Are heart problems an issue?

Yes, please tell us what the symptoms are! There is alot of experience on this forum and someone may be able to point to other possibilities to investigate at the same time.

Good luck! How awful to go through this with such a young pup!
 
We had originally brought him to our regular vet because he seemed to be breathing very hard when sleeping and panting a lot. Vet takes x ray and says heart is enlarged. We take him to a cardiologist where they ran all of those tests to find his heart is not enlarged.

The cardiologist then suggested possibly something lung related and wants to have a broncoscopy and tracheal wash for $1700.00. Of course I do not have the money at this point.

My wife is also concerned because he will eat anything he can get in his mouth like hair or pillow strings etc. We really monitor him very closely but he seems to always find something so minute. She is concerned about a possible blockage. We are just watching him as of right now and will go from there. I want to get a picture of him up here.
 
unless he has diarrhea or seems constipated, I wouldn't worry about blockage.

Just do your best to try and not let him eat those things.

My puppy eats hair all the time. She just poops it out. I can always tell when my puppy is chewing on a piece of hair. I have to pry her mouth open and pull it out. I do my best to watch her and make sure she's not eating hair or strings, but as you know, they always find a way.
 
You say he pants and breathes heavy when he is sleeping? Could this be simple doggie dreams?

How is he when he is awake and playing/walking/exercising? Is he lethargic or active?

How is his food intake? Does he eat well, or does he pick at it? Any vomitting, constipation, diarrhea?
 
He plays a lot. Probably does not eat quite as much but I know his body is changing. As far as when he is sleeping it does not seem to be dream related because his body does not move but I do not know for sure. I will keep an eye on it.
 
Both my dogs pant alot esp little Tully. But I see that as 'happy' sounds - ie its a kind of doggy laugh. I figure this because they do it more when they look at me or each other. And yes they do seem to 'laugh' in their sleep.
 
Noah's update.

Was told he has an enlarged heart by first vet, second vet runs tests and says no enlarged heart. Second vet says he is fine, if it continues to contact them.

Of course he was still panting a lot, went to second vet's intern and he says the only thing wrong is that he is over weight. He is about 22 pounds, vet says he should be about 17 pounds and he is a small guy. He eats well and nothing but carrots instead of dog cookies. We are not believing it but of course will do it. Wife will cut down dose on food. We will see.
 
Toby said:
Was told he has an enlarged heart by first vet, second vet runs tests and says no enlarged heart. Second vet says he is fine, if it continues to contact them.

Of course he was still panting a lot, went to second vet's intern and he says the only thing wrong is that he is over weight. He is about 22 pounds, vet says he should be about 17 pounds and he is a small guy. He eats well and nothing but carrots instead of dog cookies. We are not believing it but of course will do it. Wife will cut down dose on food. We will see.
Click to expand...

Recommend you switch to frozen green beans for treats. Carrots have a considerable amount of sugar -- they're one of those high-carb veggies.
 
problem with doing all those tests is not only money, which is substantial, but also pup has to have anestesia which is not fun for human or dog health, liver has to have hard work to process all those medications...
if the panting in the sleep is the only symptom you see I would watch and monitor- does he do it in every spot he sleeps? does it happens after doggy park? after he gets some special treat before going to bed? does he tire out easily, is there any cough, specially after he wakes up, does he seems less in energy, fussier with food, does he look like a sick dog?...
problem with it you have to be your doggy vet on your own... do your own sleuthing... read up on literature and and monitor...
bringing pup with such vague symptoms to the vet will yield you nothing but expensive vet bills...
 
Toby said:
Was told he has an enlarged heart by first vet, second vet runs tests and says no enlarged heart. Second vet says he is fine, if it continues to contact them.

Of course he was still panting a lot, went to second vet's intern and he says the only thing wrong is that he is over weight. He is about 22 pounds, vet says he should be about 17 pounds and he is a small guy. He eats well and nothing but carrots instead of dog cookies. We are not believing it but of course will do it. Wife will cut down dose on food. We will see.
Click to expand...


Actually, if he is overweight, that could contribute to the panting. My Pixie is prone to portliness, and when she's heavier than she should be, she pants and even wheezes a bit. I can tell as soon as I get a few pounds off her that she has more energy and the panting stops. If your vet agrees, perhaps some light walking for your pup might help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top