Dog breathing fast, nose peeling, back legs weak. Is it an emergency?

Question

Chihuahua breathing rapidly tongue hanging out mouth nose peeling can't use back legs. Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I am concerned about the recent changes in Maggie. I think that she should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Potential causes for rapid breathing with or without a tongue hanging out include stress or anxiety, pain, difficiculty breathing, or heart or lung disease. Depending on the cause, pets experiencing trouble breathing can get worse very quickly and this may be a medical emergency. I can see from the picture that Maggie's nose is very dry and crusty. It appears that her eyes are also dry and irritated. This could be caused by allergies, infection, immune disease, among many others, and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Corneal ulcers are commonly found in dogs with chronic dry eye and need to be treated by a veterinarian. Potential causes for not using the back legs include pain, poor blood flow, musculoskeletal disease, and neurologic disease. Many of these issues can be incredibly painful, and some can be treated if immediate vet care is provided. I recommend that Maggie see a vet immediately.

Dog breathing fast, nose peeling, back legs weak. Is it an emergency?

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