tye my 14 year old yorkie has had heart failure (enlarged heart) for about a year now but before that he had a heart murmur and bronchitis for 2 or 3 years.
he still has bronchitis now but with the meds he is on hes doing ok.
funny thing is the vets said he would be worse in the summer and better in the winter but with tye its the other way around i think he gets worse in winter cos the cold air hits his chest.
he did have a problem with fluid in his lungs but the meds keep his lungs clear now.
the way to tell the difference between reverse sneezing and a heart problem is with reverse sneezing the dog will lean forward with its legs kind of spread and make a honking noise and if you put your finger over its nose so they breath out of there mouth it stops.
with a heart problem the dog coughs and it sounds like we do when we cough but at the end of the cough they will yack like they want to bring something up.
other signs are not wanting to lay down and keep on walking about as breathing is easyer, blue tinge to the gums and tounge, breathing fast and using there tummy to help them breath, swollen tummy as thats were the fluid will also go, sneezing, sounding chesty, if you use an empty loo roll to listen to there chest if they have fluid you will hear a crackley sound as they breath.
if anyone wants a chat about this feel free to pm me. |