Look for signs of inhalation, such as the chest rising and falling.
Step4
Put a tissue or mirror by your pet's nostrils and look for tissue movement or fogging on the mirror if it's difficult to determine when the animal is breathing.
Step5
Count the amount of times your pet breathes in 15 seconds.
Step6
Multiply the number by 4. This number will be rate of respirations per minute.
Step7
Contact your veterinarian if your pet's respiratory rate is out of normal range.
Tips & Warnings
Average respiratory rate of dogs is 10 to 30 breaths per minute.
A dog can have up to 200 pants per minute.
Average respiratory rate of cats is 20 to 30 breaths per minute.
A cat can have up to 300 pants per minute. If a cat pants for more than a few minutes, call the veterinarian immediately.