Worried about Maggie, again

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

If that's all it takes to make a diagnosis, I'll get that tomorrow. And what procedures were done after the diagnosis?

No, an xray will not totally tell you a lot because most yorkies have what they call enlarged heart. They are tiny pups and often the heart is on the larger side. It would have to be along with an exam and its findings.

[kjc]

Is she overweight at all? I do agree, her problem with walking and getting short of breath needs to be looked into...

[katy-yorkie]

She was 7.4 pounds when she had her dental last month. She is called "fat" by people in the neighborhood. She's fat up against Buster, she's shorter than him and weighs more than two pounds than him. The vet has never said anything about her being over weight. I think she probably weighs more than she should especially because she is "short".

[katy-yorkie]

Maggie is on the left in my avatar. I don't know that you can tell too much from that, but she is "plump, fat, etc", if you compare her to Buster. Last week a man at the park asked me if she was pregnant, ugh.

[kjc]

Her weight could be slowing her down some. Extra weight can put a strain on the rest of the body, including her joints. I'd ask the vet about it too. There could be alot going on with her, or a combination of things that are presenting these symptoms. Ususally, one would increase exercise and decrease food to get the weight off, but with this hot weather spell, outside exercise may not be a good option for her at this time, depending on what else, if anything she has affecting her. I wouldn't stress her (with exercise) either till you know for sure that her heart and lungs are okay.

[katy-yorkie]

Do you think swimming is ok? She loves to swim, she would rather do that than go walk. I took the stroller when I took them walking tonight. Even with that, she was panting before we got to the end of the street. I can't tell too much what's going on tonight, she's hiding in the closet (fireworks). If I go in there, she gets upset and moves.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I might be a bit worried about cardiac issues if she was breathing like that at rest. It really is very hot and humid right now and that can set them off....but after an hour I don't know.

Hate to be an alarmist, but I had a pup do that and it was congestive heart failure. Usually they don't improve like she did, but I would still be a bit wary.

I cannot imagine gas causing that...suppose anything is possible but I have two pups who tend to be gassy and they do not breathe rapidly.

I didnt want to be the only one that was thinking more serious stuff than gas,,,thank you ladyjane for allowing me to join you on this train of thought.... If she does this agian, if you can get her to a vet that can recognize cardiac issues....if she is in congestive failure, her blood work would not be abnormal that quickly, from CHF...but CHF wouldnt resolve without treatment that quickly either...but there could be other cardiac issues going on here...I will pray for gas....but I would not believe it until all cardiac issues had been definitively ruled out by a qualified person..

[Sandysbabies]

I too hope its just the gas issue but like some have said I would have her checked out for heart problems and even CT. With this they can't stand heat, excerise has to be limited if any at all and just some of the things you have mentioned reminds me of this. Hope its nothing to worry about but would definetly find out what you are dealing with. Kisses to your little one. Hope there is good news in the furture and nothing to worry about.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

If that's all it takes to make a diagnosis, I'll get that tomorrow. And what procedures were done after the diagnosis?

+1 to what LadyJane said ... they did an echo, but they wouldn't have done that (I don't think) if the heart had looked normal in an X-ray.

In my dog's case, I didn't know his whole history since I didn't get him until he was about 11 months old. He had routine check-ups every six months, and he was almost three years old, so he had received probably 5 check-ups and they had never a heart murmur. The ultrasound (echocardiogram) didn't pick up any irregularities, such as a bad valve, hole in the heart between chamber, etc that would explain his enlarged heart. Perhaps he was just born that way?

[yorkietalkjilly]

I'm just seeing this & praying your little one is okay. I remember when Tibbe had pneumonia his regular vet said his heart was very enlarged & congestive & I rushed him straight to the E.R. vet who diagnosed early focal pneumonia & their cardiologist consultant did a Cardiac Doppler & said the heart was entirely normal for a Yorkshire Terrier & not enlarged or dysfunctional. His pneumonia treatment stopped his hacking cough. My regular vet when questioned claimed it was positioning on his x-ray that caused the misdiagnosis but who knows. I hope you can get a good diagnosis with the help of that video & more testing. I pray it is nothing really serious & is just bad gas or something. Update when you can. Prayers for your baby.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Do you think swimming is ok? She loves to swim, she would rather do that than go walk. I took the stroller when I took them walking tonight. Even with that, she was panting before we got to the end of the street. I can't tell too much what's going on tonight, she's hiding in the closet (fireworks). If I go in there, she gets upset and moves.

Swimming would be better for her joints... but again only with a clean bill of health. I'd use a life preserver too. I'm always worried about them aspirating water into their lungs... even at the water bowl!