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

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?

I am so sorry your baby is experiencing these problems, and I am frustrated for you that all of the testing and exams have not determined the cause.

I haven't heard of a similar situation. Does she still have a swollen belly?

I found something on petMD -- just something to maybe consider, about narcolepsy and cataplexy: Narcolepsy and Cataplexy in Dogs | petMD

The article does not indicate shortness of breath as a symptom, but it mentions that episodes can be triggered by moments of excitement, like eating.

Sounds like something neurological may be going on, and often these things cannot be explained. Do you have access to a neurologist?

Keep us posted.

I would speak with the vet about having her evaluated by a cardiac specialist. It sounds cardiac to me. My son has a pup who had a couple of fainting spells and that is what they feel is causing it. He is scheduled to wear a Holter monitor to check his heart over a 24 hour period. Often there are no sounds that just auscultation will pick up.

prayers you find out what is going on.

Does she burp after or during eating? My pup fainted on 2 different occassions shortly after her meals. I rushed to pick her up and put her on a table and she let out a horrible smelling burp. So for her it was built up stomach gasses. Now after meals I watch her for signs of distress: panting, swollen, hard stomach, inability to get comfortable, roaming. When I see these signs, I hold her upright to allow the gas to escape. She's also on probiotics to help with her digestion.

I really can't help but wanted to let you know I am praying for your girl.

I agree that it sounds like the heart because my Pom used to faint (not often but a few times over the last 3 years and it started when she was around 5 years old). She died of a heart attack at 7 1/2 years old. So, I would ask if they might could do that heart monitor on her as ladyjane suggests.

:thumbup::thumbup: I didn't think about cardiac going undetected with just a routine exam.

Forgot to add, she drools a lot when this happens. I also give her Mylicon (simethicone) drops for infants to break up the gas.

Did a cardiologist do the chest echo?
EKG done?

Welcome to YT!
Wow, that's a new one for me. I'm so sorry, it sounds so scary!
Prayers sent your way for a quick diagnosis and help for your baby.

Bless your heart....this has got to be so very frustrating for you. I would also lean toward perhaps a cardiac issue...syncope or a vagal response was the first thing that came to my mind....I have to add I have never been involved in a situation such as this.....just trying to think of a direction that maybe helpful for you to explore....this will require a specialist (cardiac) and even the advantage of a Holter monitor, which he will wear for 24-48 hours, or however long it takes to record the abnormality in his heart rhythm.....I am sending prayers for this baby, as well as you....

Mine as well.

Just a thought... when a Yorkie tummie is swollen, there's not a whole lot of room in a Yorkie body to accomodate it, so it uses room from the lungs and heart.... everything gets squished together and has less room to work properly, which can account for the fainting and difficulty breathing.

If the swelling keeps increasing, she will need to get to an ER to relieve the pressure...

Doesn't sound like she's getting enough oxygen to her brain, and that could be some heart problems going on. Do you have a cardiologist you could take her to?

please keep us up dated