Older dog breathing heavy while sleeping

This article was updated on March 9th, 2024

As a veterinarian, my heart always sinks a little when I see that the next patient is coming in for an issue with their breathing.

Unusual or weird breathing patterns in dogs may include wheezing, coughing, rapid or labored breathing, or shortness of breath.

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In this article, we will review the most common causes along with videos to see what they look like.

Though not always something serious, these sorts of medical problems have the potential to be severe and even life threatening.

Thankfully, for most patients, issues with breathing will be mild and short-lived. As a vet, my role is to ensure the dog is coping well, figure out why they’re breathing in a strange manner and to get things back to normal asap!

Common problems causing weird breathing in dogs [with videos]

1.

Canine Tracheal Collapse 

Collapsing trachea is a relatively common, particularly in small breeds like Yorkies, Chihuahua and Pugs (1)¹ Owners often bring their dogs to my practice after noticing slight changes in their breathing and a cough that has persi

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