breathing very hard

by rachel
(houston,tx)

our new pup is breathing very hard yet we don't know why. we think he's nervous or scared to see us.

he is a 12 weeks old huskie mix we live in tx so he maybe very hot, but he doesn't pant. he does breath hard when he rests too.




Hi Rachel
Dogs may pant to cool themselves, or when stressed, anxious, in pain etc. To some extent they may also breathe heavily in the same situations, especially if they're a short-nosed breed.

If you've only just got your puppy it could be that he's scared and anxious, and that's causing him to breath this way. However, if you've had him for a little while and this is a new behavior then it needs to be evaluated by your veterinarian.

If he is very new to you, but this heavy breathing doesn't improve, or disappear, within a day or so once he gets used to his new home, then again - have your vet check him out. You may want to take a look at my Bringing Home A New Puppy page as it gives you lots of info. on what to expect during the early days with a new pup.

If he is showing any other signs of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, a fever and so on, then he needs to be seen by a vet right away.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your new puppy.