bloating and rapid breathing

by Brandy
(Hugheston, WV)

I have a 7 week old pup, his stomach is severely bloated and he's breathing really fast and the heartbeats fast as well, does he have worms?

If so what type?





Hi Brandy
You need to have your puppy checked out by a veterinarian as it's impossible for me to tell what's going on I'm afraid.

Just about all puppies have works to begin with, usually roundworms, but they can have more than one type (see my Puppy Worms page to learn all about these parasites.

Puppies need to be de-wormed at least three times, at three week intervals, and by your VET - not with an over-the-counter product. A bloated belly can definitely be a sign of worms, especially if the infestation is severe. This needs treatment as an untreated infestation can end up causing serious health problems.

As for his breathing, puppies do breathe very fast at times especially when they're stressed or anxious. When they're sleeping their breathing can even seem erratic and this is usually nothing to worry about.

If you've just got your puppy he's probably anxious and stressed and this could be part of the problem. You can find out what to expect during the first week or so on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

BUT it's vital to have a new puppy checked over by your own vet just as soon as possible to make sure vaccinations and worming treatments are up to date and that there's no underlying health issues. So, get him an appointment asap.

Good luck with your pup.