Respiratory Distress, however, is not just normal panting. A variety of reasons can cause abnormal panting, including trauma, airway obstruction, or heart problems.
• Dogs who are hit by a car can suffer lung contusions, an introduction of air into the chest cavity (pneumothorax), or one or more broken ribs (flail chest), all of which interfere with the pet’s ability to move air into and out of their lungs freely.
• Dogs can be affected by some sort of airway obstruction, whether from a foreign object, severe asthma, or brachycephalic airway disease. Bulldogs, Boxers, and Frenchies are especially susceptible to the latter.
• Heart disease, in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently through the body, can be responsible for fluid build-up in or around the lungs. This also interferes with the dog’s ability to breathe freely.
• Once in distress, dogs may overheat because they cannot cool themselves efficiently. This adds another whole set of problems.
When truly in distress, pets may make harsh noises or wheeze when breathing. Their gums and tongue may turn bright red, especially if they’re overheating. Severe distress may turn the tongue purple or blue, and your dog may lose consciousness or even die.