Hi everyone, for the last few days, my dog has been breathing much heavier than usual while he’s asleep. He has a heart murmur and, because of his age, he really struggles with the heat. He’s been panting a lot all summer—it’s quite worrying to see, but he does eventually manage to cool himself down. He’s got a cooling mat and likes to sleep in the basement or on the tiles. He’s always been a big snorer, but now the noise is four times louder than before. Obviously, I was worried about pulmonary oedema, but he hasn't got a cough. He’s eating well but just seems a bit more tired (though that’s always the case when it’s hot...). Since I don’t have much faith in vets, who are often too quick to prescribe tablets that just make things worse, does anyone have any idea what’s causing this noisy breathing? A huge thank you to anyone who takes the time to get back to me.
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Hello,
It’s a bit tricky to give you a proper answer without the right equipment or the expertise to examine them properly.
I also wouldn't want to worry you for no reason.
You’ve probably already had a look, but I’ll post this anyway: see if you can make them a bit more comfortable by following the advice in this guide on dog snoring: :)
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-snoring
You know Enicia, given Snoopy's age and the symptoms he's showing, a quick check-up with your homeopathic vet wouldn't go amiss (try to film what’s worrying you before the appointment).
And yes, there are some nasty, reeeally contagious bouts of rhinitis going around at the moment; we've ended up with a 10-day course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories (and goodness knows, like you, I'm not a fan of that kind of thing, but we didn't really have a choice, unfortunately). But according to the vet, we’ve managed to avoid a secondary infection, which can happen so quickly with this kind of illness.
My dog never coughs; he just pants quite heavily when it’s hot and his snoring is getting louder and louder, for instance. Could a nasal passage be blocked, and is there any way to check? Also, can dogs actually get colds? I might not have phrased my message very well, but it was these kinds of explanations I was after... rather than a proper diagnosis, really.
Hi Mel, yes of course, I realise a diagnosis can't be made through a simple message. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and has any ideas about what these symptoms might be, to help me understand these noises that have suddenly got much worse. My dog once had a bad reaction to some medication and nearly died, so I’m a bit wary of vets now – many around here seem a bit money-grabbing. I did find a homeopathic vet who took great care of him, even though they’re about an hour and a half away, and I won’t hesitate to go back if things get worse. But as it might not be serious, given he’s still eating well, I was just looking for some advice that isn't just the usual 'go to the vet'… Since my dog is a rescue, I don’t know his exact age, but he’s supposedly between 11 and 15. He’s put on a lot of weight lately and was also bitten by a tick; basically, I’m just trying to see if there’s a link between it all… How did you first spot your dog’s heart problem?
If you don’t trust your vet, go and see someone else, or get a few more opinions. If they all come back with the same diagnosis, then they might just be right. Tablets aren’t necessarily a bad thing.
How old is he? It could be that his heart is struggling and his lungs are filling with fluid. If that’s the case, he won't be coughing all the time, but rather in bouts to try and clear his lungs.
We’ve got a dog with a heart condition and fluid on her lungs. She has coughing fits every now and then. She’s on medication that we give her when she has a flare-up, and it works really well.
At the end of the day, only a vet who has actually examined your dog can give you a proper diagnosis. You can't really diagnose symptoms through a forum post.
