Seeing your dog not breathing is one of the most terrifying moments any one can experience, and it is always a life-threatening emergency.
A dog who has stopped breathing requires immediate action, and every second matters.
We outline the common causes of a dog not breathing, what you can do, and why immediate veterinary help is crucial.
What Does “Dog Not Breathing” Mean?
When a dog is truly not breathing, you will not see chest movement, feel air from the nose, or notice any sign of effort. This is called respiratory arrest, and without immediate assistance, it rapidly progresses to cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and death.
Many times, owners notice this during a collapse, after trauma, after choking, or during severe medical crises. Unlike mild breathing difficulties, a dog with zero respiratory effort is in a critical state that requires instant intervention.
While this situation is rare, the more you understand what causes it and how to respond, the greater the chances of getting your dog lifesaving care quickly. The following sections go in depth on the most urgent causes and what must happen next.
Dog Not Breathing: Common Causes
Choking or Airway Obstruction
Choking is one of the fastest ways a dog can stop breathing. When an object blocks the airway—such as a bone fragment, a ball, a stick, a large piece of food, or a toy—oxygen cannot reach the lungs.
Dogs may initially cough, gag, paw at their mouth, panic, or collapse. If the obstruction remains in place, the choking progresses to complete airway blockage, leading to respiratory arrest.
Airway obstructions can also be caused by swelling inside the throat from allergic reactions, bee stings, or severe infections.
Brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs are at higher risk because their already-narrow airways can collapse quickly.
Once the obstruction becomes complete, you will not see chest movement, and the dog may become limp, unconscious, and unresponsive.
Immediate Heimlich-type maneuvers and emergency veterinary care are required because these situations escalate within seconds.
Related: Dog breathing heavy and fast (Why it happens)
Cardiac Arrest
A dog that is not breathing may be experiencing cardiac arrest. In these moments, the heart stops pumping effectively, and blood flow to the brain and lungs ceases.
This causes breathing to stop suddenly. Cardiac arrest can be triggered by many underlying factors such as severe heart disease, electrolyte imbalances, shock, trauma, poisoning, or internal bleeding. It often occurs without warning, which is why it is so frightening for dog owners.
During cardiac arrest, the dog collapses, becomes unconscious, and stops breathing. The gums may turn gray, white, or blue due to the lack of oxygen. Without CPR, the brain begins to suffer irreversible damage in minutes.
Even when CPR is successful, the dog must be transported to a veterinary hospital immediately for life-supporting treatment, monitoring, and evaluation of the cause.
Severe Trauma
Major trauma—such as being hit by a car, falling from a height, blunt force injury, or being attacked by another animal—can cause a dog to stop breathing.
Trauma can damage the chest cavity, puncture the lungs, collapse the lungs, or cause massive internal bleeding.
Any of these injuries can disrupt the mechanics of normal breathing or lead to a rapid drop in blood pressure, which causes respiratory arrest.
In addition, trauma can damage the brainstem, which controls the unconscious act of breathing.
Dogs that experience head trauma may begin with irregular, shallow breaths that quickly stop altogether.
Trauma-related respiratory arrest is always an emergency requiring oxygen therapy, imaging, and stabilization at a veterinary hospital.
Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)
Anaphylaxis can cause sudden swelling in the throat, collapse of the airway, and respiratory arrest. Bee stings, insect bites, certain foods, medications, or vaccine reactions can trigger this life-threatening response.
At first, dogs may show vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, hives, or facial swelling. As the reaction intensifies, the tissues within the throat swell rapidly, narrowing the airway until the dog can no longer breathe.
This type of respiratory arrest is often accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure, which further compromises oxygen delivery.
Without immediate epinephrine and supportive care from a veterinarian, anaphylaxis is often fatal. Quick recognition is essential because the window for lifesaving intervention is very short.
Drowning or Near-Drowning
When water fills a dog’s lungs, it prevents oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. A dog pulled from water may initially cough, panic, or be weak, but if the lungs fill with fluid, respiratory arrest will follow.
Freshwater and saltwater both cause severe lung injury, making it impossible for normal gas exchange to occur.
Even after resuscitation, dogs require veterinary evaluation because lung damage often worsens hours later.
In cases where the dog is fully submerged for more than a few minutes, breathing may stop entirely, and CPR must begin immediately. Hypothermia and shock worsen the prognosis, making rapid veterinary treatment essential.
Electrical Shock
Dogs who bite electric cords or experience electrical injury can suffer immediate respiratory arrest. Electricity disrupts the normal signals that control breathing, and it can simultaneously cause cardiac arrest.
Burns around the mouth, unconsciousness, and an absence of chest movement are common in these cases.
Electrical injuries also cause severe swelling within the airway, meaning even if the dog survives initial resuscitation, the swelling can worsen over several hours. Veterinary monitoring is necessary after any electrical accident.
Advanced Respiratory Disease
Dogs with severe pneumonia, end-stage lung disease, collapsed lungs, or terminal cancer may experience respiratory arrest as their condition worsens.
These dogs often have a long history of breathing difficulty, exercise intolerance, coughing, or weakness prior to the arrest.
Eventually, the lungs become unable to exchange oxygen, and the dog stops breathing.
In these cases, respiratory arrest is frequently the final stage of a severe underlying illness. Emergency oxygen, ventilation support, and intensive care are required if there is any chance of recovery.
Related: Dog breathing heavy while on Prednisone (Causes and what to do)
What to Do if Your Dog Is Not Breathing
1. Check for breathing and responsiveness.
Look for chest movement, place your ear near the nose, and feel for air.
If the dog is unresponsive and not breathing, proceed immediately.
2. Perform CPR if trained.
If the dog has no breath and no pulse, begin CPR:
30 chest compressions.
2 rescue breaths.
Continue cycles while someone else drives you to the vet, if possible.
3. Remove choking obstructions if visible.
Only attempt this if the object is clearly reachable. Do not blindly reach down the throat.
4. Transport your dog to the nearest emergency vet immediately.
Call the clinic on the way so staff can prepare.
Veterinary Care
You should seek emergency veterinary care right away if:
Your dog is not breathing at all.
Your dog collapses suddenly.
Your dog has no chest movement.
Your dog is unresponsive.
Your dog is choking and cannot inhale.
Your dog has just experienced trauma.
Your dog stops breathing after a seizure.
Your dog’s gums turn blue, white, or gray.
Your dog was shocked, poisoned, or stung.
Your dog was submerged underwater.
Any situation where your dog appears not to be breathing should be treated as life-or-death. Even if CPR is successful, the underlying cause must be treated immediately to prevent re-arrest.
Related: Old dog breathing heavy (Should you worry?)
Key Takeaway
A dog not breathing is one of the most critical emergencies in veterinary medicine. Whether it is caused by choking, trauma, cardiac arrest, disease, or anaphylaxis, immediate action can save a life.
Knowing what to look for—and how quickly to respond—gives your dog the best chance of survival.
If you ever face this terrifying situation, stay focused, act quickly, and get your dog to an emergency veterinarian without delay.