening emergency where a dog struggles to breathe and cannot get comfortable. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog shows signs of air hunger, and record a brief video of their breathing to assist the medical team with triage.
What are the signs of respiratory distress in dogs?
When a dog is unable to settle and seems restless due to the effort required to breathe, they are likely experiencing respiratory distress. This behavior is a physiological necessity to keep their airways open and maximize oxygen intake. Watch for these symptoms:
- Refusing to lie down
- Repeatedly standing up and stretching their neck
- Visible signs of significant physical exhaustion and "air hunger"
Is my dog's difficulty breathing a medical emergency?
Urgency Level: High. Difficulty breathing is one of the most serious symptoms a pet can exhibit. You should seek immediate veterinary care at the nearest open animal hospital if your dog:
- Cannot get comfortable or settle
- Is using their abdominal muscles to push air
- Has a blue or pale tint to their gums
Do not wait for an appointment; call the clinic while you are on your way to let them know you are arriving with a respiratory emergency.
How does a video of my dog's breathing help the veterinarian?
Capturing a brief 10-second video of your dog’s breathing pattern is an invaluable tool for the veterinary triage team because:
- Stress or adrenaline from a car ride can temporarily mask symptoms or change the breathing pattern by the time you reach the clinic.
- It allows the veterinarian to see the exact nature of the respiratory effort, such as rib retractions or nostril flaring, as it appeared in the home environment.
- It provides the medical team with the information needed for a faster and more accurate assessment.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Compromised breathing in dogs manifests as increased respiratory rate and effort, followed by changes in respiratory pattern and posture, such as standing with elbows abducted and back arched or high on the rear haunches with head and neck extended. Labored, open-mouth breathing and cyanosis indicate significant loss of pulmonary function and impending pulmonary arrest. Animals with severe small airway obstruction have labored breathing with an expiratory push of the diaphragm, cyanosis, and anxiety; auscultation reveals high-pitched wheezes. In severe, life-threatening situations, the animal is cyanotic, open-mouth breathing, collapsed, and asphyxiating. Unconscious, apneic animals require immediate tracheal intubation, and any obstruction must be immediately relieved. Cyanosis from small airway obstructive disease is treated with oxygen and sedation using a narcotic-tranquilizer combination. Epinephrine is indicated for its bronchodilatory effects in anaphylaxis and life-threatening asthma. Corticosteroids are given for allergic bronchitis, asthma, or severe swelling of the larynx or pharyngeal tissues. Other bronchodilators such as aminophylline or terbutaline may be given IM, or albuterol can be given by nebulization in critical cases.
Chapter: Emergency, Anesthesiology, Respiratory
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1662)