Dog Resting Respiratory Rate Tracker
For a dog with heart disease, the breaths-per-minute while it sleeps is one of the most useful numbers an owner can track at home - a steady climb can be the earliest hint of fluid building in the lungs. PetHealthLog lets you log each sleeping respiratory rate, watch the trend, and see at a glance if it crosses the level your vet asked you to watch. Free, no account, works offline.
Start tracking - it's freeA rising sleeping breath rate is an early warning - if you're tracking it
Vets often ask owners of dogs with heart disease to count the sleeping or resting respiratory rate - the number of breaths per minute while the dog is calmly asleep. For most healthy dogs and for dogs whose heart disease is well controlled on medication, that rate generally sits under about 30 breaths per minute. A sustained rise can be the earliest sign that fluid is building up in the lungs, often before any cough or struggle appears.
The catch is that a single reading tells you little. What matters is the trend - tonight's count against the run of recent nights - and that's exactly what's hard to keep in your head. A number scribbled on a calendar is easy to lose, and 'it seemed a bit faster' is too vague to act on.
A simple log fixes that. PetHealthLog is free, needs no account and works offline, so each sleeping breath count goes on one timeline - the trend stands out, and a climb past the level your vet set becomes a clear prompt to call rather than a worry you talk yourself out of.
What the tracker actually does
Log the sleeping breaths per minute
Record each count taken while your dog is calmly asleep, so the numbers live in one place and the night-to-night trend is easy to read.
Watch the trend, not one night
A run of readings shows whether the rate is steady or creeping up - far more useful than any single count - so a real change stands out from normal variation.
Mark the level your vet set
Keep the threshold your vet gave you in view (many use around 30 breaths per minute as the prompt to call), so crossing it is obvious instead of a judgement call at midnight.
Note the conditions
Jot whether your dog was in a deep sleep, the room was comfortable, and there'd been no recent activity - the conditions that make a resting count meaningful.
A vet-ready PDF
Export the run of readings, so a call or visit to your vet or cardiologist starts from a real trend instead of a guess.
Common home heart-monitoring supplies (#ad)
These are everyday items owners keep alongside home breathing-rate checks. They support comfortable monitoring only - your dog's heart medication and the level to watch are set by your veterinarian.
Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate, PetHealthLog may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Informational only, not veterinary advice.
Get started in under a minute
- Open the app - no download from a store and no sign-up required.
- Add your dog and the breath-rate level your vet asked you to watch.
- While your dog sleeps calmly, count the breaths for a minute and log the number.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this resting respiratory rate tracker really free?
- Yes. Logging each sleeping or resting breath count, watching the trend, marking your vet's threshold, and the PDF report are all free. There is no sign-up and no account, and your records stay on your own device.
- What is a normal resting respiratory rate for a dog?
- As a general guide, a calm resting or sleeping rate is commonly described as roughly 15 to 30 breaths per minute for healthy dogs and for dogs whose heart disease is well controlled on medication, with many well-controlled dogs sitting under about 30. Your own dog's normal and the exact level to watch are set by your vet; the tracker just keeps the record so the trend is clear.
- When should a rising breath rate worry me?
- Many vets ask owners to call if the sleeping or resting rate climbs and stays above the level they set - often around 30 breaths per minute - because that can mean fluid is building up in the lungs. A tracked trend makes that call concrete rather than a guess. If your dog is also coughing, struggling to breathe, or has pale or bluish gums, treat it as urgent and contact your vet or an emergency clinic right away.
- How do I count my dog's breathing rate correctly?
- Count while your dog is in a calm, deep sleep - not dreaming or twitching - in a comfortable room and well after any activity, since heat, excitement or exercise all push the number up. One breath is one rise and fall of the chest; counting for a full minute, or for 30 seconds and doubling, is the usual method. The tracker just stores the number and shows the trend.
- Is this a substitute for veterinary advice?
- No. PetHealthLog is a record-keeping tool, not veterinary advice. It does not diagnose heart disease or manage it. The breathing-rate threshold to watch, your dog's medication, and what any change means are all decisions for your veterinarian or cardiologist. If the rate rises past the level they set, or your dog struggles to breathe, contact your vet right away. The tracker just records the numbers so you and your vet can see the trend.
Keep your dog's sleeping breath rate on one clear trend
Free, offline, and ready the moment you open it.
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