Skip to Content

7 Reasons Why Your Husky Breathes So Fast + 3 Tips

Why Does My Husky Breathe So Fast

Your Husky breathes quite fast. And you have no idea why. Is it a Husky thing?

Or is it an indication of a problem?

This game of guessing makes you crazy…

Read on to find out:

  • If fast breathing can be fatal.
  • How fast a Husky’s breath should be.
  • 7 reasons why your Husky breathes so fast.
  • What to do to normalize your Husky’s breathing.
  • And so much more…

Why does my Husky breathe so fast?

Your Husky is breathing so fast because of the temperature or obesity. Heart problems, lung fluid, Cushing’s syndrome, and respiratory problems can also make them breathe faster. Onion poisoning is another reason. Or maybe, they simply need more oxygen after a tiring playtime. 

People also ask:


7 reasons why your Husky breathes so fast


#1: Obesity 

Obesity Is One Of The Reasons Why Your Husky Breathes So Fast

Huskies are not usually obese because they are working dogs. But, it does not mean that they can’t have this condition because they are Huskies. 

Any dog can be obese if they do not exercise and eat too much. And just like humans, Huskies will breathe harder if they are overweight. 

Obesity can affect your Husky’s breathing in several ways.

They can develop fat deposits in their chest and airways. These deposits can make breathing difficult for your Huskies. 

Dogs with short noses like Pugs and Bulldogs can have this problem. 

When this happens, your Husky’s lungs can’t normally expand. This causes them to breathe faster than normal. 

Obesity in Huskies is associated with more dangerous diseases such as:

  • Neoplasia.
  • Hypertension.
  • Hyperlipidemia.
  • Bone problems.
  • Hypothyroidism.
  • Insulin resistance.
  • Metabolic diseases.
  • Reproductive disorders.

You can tell if your Husky is obese simply by checking their body. An obese Husky has missing waist, missing abdominal tuck, and ribs covered in fat. 

If you can’t feel your Husky’s rib when you touch it, there is a huge chance that they’re too fat. 

If you’re asking why your Husky is fat, the answer is simple. They are fat because they consume too much calories but never burn them. 

Yes, your Husky looks cute when they’re chubby. But it doesn’t mean that they should stay that way because it’s harder for them to breathe. 

Reading tip: Why Is My Husky So Fat? 7 Real Reasons + 5 Tips

#2: Heart disease

Heart disease can make your Husky breathe faster. 

Your Husky has a higher chance of having heart disease if they are obese. But, Huskies with a normal weight can have it too. 

Some signs of heart disease include: 

  • Fatigue.
  • Potbelly. 
  • Dry cough.
  • Restlessness.
  • Rapid weight loss.
  • Fainting and seizures. 

Besides being overweight, age and breed are the two reasons why dogs have heart disease. 

Luckily, Huskies are not a breed prone to heart disease. But it doesn’t mean that Huskies cannot get it.

Your Husky can get heart disease once they are older. 

There are two types of heart disease in dogs, congenital and acquired. 

Your Husky has a higher chance of having acquired heart disease. In fact, only 5% of all canine heart diseases are congenital. 

Congenital heart disease 

Congenital heart disease is heart disease that a dog got from their parents or breed. Congestive heart failure and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy are examples of this heart disease. 

These diseases can prevent your Husky’s heart in pumping the right amount of blood. We know that there is oxygen in the blood. 

Your Husky will breathe faster if they don’t get the right oxygen. 

Acquired heart disease 

Acquired heart disease happens to middle-aged and older Huskies. It is a result of aging and normal wear. Some acquired heart diseases are Canine Valvular disease and Pericardial disease. 

These diseases happen when your Husky’s heart valve leaks. It can also happen if fluids fill the sacs near the heart.

These can affect your dog’s heartbeat and a faster heartbeat means a faster breath. 

#3: Cushing’s syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome can also make your Husky breathe faster. This is when your Husky’s body makes too much cortisol. 

Its symptoms are the same to other diseases that is why it’s hard to diagnose. 

And like heart disease, older dogs are more prone to this disease. 

Here are some of its symptoms:

  • Hair loss.
  • Pot belly.
  • Lethargy.
  • Fast breaths.
  • Skin infections.
  • Pees more often.
  • Has thinning skin.
  • Excessive thirst and hunger.

Pituitary dependent and adrenal dependent are the two types of Cushing’s syndrome. 

Pituitary dependent

This happens when there is a tumor at the pituitary gland of your Husky’s brain. This is the most common form affecting 80-90% of animals. 

You can recognize this if your Husky has weaker muscles or if they bruise easily. 

Adrenal dependent

This happens when there is a tumor in the adrenal gland of your Husky’s kidney. This disease affects dogs 6 years and up, but can also affect younger ones. 

Most of the time, Huskies who have prolonged steroid use can have this type of Cushing’s syndrome. 

#4: Respiratory problems 

Respiratory problems can obviously make breathing harder for your Husky. There are different problems that are common for any dog. 

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is one of the most common. It is known by daily coughing for one month. 

A Husky’s cough is followed by wheezing and retching if they have bronchitis. They also have mucus in their airway. 

Your Husky will have a lower tolerance for exercise if the bronchitis worsens. Their gums also turn blue because of the lack of oxygen. 

Some symptoms of bronchitis are:

  • Gagging.
  • Coughing.
  • Wheezing.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Vomiting or retching.
  • Loss of consciousness.

Note: Luckily, you cannot get your Husky’s bronchitis and vice versa because it is not contagious. 

Pneumonia

Your Husky can also have pneumonia since it is common. This is the inflammation of air sacs in the lungs. 

This disease can make your Husky’s breathing hard. Most dogs who have this disease have a viral infection in their lungs. 

Some symptoms of pneumonia include: 

  • Fever.
  • Lethargy.
  • Wheezing.
  • Runny nose.
  • Deep cough.
  • Rapid breathing.
  • Appetite and weight loss.

You can say that some symptoms of pneumonia are the same as bronchitis or other diseases. That is why you need to go to the vet when this happens. 

Other causes of pneumonia include inhaling spores and breathing in foreign material.

Collapsed lung

Breathing problems can also happen if your Husky has a collapsed lung. This is pneumothorax

This is when the air outside the lungs assembles inside the chest wall. This prevents normal lung inflation. 

Some causes of pneumothorax are: 

  • Blunt trauma.
  • Chest injuries.
  • Lung disease.
  • Surgery in the chest.
  • Trauma to the windpipe.

If you think that your Husky’s not breathing well, think if one of these things happened recently. 

#5: Onion and garlic poisoning 

Onion And Garlic Are Toxic For Your Husky

Onions and garlic might be delightful for some, but they are toxic for your Husky. 

Among the two, garlic is more poisonous for dogs. But you should never underestimate onions. 

Once your Husky eats one of these spices, their GI tract will swell and their mouth will feel irritated. 

Some symptoms of garlic and onion poisoning are: 

  • Drooling.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Diarrhea. 
  • Lethargy.
  • Collapse.
  • Pale gums.
  • Foul breath. 
  • Reddish urine.
  • Mouth irritation.
  • Increased panting.

A component in these two can cause haemolytic anaemia. This type of anemia destroys your Husky’s red blood cells faster than their body can produce. 

Red blood cell contains oxygen and it won’t reach the lungs if it’s destroyed. And if your Husky can’t have oxygen in their lungs, they will breathe faster. 

#6: It’s too hot  

The most obvious reason why your Husky breathes faster is because of temperature. 

A Husky who feels hot will breathe faster. And there are several reasons why your husky feels hotter than usual. 

Your Husky might feel hot if it’s the summer season. They have thick fur which is ideal for colder climates. 

And when the temperature increases, their body feels hotter. This is the reason why they breathe faster. 

Your Husky can also pant after a long walk or exercise. They need to cool down their bodies and this is normal. 

Panting is your Husky’s way of regulating its temperature. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat, that’s why they stick their tongue out and breath fast and heavy. 

Instead, they stick their tongue out to let air circulate in and out of their body. The water in their mouth and respiratory tract then evaporates. 

High humidity can also make your Husky feel hotter. A high level of humidity makes it harder for your Husky’s moisture to evaporate. 

But don’t be mistaken. If your Husky breathes fast while wagging their tail, they might be happy and excited. Then there’s nothing to worry about.

A study found nothing concerning when a dog hyperventilates out of excitement. 

#7: Diaphragmatic hernia 

Huskies can also have a hard time breathing due to diaphragmatic hernia. This happens when the abdomen pushes their diaphragm forward. 

There are cases where the dog got this from birth. Weimaraners and Cocker Spaniels are prone to this condition. 

But mostly, Huskies get this hernia from blunt force or trauma. Obesity can also be a cause. 

Once the diaphragm is torn, parts of the digestive system can enter your Husky’s chest cavity. 

Your Husky will breathe harder when this happens because their intestines can prevent the lungs from fully expanding. This can also make lung fluid leak. 

And when fluid from the chest cavity leaks, it can worsen your Husky’s breathing. 

What are some signs of diaphragmatic hernia:

  • Stomach upset. 
  • Respiratory distress. 
  • Abnormal heart rhythm. 
  • Mild breathing difficulties. 
  • Muffled heart and lung sounds .

Warning: If you see these signs, immediately take your Husky to the vet. This condition is fatal. 


3 tips on what to do if your Husky breathes so fast 


#1: Always be cool

If you think that your Husky breathes faster because they feel hot, you can make the room cooler for them.

Turnon the air conditioner. This is much needed during summer. 

And if you think that you should shave your Husky’s coat in the summer, please don’t. It can cause sunburns. 

Water can also make their bodies feel cooler. So you should have a lot of it prepared for your Husky. 

If you are taking them for a walk, walk your Husky early in the morning or after a sunset. 

If they played or walked with you, give it a few minutes. Your Husky will eventually stop breathing fast. 

Cooling mats are also a great idea to keep their temperature right. 

Reading tip: 13 Simple Ways To Keep Your Husky Cool (How-To Guide)

#2: Let’s get physical

If you think that the problem is the Husky’s weight, then you should exercise them more. 

Walking for an hour a day can help. If your Husky gets easily tired, you can always start slowly. 

Decreasing their calorie intake is also important for them to lose weight. Knowing how to count your Husky’s calories is important if you want to make them thinner. 

You can easily count your Husky’s calorie needs by having a calorie counter. You should also use a measuring cup when giving them dog food. 

It would be hard on your Husky at first, but time will come that they can eat less and exercise more. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. 

Just enjoy the slow process and everything will follow. 

#3: Take them to the vet 

And if you think that there is something wrong with your Husky, take them to the vet immediately. 

Your Husky might have a disease that can be fatal if not cured and breathing fast is only a symptom. Some diseases are also contagious and you don’t want other dogs to suffer the same. 

There are other symptoms than breathing fast. You should watch out for other symptoms like lethargy, drooling, or appetite loss. 

Your vet will know what to do.

Monthly checkups should also be on your list. That way, diseases are detected before they affect your Husky’s body on a larger scale.