Dog Resting Respiratory Rate: How to Count It at Home

By Tonya Wilhelm

ℹ️ This page is for information only. It is not medical advice. Always contact your own vet about your dog, and follow the numbers your vet gives you.

What is a normal resting respiratory rate for a dog?

A normal resting respiratory rate for most dogs is 15 to 30 breaths per minute, while a grown dog's normal resting heart rate is about 70 to 120 beats per minute. However, the number that matters most is your own dog's usual count, and how it changes. Ask your vet what range they want to see for your dog, and write it down. A count that keeps climbing is a reason to call your vet.

A number that slowly trends up over a few weeks matters too, even if it hasn't reached 30 yet. That trend is the kind of thing your vet can't see in one appointment, but you can.

Why does my vet care so much about breathing at rest?

With mitral valve disease, the heart valve leaks a little more over time and the heart has to work harder. When the heart starts to struggle, fluid can build up in the lungs, and one of the first changes you can see at home is faster breathing while your dog rests. Dexter's cardiologist told me most dogs look fine while heart disease is developing. The coughing, the heavy breathing, and the tired body tend to show up later. That is why the quiet number you can count at home carries so much weight.

How do I count my dog's breaths at rest?

1. Pick a time he is sound asleep or lying quietly, not right after a walk, a game, or a warm car ride.
2. Watch his chest or his belly. One rise and one fall counts as one breath.
3. Count for a full 60 seconds.
4. Write down the number, the date, and the time.
5. Do this on a few ordinary days so you learn his usual number.

How often should I count?

Start counting now, while he is healthy, so you have his normal number to compare to later. I suggest this for every Cavalier, and for any small breed. If your dog has a murmur or MVD, ask your vet how often they want the count. A number only means something when you know what's usual for him.

What should I watch for along with the breathing count?

• A new cough that sticks around.
• Getting tired faster on walks, or not wanting to finish a walk he used to love.
• Eating less, or just not seeming like himself.

Any of these alongside a rising count is worth a call to your vet. Labored breathing while he rests is a reason to call right away. Gums or tongue that look pale or bluish are an emergency, so call your vet or an emergency vet right away.

Is there an app to track my dog's resting respiratory rate?

Yes. I built one. When I first started managing Dexter's Chiari, I tracked everything on paper and on the computer, and I was always running around trying to figure out what was going on. The Chiari malformation and MVD Health Tracker has a resting breath counter where you tap once per breath for 60 seconds and it does the counting. If the count is above your dog's guide number (you personalize it for your dog), it reminds you to consider contacting your vet.

Every count is saved, so you can see his breathing over weeks and months and spot a slow climb. There is also a 15 second heart rate timer that does the math for you, a cough log, and an exercise tolerance check. When it's time for the cardiologist, you can print or email a report of it all right to your vet.

Count his first minute with the app.

Chiari malformation and MVD Health Tracker

• Tap the screen once for each breath. After 60 seconds, it shows his breaths per minute.
• If the count is above your dog's guide number, it reminds you to consider contacting your vet.
• Every count is saved with the date, so you can see his breathing over weeks and months.
• A 15 second heart rate timer, a cough log, and an exercise tolerance check, all in one place.
• Print or email a report to your vet before the appointment.

Try it free for 7 days

Free 7 day trial. No card needed.

▶ Play the video

More on breathing fast while sleeping. My full MVD guide is here.

One minute, a quiet room, and your dog asleep beside you. That count is your voice for him at the vet.