Tell me if this sounds like something to be worried about ?
 

I have a 3 yr old Yorkie who has a variety of odd symptoms which I am very concerned about. I have posted about at least one of the symptoms before as an isolated symptom but wonder now if they are all related.

She is very sensitive to even the slightest heat...even at say 70 degrees, she becomes over heated and if we walk around a small block, she is panting like crazy. The thing is, then she will continue panting the rest of the night, even after being in an air conditioned home. Of course, the hotter it gets the worse it is.
I noticed this last summer too and actually took her to the vet who blew me off and said, basically, "some dogs pant more than others." H
e listened to her heart and the usual basic exam and didnt find anything. I felt stupid
She just seems like she cant get comfortable when she is trying to sleep either, flipping from side to side. She always has breathed faster than normal, but lately its worse than usual, even at rest.
She doesnt seem to have any energy anymore either, she's only 3 and never wants to play, and basically except for the one walk a day and eating, she seems to lay down all the time. My other two dogs are 6 and 10 and have much more energy than her. I want my fun little girl back who would sit at your feet with a toy till you paid attention to her.
She is overweight, a little. The vet though said though that he would only want her to lose a couple of lbs if she lost...he did not think she was badly overweight. I read somewhere about how you tell if a dog is fat, and she doesnt really fit that criteria...she is just solidly built...about 8 lbs.

I am wondering if it is the extra weight, maybe its worse than I think which could be causing the panting or lack of energy. Surely a 3 yr old dog should be more playful than this. Last year when this first started I did get a second opinion from a vet who did $200 worth of blood work and found nothing wrong. Im a nurse and it seems to me symptoms like this could be related to heart problems too....I just dont know.
I may be over reacting and I sure cant afford wasted vet bills again, but it just seems like this is not normal. I will say except for these symptoms she seems like herself...she eats well, is eager to go for walks, (though she has not stamina) and drinks without problems.
So what do you think...is 8 lbs hugely overweight...enough to cause these symtpoms? Is this anything else you can think of that would cause this? I am so worried about her.

Don't you hate it when they make you worry so much. I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you. My yorkie is close to 4 years old and she's 12 pounds. She isn't overweight at all. It all depends on their size. At 8 pounds she would be a skeleton, just like people, it depends on their body type. I would be worried about the constant panting and lack of energy also. If it was just the panting I would maybe blame it on her being either anxious or excited, but then it seems like she'd be pacing and/or hyper, not just laying around. Sugar doesn't have a ton of energy but she does get up to chase the cat or to play w/ her brother a few times a day. She lays around most of the time though. She does enjoy going out and wandering around the back yard but she's not a bundle of energy.

I do hope you get some answers. You'll probably feel more comfortable if you take her in for an appointment with another vet. Maybe you can get a referral from someone here or someone you know for a new vet. If not, maybe you could call around and find one who has a lot of experience with yorkies.

Good luck. You'll be in my prayers.

I know how much these little ones can cause us to worry.

I have seen some changes in my Sailor now that she is losing weight - she is 3 years old. She seems to have more energy again. (The vet put her on a diet due to knee and back problems.)

I have an 11 year old pom that has panted all her life. I asked the vet years ago and she said shw was just a highly excitable dog. She breathes really heavy too, I asked the vet if this all would be a strain on her heart and she said no. As i sit here my pom is laying next to me panting like crazy and breathing really hard. When I walk her the neighbors said they could hear us before they could see us because of Maya's loud panting. I have never had a dog like this before but she has been like this all 11 years.

Excessive Panting
 

Hi,
I remember your post about this a while back and it stuck in my mind. I'm glad you posted this because I'm wondering if your Yorkie could have asthma? Dogs can have this as well! Does she sometimes have a tight, dry hacking? Does she cough often?

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Thanks for your answers. Its good to know other dogs do this and are healthy like your Pom...thats kind of what my vet said last year when I took her in for this. He said he had a dog that panted all the time but that she was otherwise healthy. She does not have a cough or any other respiratory symptoms, but she does sometimes sound like she might be wheezing a little. I guess for now I will just watch and if it gets worse, take her in. I just paid over $600 for my Maltese who had to have surgery for mammary masses, so money is kind of tight now. Thanks again for responding.

Hello,

I have asthma and it makes it worse if I go from an airconditioned room, into the heat. Maybe it's the same for some of the furbabies too.