VitalPaw
How to use

Breathing Rate

Learn how to accurately measure your dog's breathing rate.

What you're checking

Your dog's breathing rate can help you notice changes that may require veterinary attention.

Before you start

  • Dog is calm or sleeping
  • Watch the chest or belly
  • Choose the chest rise OR fall, not both

Three simple steps

  1. A sleeping golden retriever with an arrow marking the rise and fall of the chest.

    Step 1

    Watch the chest

    Watch your dog's chest or belly while they are resting.

  2. Two side by side photos of a resting dog's chest rising and then falling.

    Step 2

    Count each rise

    Count only the chest rises. Do not count both the rise and the fall.

  3. A hand tapping a phone showing a fifteen second timer while counting breaths.

    Step 3

    Tap each breath

    Tap once every time the chest rises. VitalPaw keeps the time and calculates the rate for you.

Start Breathing Reading

VitalPaw does the math

You only need to count, tap and observe.

  • Times the reading
  • Calculates the result
  • Compares it with your dog's normal range
  • Explains what it means
  • Saves it to your history

If your dog shows emergency signs, don’t wait — find an emergency clinic.