Your vet said something like “keep an eye on her breathing while she sleeps.” Here is exactly how — what to watch for, how to count, and what the number usually means. It takes a minute a night, and it is the single most useful thing you can track at home.
Wait for real sleep
The count only means something in deep sleep — usually ten minutes or more after they settle, lying flat, breathing slow and even.
If they stir mid-count, just wait — or try again later. It happens, and a skipped night is fine.
One rise and fall is one breath
Watch the chest or the flank. One full rise and fall together count as a single breath — it is easy to accidentally count double. Time yourself for 30 seconds and double the number, or count a full 60. In NOKA you just tap once per breath; the timing and the math are handled.
Up and down = one. The same drawing the app shows the first time you count — because it works.
What the number usually means
Most healthy dogs and cats stay under 30 breaths a minute in deep sleep — many sit in the teens. Your own pet’s usual number matters more than any textbook line, which is why the first week of counting builds a personal baseline. And one fast night is usually just a warm room or a vivid dream — it’s the trend across nights that carries the signal.
When to call your vet
Counting is not diagnosing — the number is simply worth a phone call when:
NOKA counts with you
Tap once per breath — the timing, the baseline, and the trend are handled. Free, no ads, works offline.
