coughing/wheezing noises - YorkieTalk.com Forums

dabrat76 · 10-30-2008, 02:17 PM

Hi,

My little 4lber biewer, Bailey, has been making these weird noises more frequently. He's just over a year old, we brought him home around 9 months, and as far as I know, he's never had a collar on, only a harness. I unfortunately have nothing to record the sounds, but I'll do my best to describe them, so all you wonderful experts can maybe help.

Sometimes it's a cough, like he's trying hard to clear something from his throat, however, we've never seen anything come out. Occasionally it's more high pitched, like a wheezing noise, like he's trying to breathe. Most of the time the hacking cough is when he's awake, and most of the time his tail is wagging through it. Sometimes it's down too, but that's quite rare. The wheezing noise can be anytime but is most frequent when he's dead asleep - which of course wakes him (and us!) up. All the episodes pass quickly and he goes on his merry way.

Should I be worried? 90% of the time HE'S not worried, it doesn't seem to affect the little bugger (and a bugger and a brat he is!) and the 10% of the time that it DOES affect him it seems to just take an extra couple of minutes for him to return to normal. The cough seems to happen slightly more often when he's excited or just after running around but it's certainly not the only time. I did some reading on collapsed trachea but he doesn't quite seem to fit the descriptions. Can anyone help?

Thanks!!

Tara

yorkie_mama22 · 10-30-2008, 04:09 PM

I'm sorry I don't have any ideas I just wanted to say I will be thinking of your little guy and I hope someone can help you answer your question. Have you thought looking online or maybe calling the vet to ask? My little one has been having a strange stuffy/weezy sound a little like clearing her throat that started last night. We were at the vet last night though and the vet didn't see anything wrong. Good luck!

dabrat76 · 10-30-2008, 04:18 PM

Thanks, sounds like your little girl is doing something similar to my little guy. We were at the vet a few weeks ago and I did mention it (didn't go into much detail) and the vet just said toy dogs tend to have weak tracheas and didn't seem too concerned. I have to fight the urge to take the dogs to the vet's everytime they're even slightly out of the ordinary, so I do research online as much as possible. The closest thing I could find was collapsed trachea, but again, the symptoms don't quite fit. I hope you keep reading this thread for help with your little girl

scrapindee · 10-30-2008, 07:09 PM

I had a puppy doing that wheezy, hairball kind of noise--took him to the vet and he had bronchitis and tonsilittis (sp). We did a week of cough meds and no more wheezy noise. Might want to check with the vet just to be on the safe side.

dabrat76 · 10-30-2008, 08:08 PM

Dee, was it frequent or occasional? Bailey has these episodes 2-3 times a day, they usually last less than a minute. Just trying to get a feel to compare. I feel like I might be panicking for nothing, being a helicopter doggy mama lol. I don't want to go back to the vet about it and look like an idiot if it's nothing, since he downplayed it when I mentioned a couple weeks ago during a wellness/shot visit. I'll be eager to hear your and others responses.

scrapindee · 10-31-2008, 05:18 PM

It was 3 or 4 times a day for about a week....but the best way to describe it was the cat with the furball analogy.

Is it a certain time of day? or after a meal? Is it real dry where you are--a lot of static electricity? Maybe try a humidifier, see if that is it.

I really understand that you don't want to be a doggie mama hysteric, but if these episodes last more than a week, I would go to the vet.

dabrat76 · 10-31-2008, 06:11 PM

Hmm, that sounds about right, that's how I described it to the vet, like a furball - except for the higher pitched noises, it's almost like he's whistling. It's been going on (on and off) for a few weeks now but with no discernible pattern. Day, night, asleep, after running, after walking, after sitting. In my home, at my trailer on the lake... I've been looking for a pattern but I just don't see it. It does seem to be getting slightly less frequent though and we'll be around the vet I trust most next weekend, if it doesn't stop completely by mid-week I'll take him in next Saturday. Thank you for the details Dee, it helps with perspective

scrapindee · 10-31-2008, 08:51 PM

Keep me posted.....I hope things go well--maybe try keeping a log.

yorkiesf911 · 11-02-2008, 02:36 AM

My yorkie has the same issue. I remember reading something about that in other forums. Like when that happens you cover the nose or rub their necks. not so sure tho ill try to get more info and post it

ksmoss · 11-02-2008, 05:29 PM

If he keeps up with the wheezing I would take him to the vet. My oldest dog is 10 and makes that kind of noise and the vet told me it was a collapsing trachea, ( I hope I got the name correct). She does it when she is over excited and we calm her down and gently rub her throat it stops almost immediately. It showed up a couple of years ago and it hasn't really effected her daily activities. It is better to go in and find out for sure then to be worrying about what it could be. Good luck with your little guy.

flipflopsusie · 11-02-2008, 06:11 PM

Well my little ryle (8 months) had this same sound going on and we thought something had gone wrong when they had put the tube down his throat when we had his baby teeth pulled days earlier.he would start hacking all of a sudden and especially when he became excited. We were so worried that his trachea had been damaged. So we took him back to our vet and he said he thought he had a virus and gave us a antibiotic to give him once a day orally and sent us home with a nuebulizer and medication to put in the breathing machine to be used twice a day. After 3 times the cough had almost dissappeared after 5 days it was gone completly.we were more than thrilled,so maybe your pup may have a virus. Whatever it is i hope he gets well soon.

cityslickergirl · 11-07-2008, 09:12 PM

Hi Tara,
Our little Yorkies both coughed & sneezed. Molly had it a lot worse than Jake & they said she had Kennel cough, which the vet treated with the Kennel cough vaccine through her nasal. It made an improvement that same day & in a few days she showed no symptoms. Jake had an upper respiratory infection & the vet gave him some medication to take until the symptoms were gone. That only took a couple of days for improvement. The vet did say both the respiratory infection & the Kennel Cough is contagious & it can just be in the air or they can contact it from other dogs. I hope your little one feels better soon! Keep us updated.
Angie

michski · 11-09-2008, 08:15 AM

hello, my dog was the smallest the runt of the litter and he had breathing difficulties and coughing his whole life, unfourtantley with this type of breed they are prone to the tracheal collapse, my dog died of this but the symptons your dog is having isnt of that so dont worry, what i would advise personally is if you take your dog to the vet they probabley will prescribe some anitbotics to clear the little guys chest and to take bronciol medicine, then they can monitor it for you and hopefully it will be cleared up hope this helps xxx

grandma kelly · 11-12-2008, 11:00 AM

Hi tara
i have the same thing going on with my little 3 month old i believe it to be kennel cough i went to a website (u tube) only god knows how i found it they had vidios and audio of dogs having kennel cough attacks sounded exactly like my pup i did go to the vet antibotics penicilin now this week a knew med my big concern is that francesca bella can not get anymore of her puppy shots until the cough is gone kc is suppose to last up to 3 weeks she still is coughing after week and a half not much but im like you i want to go to the vet please keep me updated maybe we can help each other
thanks
debbie

10-30-2008, 02:17 PM	#1
dabrat76 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 137	coughing/wheezing noises Hi, My little 4lber biewer, Bailey, has been making these weird noises more frequently. He's just over a year old, we brought him home around 9 months, and as far as I know, he's never had a collar on, only a harness. I unfortunately have nothing to record the sounds, but I'll do my best to describe them, so all you wonderful experts can maybe help. Sometimes it's a cough, like he's trying hard to clear something from his throat, however, we've never seen anything come out. Occasionally it's more high pitched, like a wheezing noise, like he's trying to breathe. Most of the time the hacking cough is when he's awake, and most of the time his tail is wagging through it. Sometimes it's down too, but that's quite rare. The wheezing noise can be anytime but is most frequent when he's dead asleep - which of course wakes him (and us!) up. All the episodes pass quickly and he goes on his merry way. Should I be worried? 90% of the time HE'S not worried, it doesn't seem to affect the little bugger (and a bugger and a brat he is!) and the 10% of the time that it DOES affect him it seems to just take an extra couple of minutes for him to return to normal. The cough seems to happen slightly more often when he's excited or just after running around but it's certainly not the only time. I did some reading on collapsed trachea but he doesn't quite seem to fit the descriptions. Can anyone help? Thanks!! Tara

10-30-2008, 07:09 PM	#4
scrapindee Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Redlands Posts: 4,842 Blog Entries: 2	I had a puppy doing that wheezy, hairball kind of noise--took him to the vet and he had bronchitis and tonsilittis (sp). We did a week of cough meds and no more wheezy noise. Might want to check with the vet just to be on the safe side. __________________ Scrapindee--Team Furry & the Biewers www.houseofwags.com

10-31-2008, 05:18 PM	#6
scrapindee Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Redlands Posts: 4,842 Blog Entries: 2	It was 3 or 4 times a day for about a week....but the best way to describe it was the cat with the furball analogy. Is it a certain time of day? or after a meal? Is it real dry where you are--a lot of static electricity? Maybe try a humidifier, see if that is it. I really understand that you don't want to be a doggie mama hysteric, but if these episodes last more than a week, I would go to the vet. __________________ Scrapindee--Team Furry & the Biewers www.houseofwags.com

10-31-2008, 08:51 PM	#8
scrapindee Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Redlands Posts: 4,842 Blog Entries: 2	Keep me posted.....I hope things go well--maybe try keeping a log. __________________ Scrapindee--Team Furry & the Biewers www.houseofwags.com

11-07-2008, 09:12 PM	#12
cityslickergirl YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Jackson MO Posts: 5	coughing/wheezing Hi Tara, Our little Yorkies both coughed & sneezed. Molly had it a lot worse than Jake & they said she had Kennel cough, which the vet treated with the Kennel cough vaccine through her nasal. It made an improvement that same day & in a few days she showed no symptoms. Jake had an upper respiratory infection & the vet gave him some medication to take until the symptoms were gone. That only took a couple of days for improvement. The vet did say both the respiratory infection & the Kennel Cough is contagious & it can just be in the air or they can contact it from other dogs. I hope your little one feels better soon! Keep us updated. Angie

10-30-2008, 04:09 PM	#2
yorkie_mama22 Currently Suspended! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2,275	I'm sorry I don't have any ideas I just wanted to say I will be thinking of your little guy and I hope someone can help you answer your question. Have you thought looking online or maybe calling the vet to ask? My little one has been having a strange stuffy/weezy sound a little like clearing her throat that started last night. We were at the vet last night though and the vet didn't see anything wrong. Good luck!

10-30-2008, 04:18 PM	#3
dabrat76 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 137	Thanks, sounds like your little girl is doing something similar to my little guy. We were at the vet a few weeks ago and I did mention it (didn't go into much detail) and the vet just said toy dogs tend to have weak tracheas and didn't seem too concerned. I have to fight the urge to take the dogs to the vet's everytime they're even slightly out of the ordinary, so I do research online as much as possible. The closest thing I could find was collapsed trachea, but again, the symptoms don't quite fit. I hope you keep reading this thread for help with your little girl

10-30-2008, 08:08 PM	#5
dabrat76 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 137	Dee, was it frequent or occasional? Bailey has these episodes 2-3 times a day, they usually last less than a minute. Just trying to get a feel to compare. I feel like I might be panicking for nothing, being a helicopter doggy mama lol. I don't want to go back to the vet about it and look like an idiot if it's nothing, since he downplayed it when I mentioned a couple weeks ago during a wellness/shot visit. I'll be eager to hear your and others responses.

10-31-2008, 06:11 PM	#7
dabrat76 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 137	Hmm, that sounds about right, that's how I described it to the vet, like a furball - except for the higher pitched noises, it's almost like he's whistling. It's been going on (on and off) for a few weeks now but with no discernible pattern. Day, night, asleep, after running, after walking, after sitting. In my home, at my trailer on the lake... I've been looking for a pattern but I just don't see it. It does seem to be getting slightly less frequent though and we'll be around the vet I trust most next weekend, if it doesn't stop completely by mid-week I'll take him in next Saturday. Thank you for the details Dee, it helps with perspective

11-02-2008, 02:36 AM	#9
yorkiesf911 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: san francisco Posts: 12	My yorkie has the same issue. I remember reading something about that in other forums. Like when that happens you cover the nose or rub their necks. not so sure tho ill try to get more info and post it

11-02-2008, 05:29 PM	#10
ksmoss Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: tracy,california USA Posts: 35	If he keeps up with the wheezing I would take him to the vet. My oldest dog is 10 and makes that kind of noise and the vet told me it was a collapsing trachea, ( I hope I got the name correct). She does it when she is over excited and we calm her down and gently rub her throat it stops almost immediately. It showed up a couple of years ago and it hasn't really effected her daily activities. It is better to go in and find out for sure then to be worrying about what it could be. Good luck with your little guy.

11-02-2008, 06:11 PM	#11
flipflopsusie YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: houston Posts: 319	Well my little ryle (8 months) had this same sound going on and we thought something had gone wrong when they had put the tube down his throat when we had his baby teeth pulled days earlier.he would start hacking all of a sudden and especially when he became excited. We were so worried that his trachea had been damaged. So we took him back to our vet and he said he thought he had a virus and gave us a antibiotic to give him once a day orally and sent us home with a nuebulizer and medication to put in the breathing machine to be used twice a day. After 3 times the cough had almost dissappeared after 5 days it was gone completly.we were more than thrilled,so maybe your pup may have a virus. Whatever it is i hope he gets well soon.

11-09-2008, 08:15 AM	#13
michski Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: essex,united kingdom Posts: 10	hello, my dog was the smallest the runt of the litter and he had breathing difficulties and coughing his whole life, unfourtantley with this type of breed they are prone to the tracheal collapse, my dog died of this but the symptons your dog is having isnt of that so dont worry, what i would advise personally is if you take your dog to the vet they probabley will prescribe some anitbotics to clear the little guys chest and to take bronciol medicine, then they can monitor it for you and hopefully it will be cleared up hope this helps xxx

11-12-2008, 11:00 AM	#14
grandma kelly Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: san jose california Posts: 19	Hi tara i have the same thing going on with my little 3 month old i believe it to be kennel cough i went to a website (u tube) only god knows how i found it they had vidios and audio of dogs having kennel cough attacks sounded exactly like my pup i did go to the vet antibotics penicilin now this week a knew med my big concern is that francesca bella can not get anymore of her puppy shots until the cough is gone kc is suppose to last up to 3 weeks she still is coughing after week and a half not much but im like you i want to go to the vet please keep me updated maybe we can help each other thanks debbie