Dog gasping for air

[juliefurry]

I come to you guys with another problem that I have noticed with Shelby. I just noticed this last night and then agian a few minutes ago. She was laying on the floor here with me and she will start basically gasping for air. It seems like she is having problems breathing and will suck in air really hard and then let it out fast. I don't know really how to explain it but it's almost like she can't really breathe. It will only go on for a few minutes and then right away it will stop and go back to normal. Does anyone know what could be causing this? The other night I did notice a small lump on her upper neck too. I don't know if that is important but I thought that it would be best to mention that. The vet doesn't notice anything wrong with her but I just noticed this gasping last night so I have never brought it up.

 

[Purr]

Sounds like maybe a tracheal spasm? I'm sorry, I really don't know...Best of luck with Shelby (ROFL I have a Shelby, too!)!

 

[smkie]

i would want a vet check. Just to make sure.

 

[bubbatd]

When was she last check by the vet and did she have the lump then ??? Does she have one on both sides ??? I had 2 goldens that acted as if they there sniffling hard, but if anything it could have been allergies ...vet never found anything. If her lymph glands in the neck are her lumps, it could be serious. For your peace of mind and her well being...do have her checked ....wish you well !

 

[juliefurry]

I just noticed the lump like two days ago. The vet never noticed it either, though. It's not a lump like something inside her, it's on the outside. It's more like a tumor looking thing, but it's small. It hasn't grown since I noticed it though, although it has only been two days. She has to go back to the vets though, I think on Friday, so I will make sure that I mention it to him incase he didn't notice anything last time she was there.

 

[Purr]

Good luck at the vet's office! Let us know what happens!

 

[BabyBoo]

that's so weird because that exact thing happened to my dog earlier tonight. it happens once in a blue moon..he was just at the vet earlier today, too.

 

[Saintgirl]

It sounds like reverse sneezing to me. It is very common in shorter snouted dogs and is not harmful. But a trip to the vet to rule out anything else would be the best idea!! Good luck!

 

[juliefurry]

She doesn't have a short snout though. It's very long and slim. I know my pit/american bulldog mix does this and I don't worry about it all too much.

 

[showpug]

"Shelby" could be doing a "reverse sneeze" this is where they breath through their nose rather rapidy and you can see their lungs move in and out etc. It usually has noise accompanied with it like snorting etc. A reverse sneeze it very common and not generally something to worry about, however, to be sure, your dog NEEDS to be seen by the vet. If her condition is not a reverse sneeze, than any other breathing "problem" could be very serious and defiantly not normal. I would also say that you should have that lump tested to be sure it's nothing serious.

Take care and good luck!

 

[juliefurry]

I have to wait until monday for her to be seen by her regular vet. Although now I am noticing that along with the difficulty breathing she also seems to be producing saliva. It almost looks a little like she's foaming at the mouth but it just all drips on the floor. She has had all her shots already (distemper and rabies). I will make sure to get her in as soon as I can on Monday. The dripping of the drool is really starting to frighten me.

 

[Saintgirl]

Just wondering how your little one was? I'm hoping that everything is ok!!

 

[avenlee]

It could just be allergies. My dogs will do that. Or they can have what cats do when they get a hairball. I'd make a trip to the vets to be sure though.

 

[juliefurry]

That is what I was thinking maybe it was allergies but now our other dog is doing it too. Is it possible for them to get colds from humans? Our whole family has had a cold and it seems as though they are try to get junk unstuck from their throat. I don't know if it is possible or not just wondering

 

[Renee750il]

Most colds aren't transmissible from humans to dogs. The drooling and difficulty breathing worries me - like maybe she's got something caught . . .

Let us know what the vet says!

 

[juliefurry]

I will keep you posted. We're going to bring both of them in pretty soon. Right now we are a little short on cash to bring them in. I get paid friday so if funds permit they'll go then. My parents have a friend that breeds I don't know what kind of dog so I was going to try and get her number see if she has any suggestions. Shelby doesn't chew on stuff though, so I don't think it could be something caught. Mack, who is also gagging and coughing too, does chew (in fact he just ate practically a whole tennis ball a while back). So him I could easily believe that it would be something caught but he is still eating and going to the bathroom regularly which leads me to believe it is something else. I don't know I'll have to wait to get them to the vet.

 

[Saintgirl]

If your second dog came down with it aswell, it could very likely be kennel cough! Until you see a vet I would keep them away from other pooches just in case. If it is kennel cough it will pass, however you have to keep an eye out for secondary infections such as greenish colored mucus coming from the eyes or nasal passages. Good Luck! Keep us posted.

 

[juliefurry]

So far they haven't had any mucus yet. They don't go by other dogs anyways, there aren't many dogs around this neighborhood. There are a few smaller dogs but they all belong to old ladies to take them outside with their little fake diamond collars and matching leashes and then they have the little doggie sweaters so they "don't get cold". Needless to say the old ladies don't want their little babies hanging around with my big babies. So them being around other dogs isn't a really big problem.

 

[Renee750il]

My vet will often take a check and hold it for several days if I'm short.

 

[juliefurry]

They said that they will do that on Mack's surgery to remove the lump on his foot. If we pay for half of it when we pick him up then they will take a check and we can call them and let them know when they can cash it. I think that is nice of them to do that because the surgery is a little over three hundred dollars because they have to send the lump away to get tested.