How to Check Dog Breathing Rate at Home

Why Breathing Rate Matters

Respiratory rate is one of the most important vital signs you can monitor at home. Abnormal breathing — too fast, too slow, or labored — can be an early warning sign of heart disease, lung problems, pain, fever, or even poisoning. The good news: checking it requires no equipment and takes less than a minute.

What Is a Normal Dog Breathing Rate?

A healthy resting dog breathes 15–30 times per minute. Puppies breathe slightly faster. See our full guide on normal dog breathing rate for a complete breakdown.

How to Count Your Dog's Breathing Rate

1. Wait until your dog is fully at rest — lying down, calm, not panting. Do not measure after exercise or excitement.
2. Watch the chest or belly rise and fall. One complete rise + fall = one breath.
3. Count breaths for 30 seconds, then multiply by 2 to get breaths per minute (bpm).
4. Alternatively, count for 60 seconds for the most accurate reading.
5. Record the result and compare to the normal range of 15–30 breaths per minute.

Tips for an Accurate Count

• Measure when your dog is sleeping or lying quietly — this gives the most accurate baseline
• Don't count panting as breathing — panting is open-mouth rapid breathing used for cooling, not normal respiration
• Watch from the side — chest movement is easier to see than from above
• Take the reading at the same time each day if monitoring an ongoing condition
• Use a timer on your phone for accuracy

What Abnormal Breathing Looks Like

Too fast (tachypnea) — over 30 breaths/min at rest:

• Pain or fever
• Heart disease or congestive heart failure
• Lung disease or pneumonia
• Anemia
• Anxiety or stress
• Heatstroke

Too slow (bradypnea) — under 15 breaths/min:

• Sedation or anesthesia recovery
• Hypothermia
• Neurological issues

Labored breathing (dyspnea) — any rate with visible effort:

• Extended neck, flared nostrils, or open-mouth breathing at rest
• Visible rib or belly movement with each breath
• Blue or pale gums
• This is always an emergency — go to a vet immediately

Monitoring Breathing Rate Over Time

For dogs with known heart disease or respiratory conditions, vets often recommend tracking resting respiratory rate (RRR) daily. A sudden increase of more than 10 breaths per minute above your dog's normal baseline is a red flag that warrants an immediate vet call.

📡 Recommended Tool: Tractive Smart Dog GPS Tracker — Monitors respiratory rate and heart rate 24/7 via collar attachment. Ideal for dogs with cardiac or respiratory conditions who need continuous monitoring.

When to Call the Vet

Call your vet immediately if your dog:

• Is breathing faster than 30 breaths per minute at rest
• Shows any signs of labored or difficult breathing
• Has blue, white, or pale gums
• Is breathing with their mouth open while at rest (not panting from heat)
• Has a sudden increase in their normal resting breathing rate

See our guide on how to tell if your dog is sick for a complete at-home vital signs checklist.