Question:

She is about 13 years old, we’ve had her from a pup (my little girl ) She has always been a bit high-strung, and 1) doesn’t like to ride in a vehicle 2) hates thunder and lightning with a passion.  A few years back our old vet took some x-rays, but I can’t think that anything was showing up as wrong with her.  The last episode prior to this (about 3 years ago), the new vet said that he ran a number of tests on her, including ekg and bloodwork, and said that there could be some "problems" under severe cases of stress. Obviously yesterday was a high stress day.  Today, even though it was fairly warm and humid, she did not have any problems. (Yes, they have plenty of shade, full run of the yard, and plenty of water to drink, and shelter (dog house and covered porch) to retreat to). We’ll keep an eye on her, and try to avoid the stress indicators when we can.  Thanks! Bill

Response:

This sounds to me like the dog is getting both over heated and highly stressed which is causing rapid panting which is pushing her into the severe distress you see due to hypoxia. Look up heat stroke in dogs and see how much matches what you are seeing. This sounds to me like similar symptoms to short nosed breeds that have airway constriction problems or airway disease of some type. If your vet has no idea what the problem is I would seek out a different vet for another opinion. Nancy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (kinda a long rant) Hi! One of our dogs has a problem with what can be described best as an asthma attack.  She gets them when she is hot (as in today) and is in a stressful situation (such as from a thunderstorm).  She is a mixed breed (part collie, part a few other things) long-haired dog, about 25-30 lbs.  When she gets the attack, she breathes very fast, very noisy wheezing, and her tongue begins to go to a bluish tinge.  She has basically a restricted airway and is not getting a proper oxygen exchange.  The time before this, we carried her to the vet where he put her on ice (literally) to bring down her core temperature, and shot her up with something. Today, when I found her, I immediately put her in the tub and ran plenty of cool water over her.  After about 20 minutes, she started to "come down", so I got her out, and placed her near the A/C unit to continue to cool her off (but not freeze her!).  I gave her two Benedril, which had a definite impact once they started taking affect.  Two hours later, she is pretty calm and just about normal, but every now and then she still "wheezes" a bit. The vet did not offer much help.  Is there anything I might be able to do for her? Bill K.

Response:

Bill writes, about his heat stressed dog: She is about 13 years old, we’ve had her from a pup (my little girl )

The last episode prior to this (about 3 years ago), the new vet said that he ran a number of tests on her, including ekg and bloodwork, and said that there could be some "problems" under severe cases of stress.

What KINDS of problems?  The blue tongue would indicate to me that she has a HEART problem and you should have been referred to a cardiologist. Obviously yesterday was a high stress day.  Today, even though it was fairly warm and humid, she did not have any problems. (Yes, they have plenty of shade, full run of the yard, and plenty of water to drink, and shelter (dog house and covered porch) to retreat to).

OMG!  You have a dog who is heat stressed and she’s living OUTSIDE in hot and humid weather?  I’d have her inside with a/c or at least a fan, in the coolest room possible, with some ice packs around to help cool the air.  Heck – even my sister who LIKES the heat has a window a/c in one bedroom, for her elderly dog! We’ll keep an eye on her, and try to avoid the stress indicators when we can.  Thanks!

Then bring her in and keep her cool – and consider a visit to a cardiologist – the rigth meds may make a world of difference. Janet Boss Best Friends Dog Obedience "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" "Second-hand dogs AREN’T second-rate" see Lucy at:   http://www.flyball.com/nsl/

Response:

She is about 13 years old, we’ve had her from a pup (my little girl ) She has always been a bit high-strung, and 1) doesn’t like to ride in a vehicle 2) hates thunder and lightning with a passion.  A few years back our old vet took some x-rays, but I can’t think that anything was showing up as wrong with her.

 The last episode prior to this (about 3 years ago), the new vet said that he ran a number of tests on her, including ekg and bloodwork, and said that there could be some "problems" under severe cases of stress.

might have to run all those tests again.  Why was it he said there could be problems?  Was he talking about the heart? buglady take out the dog before replying

Response:

(kinda a long rant) Hi! One of our dogs has a problem with what can be described best as an asthma attack.  She gets them when she is hot (as in today) and is in a stressful situation (such as from a thunderstorm).  She is a mixed breed (part collie, part a few other things) long-haired dog, about 25-30 lbs.  When she gets the attack, she breathes very fast, very noisy wheezing, and her tongue begins to go to a bluish tinge.  She has basically a restricted airway and is not getting a proper oxygen exchange.  The time before this, we carried her to the vet where he put her on ice (literally) to bring down her core temperature, and shot her up with something. Today, when I found her, I immediately put her in the tub and ran plenty of cool water over her.  After about 20 minutes, she started to "come down", so I got her out, and placed her near the A/C unit to continue to cool her off (but not freeze her!).  I gave her two Benedril, which had a definite impact once they started taking affect.  Two hours later, she is pretty calm and just about normal, but every now and then she still "wheezes" a bit. The vet did not offer much help.  Is there anything I might be able to do for her? Bill K.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -One of our dogs has a problem with what can be described best as an asthma attack.  She gets them when she is hot (as in today) and is in a stressful situation (such as from a thunderstorm).  She is a mixed breed (part collie, part a few other things) long-haired dog, about 25-30 lbs.  When she gets the attack, she breathes very fast, very noisy wheezing, and her tongue begins to go to a bluish tinge.  She has basically a restricted airway and is not getting a proper oxygen exchange.  The time before this, we carried her to the vet where he put her on ice (literally) to bring down her core temperature, and shot her up with something. Today, when I found her, I immediately put her in the tub and ran plenty of cool water over her.  After about 20 minutes, she started to "come down", so I got her out, and placed her near the A/C unit to continue to cool her off (but not freeze her!).  I gave her two Benedril, which had a definite impact once they started taking affect.  Two hours later, she is pretty calm and just about normal, but every now and then she still "wheezes" a bit. The vet did not offer much help.  Is there anything I might be able to do for her? Bill K.

has any heart tests been ran? just curious          Tina           +   <BIGSMILES Just my opinions & they tend to change often ;o)  

Response:

How old is this dog?  How long have you had her and how did she come into your family?  What does she eat?  Has she ever had any kind of bronchitis or lung problems that you know of?  Had any bloodwork run (liver/kidney values?)?  Ever had an X-ray taken of the lungs?  Did the vet say she had an airway restriction based on what he heard in the lungs or was this a general comment? I don’t think that dogs can get asthma per se, a vet told me once that only cats get asthma like humans.  Asthma has has an emotional component, like IBD.  I’d want a complete blood panel run, including chemistry and an ELISA test for heartworms if you have them in your area and haven’t had a test recently.  If both those looked OK, I’d think about an X-ray.  For conditions like asthma acupuncture and change of diet have been reported to be really helpful.  Sounds hideously stressful for the dog and you too! buglady take out the dog before replying – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of our dogs has a problem with what can be described best as an asthma attack.  She gets them when she is hot (as in today) and is in a stressful situation (such as from a thunderstorm).  She is a mixed breed (part collie, part a few other things) long-haired dog, about 25-30 lbs.  When she gets the attack, she breathes very fast, very noisy wheezing, and her tongue begins to go to a bluish tinge.  She has basically a restricted airway and is not getting a proper oxygen exchange.  The time before this, we carried her to the vet where he put her on ice (literally) to bring down her core temperature, and shot her up with something.

Response:

If the vet has checked for heart murmer and the dog is otherwise in good health I would say this is what is called a ‘backward sneeze’. Humidity can bring it on, or excitement. The good news is it really doesn’t harm the dog (just hard to watch). Here is something you might try (and it won’t hurt either)… try giving a tsp. of ‘cat hairball medicine’ Believe it or not there, according to several posters on my Pomeranian NG this sometimes helps clear the airway. Dogs with long,shedding hair seem to suffer from the same woes as cats. I’m not a nut. Really. I gave it to my Pom (asked the vet first and he said it can’t hurt) and his wheezing days are over!!

Response:

I think that these symptoms sound more heart related than asthma. —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How old is this dog?  How long have you had her and how did she come into your family?  What does she eat?  Has she ever had any kind of bronchitis or lung problems that you know of?  Had any bloodwork run (liver/kidney values?)?  Ever had an X-ray taken of the lungs?  Did the vet say she had an airway restriction based on what he heard in the lungs or was this a general comment? I don’t think that dogs can get asthma per se, a vet told me once that only cats get asthma like humans.  Asthma has has an emotional component, like IBD.  I’d want a complete blood panel run, including chemistry and an ELISA test for heartworms if you have them in your area and haven’t had a test recently.  If both those looked OK, I’d think about an X-ray.  For conditions like asthma acupuncture and change of diet have been reported to be really helpful.  Sounds hideously stressful for the dog and you too! buglady take out the dog before replying One of our dogs has a problem with what can be described best as an asthma attack.  She gets them when she is hot (as in today) and is in a stressful situation (such as from a thunderstorm).  She is a mixed breed (part collie, part a few other things) long-haired dog, about 25-30 lbs.  When she gets the attack, she breathes very fast, very noisy wheezing, and her tongue begins to go to a bluish tinge.  She has basically a restricted airway and is not getting a proper oxygen exchange.  The time before this, we carried her to the vet where he put her on ice (literally) to bring down her core temperature, and shot her up with something.

Response:

If the vet has checked for heart murmer and the dog is otherwise in good health I would say this is what is called a ‘backward sneeze’.

do backward sneezes cause a blue tongue & high body temp though?? & does the hairball remedy give diareah to dogs?? interesting topic to me          Tina           +   <BIGSMILES Just my opinions & they tend to change often ;o)  

Response: