The Irish Wolfhound Foundation:

Pneumonia in Irish Wolfhounds can present differently from pneumonia in other breeds. One of the key indicators is the posture illustrated in the video above, where the dog seems to be trying to stretch out his trachea to get more air in. This is usually accompanied by heavy panting. Sometimes there is also coughing and fever, but not always. There can also be fatigue and inappetence. The disease progresses frighteningly fast, and a dog can go from just fine to panting and distressed in a matter of hours.

Unfortunately, X-rays are often inconclusive even though the dog is obviously very sick. The pneumonia will show on X-ray eventually, but waiting for that to begin treatment would be a mistake. IW pneumonia requires rapid, aggressive antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics should usually be continued for several weeks after a clear X-ray, regardless of how quickly the dog seems to recover. Supportive care may also be required, such as oxygen and IV fluids, necessitating a stay in the emergency clinic. If caught and treated promptly, most dogs will recover from pneumonia. 

Some IWs will suffer from repeated pneumonias. A study is ongoing to see if there is a defect in the lung cilia in these dogs. Click on the attached image for the 3-page pdf version.