Unusual breathing is a major cause for concern among dog parents. If your dog’s chest and stomach are moving when they breathe, accompanied by other symptoms like flared nostrils, blue gums, holding their head low, elbows sticking out, noisy breathing or panting, and shallow breathing, they may be suffering from dyspnea1.
Dyspnea occurs when a dog is having to work harder than usual to breathe, resulting in labored or shallow breathing. If your dog is displaying symptoms of dyspnea, this is an emergency situation and they need to be seen by a vet immediately.
There is a range of possible reasons a dog may suffer from dyspnea, and in this post, we’ll take a closer look at these causes.
The 9 Most Likely Reasons Your Dog Is Breathing from Their Stomach
1. Fluid in the Lungs
Difficulty breathing is one symptom of fluid in the lungs or chest—also known as pulmonary edema. This condition is caused by excess pressure in the lungs which results in fluid buildup. Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of pulmonary edema, though it can also be caused by anemia, toxin ingestion (i.e. smoke), cardiomyopathy, low blood protein levels, respiratory obstruction, and near-drowning.
2. Obstruction
A foreign object obstructing your dog’s respiratory tract is another possible cause of dyspnea. This could be a bone, a piece of material, a rock, a stone, a wrapper—basically, anything they shouldn’t eat that gets stuck in their airway.
3. Tumors
In some cases, tumors can affect your dog’s nose, trachea, or lungs, resulting in symptoms like coughing, wheezing, labored and/or noisy breathing, and nasal discharge depending on where the tumor is located.
4. Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure in dogs is most often caused by dilated cardiomyopathy or mitral valve insufficiency (a leaking mitral valve). The condition occurs when a dog’s heart can’t pump blood properly and it can occur on either the left or the right side of the heart. Common symptoms of congestive heart failure are breathing difficulties and coughing.
5. Chest Trauma
Chest trauma can involve and be caused by injuries to the chest or windpipe, perforation of the esophagus, lung disease, and foreign bodies. Trauma to the chest can result in a buildup of air between the chest wall and the lungs, which becomes trapped. This in turn can prevent the lungs from properly inflating.
6. Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections can make it difficult for dogs to breathe properly. Pneumonia and kennel cough are two such examples, though there are several types of infections that can affect the airways. Respiratory infections may present with symptoms like labored breathing, coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite, and eye and nasal discharge.
7. Allergies
Just like in humans, allergies can affect a dog’s respiratory system. You may spot symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and discharge.
8. Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a serious condition caused by dogs getting too hot. Sadly, in some cases, this occurs as a result of neglect, like a dog being left in a hot car. Certain breeds are even more prone to heat stroke due to having short noses (i.e. French Bulldogs) and/or double coats (i.e. Chow Chows).
Symptoms of heat stroke include difficulty breathing, panting, red gums, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and collapsing. Heat stroke can be fatal if the necessary veterinary attention is not sought in time.
9. Stomach Conditions
If there’s something not quite right about your dog’s stomach, like the presence of a tumor or fluid, being bloated, or having an enlarged stomach, liver, or spleen, this can put pressure on the diaphragm. This can result in a dog struggling to breathe.
Conclusion
The causes of dyspnea in dogs are vast and varied, ranging from allergies to serious heart conditions or traumatic chest injuries. For this reason, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention for a dog suffering from breathing difficulties—this includes appearing to breathe from the stomach.
Remain as calm as possible to ease the stress on your dog and act quickly to enhance their chances of getting the treatment they need.
Featured Image Credit: 8th.creator, Shutterstock