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2057674 tn?1333032103

Breathing hard and fast.

For the past few days my dogs breathing has gone from normal to really hard and fast. She's never done this before. She's a 9 year old Yorkshire Terrier. This is literally constant, even when she's asleep. I've tried massaging her back and stomach but nothing seems to work, we rang the vet and was told to check that her gums were the correct colour which they are. It just doesn't seem normal, if you listen up close it sounds like she's going to cry in between each breath, like she's struggling. It's really horrible to watch, we have made an appointment for tomorrow morning but I just wondered whether or not anyone had any clue what it might be? Replies will be appreciated.
32 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hello to all of you! I want to thank you for all of your postings!

I really needed to read about rapid breathing in my six year old yorkie. My heart sends prayers and little yorkie angels to you as time progresses!

The posts helped me come to terms with returning to our vet tomorrow morning, despite the fact that he is quite healthy. I adopted a companion rescue dog 6 months ago who had kennel cough. They've both gone through 2 rounds of antibiotics, the coughing is gone; however, I am noticing a more rapid breathing rate in my Yorkie. My husband and I are both unsure that this is new.  I look forward to what the vet says about his heart and lungs.

Again, your posts gave me comfort and solace, many thanks!

In health,

Karen M
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Avatar universal
My aunts dog just got his leg amputated  and he is a cocker spainal he is only 4years old  he started paniting  really loudly and breathing heavly I worry about him what should I do?
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. We DO worry about our dogs so very much and, yes, it's exactly like having a child and worrying about any sign of illness or discomfort. I think laboured breathing is a concern and you certainly need a vet to examine her. It could be something very simple and straightforward, but clearly it could just as easily be something more disconcerting. Laboured breathing is a symptom of so many possibilities, it's impossible to say what it might be without close examination and further diagnostic tests.

Hopefully, fingers crossed, it's nothing serious. Let us know.

Tony
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Avatar universal
Wow, I came here because I am very concerned about my beautiful girl, Nikki, who will be 12 in May and has been and still seems to be a very healthy dog! She worries me today because I noticed this morning that she was breathing differently. I can't say it's labored, but quicker and more shallow. She has been having constant flatulence for a few days now, and I wonder if there is a link. The reason I am commenting, isn't to ask for any wisdom, although I will later, but this post is all about the communications between you, Kayleighx and others, concerning your furbaby passing away. I have a mental illness, and my girl, Nikki over the 11 years I've had her has become more than just my constant companion, or even just one of children, but she is the glue that keeps me together. Keeps me sane, and therefore, I go through spells of anxiety over the day that she does leave me. I go through the scenario in my head, and sometimes just stare at her thinking that I won't live through it, or they will need to sedate me heavily so I don't lose my mind.  Kayleighx, my heart ached reading your words. I am so sorry you went through that loss. It makes me even more aware of my fate. Thank you for sharing your private feelings with us.

ikanicon, I have to address you as well, because you sound more like me than anyone else I've known thus far. I hear every word, feel every emotion and I am in a state of inner turmoil and torture, as unnecessary as it is, waiting for THE DAY. Anyway, I just had to make contact with all of you in this community and let you know that you have touched my heart with your honesty and comfort to one another. I am very worried about my girl, although she seems to be fine except for the sudden change in her breathing, mixed with her age. I will pop in again when I know more.
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Avatar universal
to: kayleighx
from: Mar 12, 2012

I lost my dog Sasafras at age 7.5 last year in October due to the same heart problems, with much the same information and recommendations from the Drs. I am very sad for your loss, but at the same time, your telling the circumstances of your dog's progression has helped me heal a bit of the pain associated with my dog's death because I could not afford the $300 Cardiologist for my Sasafras when the week came that her heart gave out, so I have felt a very heavy weight in my heart that I didn't do enough for her but you did all the same things the Drs said to us and you still had the exact same progression and results. It helps me not feel like such a horrible mother that I couldn't help my precious girl live longer.

It was winter and we had small propane heater in the upstairs of our house because the attic is freezing and I firmly believe that the fumes affected her heart, even though I was careful and it was ventilated. One day she started wobbling in the back yard when she went to go potty outside and she just collapsed like she was drunk. I took her to the ER Vet an hour away because it was a Saturday. He said she is dying and her heart will just stop working one day, but there is no way of knowing when. He suggested the tent overnight too. A week later, she had 3 more of those episodes and then she died in our bed. That was the worst day of my life.

She was my soul mate and my only long-term relationship and my only "child," so as you can imagine, my life has been seriously adversely affected by this experience. I didnt even leave my house for a  solid month and since much of my life has been one horrendous trauma after another experiencing waaay toooo many losses, it has been a nightmare at times to pick myself up off the floor and put a life plan together that doesnt include the love of my life, the one I believed would ALWAYS be here with me.

I am so sincerely sorry that you went through this same experience Kayleighx. I dont have any words of wisdom or advice and you lost your precious angel before I lost mine, so I'm sure it would be too late for me to help you out anyway, but I did want to write to you to let you know that I understand and I share your pain.

I adopted another dog who is older than my Sasafras was because Sasi died too young and I wasnt ready to let go, but the new dog is waaaaay different, so we aren't bonding nearly as much as Sasafras and I did. Sasi was sooooo smart and well behaved and loving, and the new dog Abbe is not loving at all and she pees on the floor daily even right in front of us! She is a strange little thing. But I still do love her. She has an EXTREMELY gentle soul and she might have been abused because she has A LOT of fears.

The worst thing for me about the whole experience after Sasfras's death is that I live in such paranoid fear that this dog will die unexpectedly too and I freak out inside my heart every time she is laying down or asleep not moving because that is how my Sasafras died when I was sitting only 2 feet away from her but I didnt even know that she had died. I just thought she was sleeping until I saw that her eyes were open and that was when I saw that horrible blank stare and realized that she was dead. We were super super connected, so that totally freaks me out. I just dont know how I couldnt feel her death in the room especially when I feel soooo many other things from people I am not even connected to!

The whole experience is still so surreal in such devastating ways. I sleep snuggling with her pink bunny stuffed animal and I keep her smiling photo on my nightstand, and I think of her daily. I miss her constantly. I still talk to her  and snuggle as if she is here with me because it helps me with the immensity of this loss.

I cannot even imagine the devastation that anyone who loses a human child goes through because to me, I feel like that is what I lost, my child, although I understand that having a human child who can speak and has different ideas, opinions, and lives a fully 3 or 4 dimensional life who grows up from a baby into a toddler into a child into a teen and then into an adult with milestones that parents look forward to and dreams they all share is way worse of a loss than mine, I still share in it because I already feel all those other losses since I have no children to share those things with either.

I am sending you warm hugs Kayleighx and warm apple pies with balloons being blown up inside my heart because that is what the feeling of love feels like to me and that is how we feel about our wonderful angels :) <3
Helpful - 0
4159877 tn?1350432945
I Was looking for an explanation to why my dog started all of a sudden breathing hard. but it was sporadic for about 15 minutes and he stopped now but in reading your post I felt compelled to say that I am sorry for your lost. My dog will be nine in Feb 2013 I am 35 and got him for my kids when I was 26. I am black and my mother would NEVER LET ME HAVE A DOG. Only a cat. So, Koda is for me too. I know the day will come for him to leave, but I love him so much and I just recently got him some pet insurance. He had his blood drawn last week, he has been sick for about 3 weeks and lost 10 lbs since Sept 22nd. I pray that I can do him more good. I even got a 2nd job that I start Next money to bring in extra fund to get his xrays done and dental cleaning heart worm screening. All this to ask you, how are you doing ? and no matter what our pets love us even after death. I am sure you gave him a great life!!!
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Avatar universal
its hard when u dont have 100 copay plus an extra 80m for meds on tha spot what do u do then in reno nv theres not alot of free help
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2057674 tn?1333032103
Shall try to. Thankyou x
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
I know. There will be.
Just keep your heart open for dogs. They might just be passing-by dogs, or friends' dogs...or whatever. But they will sense your love, and your loss, and they will offer you comfort too. And it will probably help you more than any human comfort. Just keep your heart open for it.
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2057674 tn?1333032103
I'm okay Ginger, some days are harder than others, it's just horrible and difficult to try and accept the fact she's gone. Nothing feels the same anymore, I keep thinking I can hear her, her little cough and sneezes, I closed my eyes the other day and I thought I could feel her jumping up at me, for that second I put my arms out to pick her up. There's just a massive hole in my life now.
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1832268 tn?1326816010
Hi...Hang in there....
I know how much you miss Daisy...I am missing my TwoBits too... some days are just tougher than others. I guess this is one of them.  
Like Ginger says..."you will always find people here who know exactly what you are going through right now."

Thinking of you, Daisy and TwoBits....Connie
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
How are you?
It's terribly hard I know, when a loved one dies. And as a little time goes by it can even feel worse. At first, there are all the condolences, and hugs which are a great support, and help the pain....it's when those have gone that the day to day living without that loved one starts, and that can feel so tough.
There are even some people who dont understand the depth of what you are feeling, how you are missing your friend and companion. What some don't realize is the bond is equal to -and can be even stronger -than a bond with another Human friend or family member.

So anyway, you will always find people here who know exactly what you are going through right now.
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2057674 tn?1333032103
Thankyou, all your support means so much, her ashes are coming home tomorrow morning so maybe it will sink in more when I see the casket? I've got millions of pictures of her and a few pictures of me and her together so i'll get them printed out and into photo frames.
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2071518 tn?1340383343
I'm thinking of you and sorry about your precious Yorkie. I also lost my Yorkie, Margaret suddenly. She was only 8. The grief does mellow in time. Let yourself continue to have a good cry whenever it comes up and know that we are here for you. Stay in touch.  








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1916673 tn?1420233270
We all chose to remember our best friends in different ways - and if a tattoo does it for you, then that's absolutely fine. I lost my BB just a month before Christmas and to be honest, I really didn't want to put a tree up or feel I wanted to celebrate the season. But family and my remaining dog persuaded me life goes on and they still needed me to be strong. So I got a tree and had a special tree decoration made with BB's name on it, so in a way, she was still part of our Christmas. I also had a nice photo of her framed - which now sits in the hallways, so every time I pass through, I see her and talk to her in remembrance.

Life can be cruel, it's true, but would we give up the years of sharing our lives with our best friends just not to have to go through the last dreadful goodbye - I wouldn't, because I cherrish the happy memories of my girl now and will continue to do so forever. Tony
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2057674 tn?1333032103
Thankyou everyone for your support, I found her ball last night in the magazine basket, choked me up and memories came flooding back, as much as I wish I could just wake up from this horrible nightmare, I need to try pull myself together. I'm thinking of getting a tattoo in memory of her, I've been thinking about it for a while but now I'm sure I want it done. Life's cruel isn't it.
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well said, Tony and Two Bits Mom.
I've been through this too. Oh gosh I know what it feels like. When my Toby died I wouldn't vacuum for weeks in case I vacuumed up his precious dog hairs. I have no idea why but one day I decided to clean up.
I think we do things when we are ready after a loss like this.
I know those empty spaces, empty bed, food bowls now gathering dust, or washed up and sitting on a shelf reminding you of the loss....it is incredibly painful.
God bless you sweetheart. I totally understand how you are feeling.
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1832268 tn?1326816010
You are not acting Silly...as a matter of fact, Today I was outside, and Twobits was heavy on my mind. Just like you, I was thinking about how much she would have been enjoying the day with me. She was my shadow for 15 years and oh how I do miss her. The tears fell today and it has been 6 months since she has been gone.
I want you to know, that I, like so many others here, know exactly how you are feeling. We know how difficult it is to lose the ones we love.
It really doesn't matter if the ones we love have 2 legs, or 4 legs. The fact remains that love is love...pure and simple.
It will take time to grieve, and adjust to life without our best friends.
I am still adjusting and trying my best to accept what has happened.
This is a wonderful place, with people who understand, and know only too well how much it hurts to lose our faithful companions.
Please feel free to express yourself here...No one will judge you.
Connie
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1916673 tn?1420233270
There is absolutely nothing silly about the way you are feeling. This is grieving, and it takes time. You are experiencing the feelings we all have felt when we have lost our very best friend - and in time, it will get easier, even though right now it is raw and hurting so much. My heart goes out to you. Big hugs, Tony
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2057674 tn?1333032103
Thankyou Connie. I'm really struggling, staying in my house is heartbreaking because there's so many memories of her, where she used to sit and sleep. Empty spaces where her beds and drink/food bowls were. But I just haven't got the energy to go out :/ I may be acting silly but I can't seem to accept the fact I'm never gonna get a cuddle or kiss off her again. Miss her desperately! Her ashes are coming home to us on Saturday where she'll be put next to a picture of my Grandad so they can look after each other.
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1832268 tn?1326816010
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Yorkie.
Those tenacious little terriers sure do know how to Live...!
I was so blessed to have one of my own. TwoBits was a character...!
She loved life to the fullest.
True to the Terrier personality, she was ferocious, and precocious...!
They truly are little dogs with BIG personalities..!
I know how much you miss Daisy. It is such a big loss for any of us who love our dogs. They are so much a part of our family.
Daisy was such a lucky girl to live her life in the company of someone who loves her.
In fact...I am sure that Nobody could have loved her more that you did.
You only ALWAYS wanted to do the best you could for her, and you did.
You were both so lucky to have each other.
My heart goes out to you during this difficult time.
Please know that you are not alone.
God Bless Daisy's Beautiful Spirit and Soul...she is much loved.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and understanding...
Connie
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2057674 tn?1333032103
Thankyou for your comments back, the vet said she may of had tumours on her lungs which resulted in her heart being so massively inflamed. She said she has never known a case of this that couldn't be treated, Daisy was just unfortunate. Her body compensated for her possible underlining illness so it just took a while for it to hurt and her and luckily enough she wasn't in pain for months with it or even years, just a week. I wouldn't have wantted to watch her in pain for much longer. Just need to find a way of coping now! House is empty without her, and the tears won't stop falling. Thankyou for your support again xxxx
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441382 tn?1452810569
I'm so sorry for your loss.  It's just never easy to say goodbye, no matter how long they have been with us.  When they are young, well, we grieve because of the life they would never get to live and when they are old, they are just so much more entwined into our own hearts and souls from being with us for so long that a piece of us dies with them.  

Remember all the wonderful things about her and things will get easier with time.  One day you may see a little one who reminds you of her and you won't be able to resist, and I believe that our loved ones who have passed put them into our paths to help us and the ones needing homes, because they know what a good life they will have with us.  Keep her tucked in your heart and she'll always be with you.

Ghilly
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am very sorry to hear your dog passed away.
Bless you for loving her like a little sister and being there with her all her life to the end. That's beautiful.
Big hugs from me too.
Ginger
XX
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