Did you know that counting your pet’s breaths while they sleep can give important clues about their heart and lung health? The best part? It’s a simple, free tool that anyone can do at home to help keep pets healthier, longer.
For my clients, you should not be unfamiliar with the term SRR, as I always place strong emphasis on it during our visits.
What is Sleeping Respiratory Rate (SRR)?
SRR is the number of breaths your pet takes per minute while asleep.
Why is it important?
An increased SRR can be an early sign of heart failure or respiratory disease, even before obvious symptoms (difficulty breathing) appear. Monitoring SRR at home helps your vet detect problems earlier and adjust treatment if needed.
Watch the video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/d4h-pRWAYeg?feature=share
How to do it:
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Wait until your pet is in deep sleep (not just dozing).
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Watch the chest rise and fall — that’s one breath.
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Count the breaths for 1 minute, or count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6.
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A normal SRR for most cats and dogs is less than 30 per minute.
To me, I am happier if the SRR is less than 25 per minute.
Example 1
The graph below shows a stable SRR of less than 30 counts per min, after starting heart medications.
Example 2
The SRR within the red box was elevated, indicating possible decompensation of the heart condition or progression to heart failure.
After adjusting the medications, the SRR returned to normal — showing the treatment is working and the pet’s condition is under better control.
