My Yorkie is sick and even the vet doesn't what is wrong?

[dottiesyrky]

Understand all that, but surely worth a first shot with a dog who cannot give info as to how he feels and has an unknown disease? As a human who has been through all the many and various cardio tests (from EKG thru' echo, Holter, nuclear stress test etc) for an intermittent and infrequent symptom, I wonder why every follow up visit the specialist does just an EKG?? I will ask next time.
Again apologies for the sidetrack. Hoping the OP's baby gets well soon.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

Understand all that, but surely worth a first shot with a dog who cannot give info as to how he feels and has an unknown disease? As a human who has been through all the many and various cardio tests (from EKG thru' echo, Holter, nuclear stress test etc) for an intermittent and infrequent symptom, I wonder why every follow up visit the specialist does just an EKG?? I will ask next time.
Again apologies for the sidetrack. Hoping the OP's baby gets well soon.

There may already be EKG changes that show up on your resting EKG, and he can compare each subsequent EKG for evidence of additional changes, without putting you through the "trauma" of a stress test. As far as the pup is concerned, you are right...however her vet said pup's "heart is fine"....with him saying THAT, based on whatever he is seeing, I was trying to encourage her to go to a specialist and let them do what they think is necessary.....I would be sick if she sticks around with her vet, trying this and trying that, instead of going to a cardiologist, a specialist that will in the long run perhaps save her money, by doing specific diagnostic tests that will get directly to the problem....

[dottiesyrky]

Thank you for your input re my cardiac issues..
Like you I pray the poor baby gets correctly diagnosed and treated soon.

[Yorkiemom1]

Checking in for an update on this baby.......?

[paseamstress]

I think you need a second opinion from a different VET.

[LyndalB]

Hello

My little dog spent the whole Friday at the vet having heart tests, etc... We already knew from the 2 previous x-rays her heart wasn't enlarged. The vet was able to stimulate a fainting incidents twice while attached to the monitors (he fed her), and her heart rate didn't even drop a single beat, so we've ruled out a heart problem. He is 99% sure that she has developed narcolepsy, with cataplexy, and the fact that she is having these incidents while eating is sending stomach acid into her nasal passages, causing the respiratory symptoms. So now she is on medication for reflux, and we are controlling her eating, to avoid more passing out episodes. She is sounding so much better today. What a relief! She's going for a check up on Wednesday.

Just want to thank everyone for all the support!

[dottiesyrky]

Thanks so much for the update. Poor baby having to endure all those tests, but great that the vet was able to bring on the fainting while there. At last a diagnosis!! (WTG Maximo who suggested this early on). What a complex sequence of events causing the breathing issues. Praying that the reflux treatment eases her tummy and thus her breathing, and that her eating can be adjusted to stop the fainting. You must be so happy to find the reason for your little baby's problems and hopefully to prevent the attacks.
Good Luck and get well soon baby.

[bobohyde]

So glad to hear it isn't her heart! I'm glad to hear she has been diagnosed and is improving.

[Yorkiemom1]

Absolutely fantastic job the vets did! Congratulations on a diagnosis! NOW, your baby can get the treatment needed!!!

[EvaNoel]

Originally Posted by LyndalB

Hi

I'm just wondering if anyone out there has maybe seen these symptoms before and can maybe suggest what could be wrong?

About a week and a half ago my little yorkie (she is 6 years old, weighs 2.5kg) started to sound like she was having breathing problems. She sounds like she has a really awful cold, and her tummy is really very swollen (she's been spayed, so she's not pregnant). Off we went to the vet... we got antibiotics for what the vet diagnosed as pharyngitis. The antibiotics made no difference, so we went back to the vet, they did an X-ray, her trachea is in good condition (so it's not tracheal collapse), the vet prescribed some anti-inflammatories. No difference. We had quite a bad night, really uncomfortable, and not breathing well. The very next day I took her to a specialist physician vet, he did another x-ray, and tested her liver and kidney function, and did a scan on her swollen tummy. Said that everything looked fine - her lungs are fine, he's happy with the heart, kidneys, and liver, etc... and the swollen tummy is from swallowing air. He prescribed cortisone, and said to bring her back after the weekend. This was on Friday.
Friday night, she passed out cold while eating her supper, we woke her up, and she just bounced back to her self. I was worried at this point, and spent the whole of Saturday with her, she ate food and drank water, no problems. Saturday night it happened again, and again a couple times on Sunday night. So Sunday night I phoned and made an appointment with the Specialist on Monday to do a scope, to see if there is maybe a obstruction in her throat.
They did the scope on Monday, and could find nothing wrong. They scoped her oesophegus all the way to her stomach - nothing. Scoped her throat, checked her tonsils - nothing. Scoped her nose - slightly inflamed.
The vet has no idea why she is fainting, or what is really causing her to have breathing trouble? He prescribed another antibiotic, and anti inflammatory, and a liver tab, as her blood work showed up some liver enzymes (most likely from all the medication she's been on).
She's still fainting and it's getting worse, becasue now she is shaking after the episodes, not just bouncing back to herself.

Any idea what could be wrong?

A few of things to check out;

- Protein Losing Enteropathy (Protein Losing Nephropathy)

- Yorkie Intestinal Lymphangiectasia

- Dog Bloating, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)

[yorkietalkjilly]

The controlling her eating to avoid excitement - how do you do that?

[LyndalB]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

The controlling her eating to avoid excitement - how do you do that?

I'm spoon-feeding her, like a baby, so that I can control the pace she eats at, and she doesn't get over-excited.

[LyndalB]

Originally Posted by paseamstress

I think you need a second opinion from a different VET.

Thanks. I got 3 opinions. Two vets, and a specialist vet.

[LyndalB]

Thank you everyone.

my little pup is doing much better, her breathing isn't 100 % yet, but I'm sure it will be in a few days, her tummy isn't as hard, because she's breathing easier, and isn't swallowing air.
We haven't had an episode since we've figured out how to control the eating.

[kjc]

So glad she's doing better!