Rapid breathing in dogs can be quite common, especially after bouts of physical activity.
However if your beagle is regularly breathing fast and hard, in the absence of exercise, it could be cause for some concern.
An increased respiratory rate can be a warning sign that something may be wrong with your beagle’s health.
Because there are so many different potential triggers of fast breathing in dogs, you’ll want to learn about other signs that often go along with it.
In this article, I’ll dive deep on some of the more common reasons behind labored breath in beagles, what might be concerning enough to take your beagle in to the vet, and how to care for beagles that are struggling with breathing too quickly.
Read on to learn how to identify rapid breathing in dogs and what you can do about it if it is worrying you.
Reasons Your Beagle May Be Breathing Fast
If your beagle is breathing quickly seemingly out of nowhere, especially if you haven’t taken them on a long walk or run recently, it could likely be from one of these common reasons:
- Heatstroke or Dehydration
The symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion can resemble those of panting and an increased respiratory rate.
Your dog may have also lost interest in food, or could be lethargic and dehydrated.
Dogs are different from humans, in that they can’t regulate their body temperature by sweating through their skin.
This means that they can be more prone to dehydration and heat stroke, especially breeds with double coats like beagles.
If it’s been hot out, it’s important to look for all of the signs of heatstroke, including fast breathing, so that you can help hydrate your beagle and keep them out of the sun when it’s most important.
- Asthma
The inflammation of the airways that can be caused by allergies or inhaled irritants can lead to your dog having difficulty breathing.
The most common signs of asthma include coughing and wheezing.
If you notice that your canine companion is coughing a lot and/or has trouble catching their breath even after a short rest period, you may want to have them checked out by your vet to check for asthma.
Asthma will often take place regardless of outside temperature, distinguishing this fast breathing from that of heatstroke.
Additionally, asthma will often come with other allergy symptoms like scratching behind the ears or watery eyes.
- Respiratory Infection
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can cause your beagle to cough frequently, breathe extra hard and fast, and have a decreased appetite.
If your dog has a fever and is experiencing trouble sleeping and staying calm, they may be experiencing pneumonia or an acute respiratory infection.
Treatment for these types of respiratory infections vary depending on the severity of the infection, and can include antibiotics as well as medication to reduce a fever and help your dog sleep comfortably.
- Nausea
Dogs that are nauseous may also experience fast heart rate and increased blood pressure along with panting and increased saliva production.
Typically if a dog feels nauseous, they will also be vomiting.
However, some dogs will just have heavy breathing and few other symptoms.
If you suspect that your beagle’s fast breathing is nausea related, you should check out what they’ve eaten recently.
Like humans, nauseas dogs will also rarely want to move their body around until their stomachs are feeling more stable.
- Pain
A dog that is in pain may be unable to catch their breath quickly because they might be holding their breath while struggling to walk or do activities they normally enjoy.
The pain itself could be causing your dog to pant heavily as well.
Internal pains can be hard to diagnose at home, but you can look for other signs of pain such as trouble walking, wincing or whining when a part of their body is touched, or even crying and licking at potential wounds.
- Medication Side Effect
Your dog could also be exhibiting signs of a fast heart rate because they are taking a medication that causes it.
Certain medications like antibiotics, painkillers, and allergy meds can cause increased heart rate, which can in turn result in labored breathing.
If your dog is on this type of medication, it’s important to monitor them closely for any signs of abnormal heart beats or arrhythmia, which can sometimes also take place alongside fast and hard breathing.
When To Take Your Beagle To The Vet For Fast Breathing
If your dog is showing any of the signs listed above in addition to a heavy respiration rate, you should immediately take them to the vet to be checked out by a professional.
These symptoms can all be indicative of a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Some of the conditions mentioned above like heatstroke or serious medical side effects could be life threatening and may require immediate treatment.
In other cases, the veterinarian will be able to diagnose the cause of the increased respiration rate and prescribe a treatment plan to help get your canine companion back to normal.
Specific additional symptoms alongside fast breathing that are cause for concern include:
- Seizures or Fainting
These can both be symptoms of a serious condition called Hypoglycemia, which occurs when your dog’s blood sugar level drops too low.
It can also be caused by diabetes.
If either of these are present in conjunction with labored breaths, you should take your pet to a vet immediately.
- Constipation
When a dog is unable to pass stool as they should, it can lead to constipation, which can result in straining to pass stool and a buildup of gas in their digestive tract that can then travel up into their lungs and cause rapid respiration.
If your dog isn’t passing stool properly despite a normal diet and consistent water consumption, you should take them to a vet to be checked out.
- Changes in Sleep Behavior
Dogs that are experiencing any changes in their sleep behavior along with labored breath should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to rule out underlying medical conditions that could be causing the changes.
This includes restlessness, difficulty staying asleep, excessive drooling, snoring, waking up more frequently than usual during the night, and more.
- Fever
A fever can indicate many different conditions in your beagle that require medical attention.
Causes of a fever can include bacterial infections, viruses, allergies, and more.
Taking your dog to the vet to have their temperature checked will allow them to rule out any serious illnesses that could be causing the fever, such as flu, pneumonia, or other dangerous diseases.
- Difficulty Breathing While Lying Down
If your dog seems to be having trouble catching their breath when lying down for more than a few minutes at a time, this could be an indication of a collapsed trachea or a serious heart condition that needs to be looked at by a vet right away, especially if your beagle is still at a young page.
Dogs in old age (ages 7 and up) tend to experience more labored breath in general, as every day activities can be equivalent to strenuous exercise, but younger dogs should not be having a hard time breathing when they’re resting.
How To Care For A Beagle That Is Breathing Fast
Following these helpful tips will help keep your canine companion comfortable while also ensuring that they’re receiving the proper treatment needed:
- Proper Diet & Hydration
Making sure that your dog is drinking enough water and eating enough quality food is important for maintaining their health, but it’s especially important when your canine friend is struggling to breathe due to an illness.
Beagles require food and vitamins that are high in electrolytes, just like humans, to help keep them hydrated and healthy
- Make Sure Their Environment Isn’t Too Hot
Temperature fluctuations can lead to problems for your beloved pet’s health.
If you think your beagle may have heatstroke or a bad sunburn, try keeping them near a fan or open window with a breeze to help keep them cool in the summer months.
It’s also important to try and keep them out of direct sunlight until they’re no longer showing signs of dehydration.
- Regularly Check Them For Injuries or Other Symptoms
In older dogs in particular, it’s important for you to monitor them for any signs of injuries from falls or other accidents that could have damaged something internally.
If you spot anything unusual about their behavior that you can’t explain, take them to your vet right away for further examination.
Final Thoughts
It can be stressful to see your beloved pet struggling to take a breath. As any dog owner knows, if your dog is uncomfortable it’s difficult for them to rest and relax.
This can make it even more difficult for them to recover from whatever illness or injury is causing their labored breaths in the first place.
If you notice that your hound is struggling to catch their breath regularly, it’s important to get them checked out by the vet to make sure that nothing serious is going on.