Resting Respiratory Rate Dog: What’s Normal & What’s Not (Vet Verified)
Monitoring your dog’s vital signs is one of the most proactive ways to keep an attentive eye on their health. One of the indicators you should pay the most attention to is resting respiratory rate (number of breaths per minute), as it often reveals issues in the heart or lungs long before a cough or exercise intolerance develops. So today we’re going to tell you all you need to know about the resting respiratory rate in dogs: what’s the normal rate, how to measure it, and when to run to the vet.
What’s a normal resting respiratory rate for dogs?
A normal resting respiratory rate for dogs is typically between 15 and 30 breaths per minute. To be accurate, this must be measured while your dog is in a deep, calm sleep. A dog’s resting respiratory rate that consistently exceeds 35 breaths per minute while sleeping often serves as an early warning sign for serious health issues.
Key Takeaways
- The Golden Rule: A healthy dog at rest should breathe fewer than 30 times per minute.
- Measurement is Key: Always count breaths while the dog is sleeping or deeply relaxed, never after exercise or during play.
- Early Warning: An increased respiratory rate is often the first clinical sign of left-sided heart failure.
- Continuous Monitoring: Tools like a dog health tracker provide baseline data that manual checks might miss.
What Is a Resting Respiratory Rate in Dogs?
The resting respiratory rate (RRR) is the number of breaths a dog takes per minute while they are at rest or asleep. Unlike the heart rate, which can be difficult for pet parents to feel without practice, the respiratory rate is a visible indicator of how hard the lungs and heart are working to oxygenate the body.
RRR is one of the most sensitive “vital signs” you can monitor at home. It acts as a window into the cardiovascular system. Because dogs are masters at hiding discomfort, a subtle creep in their breathing frequency is often the only clue that something is wrong internally.
What Is a Normal Resting Respiratory Rate for Dogs?
A normal resting respiratory rate for dogs generally falls within the range of 15 to 30 breaths per minute.
It is important to note that many healthy dogs have a lower RRR, sometimes dipping to 10 or 12 breaths per minute during deep sleep. However, once the rate consistently exceeds 30, it is considered “elevated” and warrants a conversation with your vet.
Keep in mind that these numbers don’t necessarily apply to pets with heart disease, as they may be in distress at lower rates.
How to Measure a Dog’s Respiratory Rate at Rest
To get an accurate dog respiratory rate at rest, timing and environment are everything. You should not measure the rate if your dog is panting, dreaming (moving their paws), or has recently been active.
Step-by-Step Guide to Manual Counting:
- Wait for Deep Rest: Ensure your dog has been lying down quietly for at least 30 minutes or is fully asleep.
- Observe the Chest: Watch the rise and fall of the chest or flank. One rise and one fall equals one breath.
- The 30-Second Shortcut: Count the number of breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. For the highest accuracy, count for a full 60 seconds.
- Keep a Log: Use a pet health app to record these numbers over several days to find your dog’s unique baseline.
“I got the Maven sensor for my 14-year-old Chihuahua mix with heart and trachea issues. It gave me back peace of mind – I can track her RRR, BPM, drinking, and activity anytime and know instantly if something’s wrong. Highly recommend!”
★★★★★
Chiara De Luca
Titti
What Causes an Elevated Resting Respiratory Rate?
If you notice your dog resting respiratory rate is consistently higher than 30 breaths per minute, it may be due to one of the following underlying issues:
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Respiratory diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, or tracheal collapse
- Pain or discomfort
- Anemia
- Metabolic issues
When a High Respiratory Rate Is an Emergency
While a slow increase in RRR over weeks might point toward chronic dog heart disease, a sudden spike is an emergency. You should seek immediate veterinary care if you notice:
- The RRR is consistently over 40–50 breaths per minute.
- Your dog is “elbowing out” (standing with elbows spread to breathe).
- The gums appear blue, purple, or pale.
- Your dog is using their abdominal muscles to help pull in air.
- Extreme lethargy or refusal to eat.
How Maven Helps Track Resting Respiratory Rate
“An increased resting respiratory rate is often one of the earliest signs of heart disease, pain, or respiratory distress in dogs—sometimes before other symptoms appear.” — Joana Babo, DVM, Veterinarian at Maven Pet
Manual checks are helpful, but they only provide a “snapshot” in time. The Maven Pet Health Tracker revolutionizes this process by providing continuous, data-driven insights.
Monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, activity & rest, drinking, itch behavior.
Maven’s device continuously tracks your dog’s resting respiratory rate, alongside activity levels, heart rate, and even subtle behaviors like head shaking.
So instead of you having to remember to count breaths every night, Maven does the work for you.
If your dog’s RRR begins to trend upward, the system identifies this deviation from the norm and alerts you.
This allows you to catch potential heart or lung issues in the “pre-clinical” stage, providing your vet with objective data that can lead to a faster, more accurate diagnosis.
FAQ (Vet-Reviewed)
Any rate consistently over 30 breaths per minute at rest is concerning. If the rate exceeds 40–50 breaths per minute, it is often considered a veterinary emergency. However, keep in mind that some pets with heart disease may be in distress at lower rates.
For healthy dogs, a check once a month is a good habit. However, for senior dogs or those diagnosed with dog heart disease, vets often recommend checking the RRR daily or even twice daily to monitor for changes.
Yes. If a dog is stressed or the ambient temperature is high, they may pant or breathe faster. This is why it is essential to measure the resting respiratory rate dog metric only when the animal is in a cool, calm environment and is physically relaxed.
Absolutely. It is one of the most reliable home-monitoring tools for heart health. In many cases of mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy, an increase in RRR is the very first sign that the heart is beginning to fail, occurring weeks before the dog starts coughing or fainting.
Conclusion
Understanding your dog’s “normal” is the first step in proactive health management.
By monitoring the resting respiratory rate, pet parents can act as the first line of defense against serious illnesses like heart failure and pneumonia.
While manual counting is a great skill to have, leveraging technology like a pet health tracker ensures that no subtle change goes unnoticed.
Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.
