My 4 year old chihuahua always grunts/cries when breathing.

[jessmvee]

I have a 4 year old chihuahua who is my baby. She is very small at about 4lbs. She goes to the vet quite often, and has been for this issue before. She makes the worst noises when she breathes. It is always when she breathes out, and sounds like she is grunting or crying. She does it almost every time she takes a breath.

She has done this since she was about 1 year old, and I have taken her to the vet about it once or twice before. The vet didn't hear it at the time (she was breathing really shallow because she was scared) and said it was probably allergies. I was told to give her a very small dose of children's Benadryl when she seemed to be having the problem. I did not notice a difference.

I also have a pug, and she breathes funny as well. She seems congested a lot, and it sounds a lot different than my chihuahua (Zoey). I am really worried about her, but the vets don't seem to be overly concerned.

It just sounds like she is in a lot of pain most of the time. Anyone have any similar experiences or advice?

Thanks guys,
Jessica

[jessmvee]

Thanks for your comment, Celia_!

That makes me feel a little better. We also have INSANE pollen counts around here, and she does sneeze a lot outside and start wheezing in and out. I can't let her out much longer than needed to do her business this time of year.

Maybe I'm an overly paranoid mommy.

[jessmvee]

Eve,

Thank you for your comment! My pups are never around cigarette smoke. No one in the house smokes and none of the extended family smokes.

My pug has a stuffy nose sometimes. The vet says it's allergies and her flat squishy nose.

It almost just sounds like a grunt when my Chi is breathing. Like a snore grunt. It wouldn't make me concerned if she didn't do it all the time, and sometimes it's loud. :(

[jessmvee]

Thank you for your comment! I am thinking of seeking a second opinion. I just need to find a decent vet. :)

[Celia_]

Hi jess , I have a chihuahua and she has 2 chihuahua friends who come for playdates and overnight stays.   They are often quite snorty and snuffly and apparently this is not uncommon for this breed.   If they are brachocephalic (short-nosed) it can be more pronounced.  If she were my baby I'd check with another vet just to be sure.

[evewisewoman]

Hi jessmvee,

I agree with ginger899. There could possibly be something wrong with
her trachea. I would get a second opinion from a second vet. Are your
dogs possibly being exposed to cigarette smoke, somehow. I ask
this because both of your dogs seem to have breathing issues.
Good luck trying to figure out what is going on with the dogs. Eve :)

[ginger899]

I am not an expert at this particular ailment, not a vet either, and have no experience of it...but there could possibly be something wrong with her trachea.
You maybe should take her to a completely different vet for a second opinion.