Distressing video: yorkie wheezing

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

This is the only one I would say constitutes an attack. He has always snorted inhaling when we play ball or when he gets really excited. But this time we kept playing through it and it escalated to some really high pitched wheezing and then he stopped in his tracks and stumbled like you saw in the video. I always figured if he played too hard beyond his ability he would just slow down and stop. Nope. Ranger is freakin' crazy. Which I always considered one of his good qualities.... I hope he not only stays healthy, but stays crazy as always. He was born crazy.

Let us know what the vet says, I'm sure this video will help others as well.

[skittlz]

After seeing the video and him nearly falling down, and having a hard time breathing it's only common sense to know something isn't right and to get your little guy to the vet. It is heart breaking to watch the video, your little guy is adorable, so please get him some help.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

He's about a month overdue on heartworm meds. I don't think it's heartworms, but it looks pretty clear, he needs X-rays, and no roughhousing until Monday. I'm just glad I snapped the video so I don't get the vet saying everything's fine because he didn't see the symptoms.

Oh my. Please get him back on the HW Preventive now. All it can take is one missed dose.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

Hi,

No, this is Ranger. I am the owner. This just now happened. Ranger was all worked up and running really hard, but just doesn't know his limits. He's all calm now and not panting at all, which is why I needed to snap the video to show the vet. I went ahead and let him play hard one last time so I could get a good shot of the video--which I almost regretted doing, but now I don't because the video's "good".

I'm glad to hear you think it's asthma and not trachea. By the way, I tend to lean against it being congestive heart failure because he's only 3 years old, and not heat stroke because it was 71 degrees.

From experience with my own dog your dog was suffering from either Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion. It's not the outdoor temperature that will cause this to happen but when the body temperature rises.

Take a look at this link please.

Heat Stroke and Hyperthermia in Dogs | petMD

How is he doing now?

[LordRanger]

It says in the website you gave that reddened gums and moist tissues is a symptom of hyperthermia. His tongue was red. It turned back pink again when we made him calm down. It also says that blockage of the airways can cause hyperthermia, though. Thanks for the tips--that reminded me of the red tongue. Gollee, how can he play his way into a condition that serious. That nut. I had asthma as a little kid, and even I slowed down when I couldn't breathe. That's not even common sense--that's instinct.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

It says in the website you gave that reddened gums and moist tissues is a symptom of hyperthermia. His tongue was red. It turned back pink again when we made him calm down. It also says that blockage of the airways can cause hyperthermia, though. Thanks for the tips--that reminded me of the red tongue. Gollee, how can he play his way into a condition that serious. That nut. I had asthma as a little kid, and even I slowed down when I couldn't breathe. That's not even common sense--that's instinct.

Yes, the tongue will get bright red and the gums will almost get spongy (lack of a better word). Did you happen to feel his ears? That's a sure sign if they are hot. Not just warm but HOT! Once the cycle begins it's very easy to replicate like you did. It was also very dangerous for him to do that so soon after it happening the first time. I have asthma too but this is not an airway problem. It's the body overheating to the point of being out of control. The wobble/stumble was when I knew immediately what was happening with him. When it happened with Pebbles we brought her indoors and cooled her in a bath. She was drinking the tub water. But it could quickly take a deadly turn when they get to that point. Keep an eye on him and don't let him play too long. It's the dehydration that starts the cycle. If you are going to play make him take breaks and keep water outdoors with you to offer him. I was just talking to someone just the other day who this happened to one of their Yorkies. The temperatures were in the 70 but the dog was playing hard and began to overheat. She caught it and addressed the problem quickly and was able to reverse it. I'm glad he is going better now.

[skittlz]

I'm dropping in to see how your little guy is doing?

[Ellie May]

I'm very concerned about your pup. Did he get to the ER?

Video is nice to have, but it is extremely dangerous to try and replicate a scenario like that unless you're in a veterinary hospital. Doesn't matter if it hasn't happened since or if that was the only time. Your boy needs to see a vet immediately if he hasn't already. Respiratory distress is an emergency.

[LordRanger]

Thank you so much for caring. I'm prepared to take him to ER if he shows any more symptoms, but he hasn't been snorting, struggling to breathe, getting dizzy or anything. No loss of appetite, that's for sure. He is demanding that I throw his ball. Now. And I walked him 3 miles today. He has, however, been panting a fair bit when it's not that hot.

Ranger must have an amazing fur coat from the winter. But it's coming off Monday (the groomer and the vet happen to be in the same building). Which is such a shame--are there any wig shops for Yorkies?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

Thank you so much for caring. I'm prepared to take him to ER if he shows any more symptoms, but he hasn't been snorting, struggling to breathe, getting dizzy or anything. No loss of appetite, that's for sure. He is demanding that I throw his ball. Now. And I walked him 3 miles today. He has, however, been panting a fair bit when it's not that hot.

Ranger must have an amazing fur coat from the winter. But it's coming off Monday (the groomer and the vet happen to be in the same building). Which is such a shame--are there any wig shops for Yorkies?

Ellie May is one of the people here I'd listen to, if she thinks it's an emergency, I'd take the dog to the ER. I certainly wouldn't be playing ball with it. I'm almost angry at myself for posting because I didn't know how serious this was, and so I hope you listen to those who know more.

[107barney]

Yep I agree with Jodi and Ellie May. The dog needs a vet.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

Thank you so much for caring. I'm prepared to take him to ER if he shows any more symptoms, but he hasn't been snorting, struggling to breathe, getting dizzy or anything. No loss of appetite, that's for sure. He is demanding that I throw his ball. Now. And I walked him 3 miles today. He has, however, been panting a fair bit when it's not that hot.

Ranger must have an amazing fur coat from the winter. But it's coming off Monday (the groomer and the vet happen to be in the same building). Which is such a shame--are there any wig shops for Yorkies?

You will probably get away with waiting til morning for a vet now (I'd be watching very, very close). But this pup needs a vet before anymore physical exertion. If I wasn't seeing a vet right now, I'd keep the dog cool and still. Walking three miles after this episode before seeing a vet is extremely risky. It is not safe to do that and could put his life in danger (you won't know until you have a diagnosis).

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Ellie May is one of the people here I'd listen to, if she thinks it's an emergency, I'd take the dog to the ER. I certainly wouldn't be playing ball with it. I'm almost angry at myself for posting because I didn't know how serious this was, and so I hope you listen to those who know more.

This is the exact reason that it is not a good idea to play chair side vet (not directed to you Nancy but in general). The OPer is very lucky that he seems to have totally recovered from the events yesterday. I'm just shocked that I was the only one that picked up on what seemed to me to be a very basic medical emergency in any veterinary setting. When I watched the video it was hours after the fact and I knew one of two things had happened. Either he had fully recovered or he was at the point of no return. Sadly, the latter happens way too often when it comes to heat related issues.

I would like to add one more side note to the OPer. If you are going on a 3 mile walk please be sure to carry water with you. In the very least it could be offered if hes thirsty and if he were to become over exhausted you could use it to help cool him down and seek medical attention. Finally, its not his hair that is causing him to become overheated its a dogs way of cooling off. They do not sweat like humans and their tongue/panting is used instead. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the warning signs of the BIGHT RED TONGUE, PANTING AND SPONGY GUMS.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by LordRanger

Thank you so much for caring. I'm prepared to take him to ER if he shows any more symptoms, but he hasn't been snorting, struggling to breathe, getting dizzy or anything. No loss of appetite, that's for sure. He is demanding that I throw his ball. Now. And I walked him 3 miles today. He has, however, been panting a fair bit when it's not that hot.

Ranger must have an amazing fur coat from the winter. But it's coming off Monday (the groomer and the vet happen to be in the same building). Which is such a shame--are there any wig shops for Yorkies?

If he does have heat exhaustion, it's like a cycle. So now that you have begun the cycle it will be easy for it to reoccur much more quickly now. Even a little activity will cause the panting to begin again. Have you tried to take his temperature? I am very concerned that you had him on such a long walk today as well.

[LordRanger]

The vet gave Ranger a clean bill of health. He did X-rays, heartworm check, and a little blood work. No heartworms, the lungs, heart, and airways look fine, and he's seen lots and lots of heat strokes before and he doesn't think this is one of them. He said he can only guess that it was possibly an acute allergy situation, or Ranger just inhaled something that caused a partial irritation/blockage.

He did say the video was pretty good, though. I might not have gone to the vet at all were it not for the video, for fear of looking stupid when the vet couldn't find anything wrong. And he did say the wheezing in the video did not sound like the trachea or reverse sneezing.

He said he never heard anything about checking the ears for heat stroke. He asked, "where are you getting your information from?" For heat stroke, he said he's more worried if he sees a blue tongue and moist tissue--not so much red. He thinks the redness is just a natural consequence of the stress breathing (which I agree).

Anyway, he's up to date on heartworm meds again, and for the time being Ranger's free and clear. At least until & if another attack occurs.