My puppy breathes fast at rest and is less active. Should I see a vet?

Question

My 7 month old Shih Tzu is breathing rapidly while in a resting state. This is much different than his litter mate brother. He’s been less active than normal since yesterday. His appetite seems good. But, his breathing and heart rate have me concerned. Am I being overly worried or should I see a vet? Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | unneutered | 7 months and 18 days old | 9 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

This is worrying enough that I'd recommend having him seen by a vet sometime soon. The biggest concern with fast breathing and a decrease in activity is that he potentially has a heart problem. There are also other diseases that affect the red blood cells and lungs that can cause these problems. Below is a link to a good article that explains how to correctly check the respiratory rate. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/home-breathing-rate-evaluation I hope that helps and all is well with Coco.

My puppy breathes fast at rest and is less active. Should I see a vet?

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