Dog sleeping breathing rate counter

Vets often ask owners to count their dog's breathing while they sleep. Tap once for every breath for 30 seconds and we'll work out breaths per minute.

What's normal?

VCA Animal Hospitals gives 15 to 30 breaths per minute as normal for a dog that is resting or sleeping. A rate that stays above 30 while your dog is resting or asleep is not normal. Count again a few times over the next couple of hours, and if it stays high, contact your vet.

If your dog is struggling to breathe, breathing with effort, restless or has pale or blue gums, treat it as an emergency and call your vet or an emergency clinic now.

Source: VCA Animal Hospitals, Home breathing rate evaluation. This counter doesn't diagnose. Your vet makes the call.

How to count by hand

1. Wait until your dog is asleep or lying quietly, not after exercise, play or excitement.
2. Watch the chest. Each rise and fall counts as one breath.
3. Count for 30 seconds and double it, or count for a full minute.
4. Write it down with the date and time, so your vet can see the pattern.