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Strange Breathing Attacks

Jillb

Jillb

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Hi there, my 8 month old whippet has been having these strange episodes to do with his breathing for a few months now & i'm wondering if anyone else has come across this. I've taken him to the vets but the vet didn't have a clue what could be wrong & after sounding his chest/heart etc told me not to worry about it and just to monitor it.

It's like he suddenly can't breath properly - his mouth is closed and the air comes through his nose, his rib cage heaves in and out, his mouth puffs out at the sides & he sounds like he's rasping. Sometimes it may not happen for days but then he could do it about 7 times in one day, there is no particular pattern.

After the vet said it probably wasn't anything to worry about I put it down to the fact he may be clearing his nose, but he seems to do it involuntary & he looks a bit distressed by it. Does anyone know what this could possible be as it really worries me?

Thanks

Jill
 
Jillb said:
Hi there, my 8 month old whippet has been having these strange episodes to do with his breathing for a few months now & i'm wondering if anyone else has come across this.  I've taken him to the vets but the vet didn't have a clue what could be wrong & after sounding his chest/heart etc told me not to worry about it and just to monitor it.
It's like he suddenly can't breath properly - his mouth is closed and the air comes through his nose, his rib cage heaves in and out, his mouth puffs out at the sides & he sounds like he's rasping.  Sometimes it may not happen for days but then he could do it about 7 times in one day, there is no particular pattern.

After the vet said it probably wasn't anything to worry about I put it down to the fact he may be clearing his nose, but he seems to do it involuntary & he looks a bit distressed by it. Does anyone know what this could possible be as it really worries me?

Thanks

Jill

Click to expand...

Tilly get this excatly the same, i have no idea why, she does it sometimes but not others???

Weird
 
It's a classic case of inward sneezing. It looks very distressing, but it's apparently nothing to worry about. Mine often do it. I know it sounds a bit awful, but I just ignore them and let them get on with it. I used to make a fuss, but I think it made it worse!

Louise
 
A lot of whippets get it, it's caused by the soft palate obstructing the airway temporarily. Pulling hard on the lead or gulping down food too quickly seem to set it off in mine.

If you hold the nostrils closed for a few seconds, until the dog swallows it usually rights itself. Sometimes called reverse sneezing.
 
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Mine do it too, I call it hiccups but ive never known what it is, its never come to anything and it passes pretty soon....with no ill effects... :thumbsup:
 
Mine as well. It scared me to death the first time I heard our first whippet doing it! (w00t) We were on holiday and we had to find a vet because I was certain he was going to choke to death! But he was fine and it really does sound worse than it is. Jonah used to do it a lot when he was very little but not so much now he's bigger (7 months). I grasp hold of his nose too and it stops it very quickly! Hope everyone's replies are reassuring you. :thumbsup:
 
moriarte said:
A lot of whippets get it, it's caused by the soft palate obstructing the airway temporarily. Pulling hard on the lead or gulping down food too quickly seem to set it off in mine.
If you hold the nostrils closed for a few seconds, until the dog swallows it usually rights itself. Sometimes called reverse sneezing.

Click to expand...
Rather than cut off the dog's breathing, even easier solution is to hold the trachea (windpipe) tight at the point where the back of the jaw becomes the throat between the index finger and thumb to make the dog swallow hard. I am constantly amazed that Vets have no idea what this condition is.
 
Thank you so much everyone for your replies, I feel so relieved that other people have experienced the same thing with their whippets and it's not that something awful is wrong with mine. Wish i'd of posted a message first before going off to the vets at a cost of £35 just to be told they don't have a clue.

Thanks again everyone that has posted a reply.
 
our border terrier does it too- shocked me at first- but we hold nose, or press at back of jaw to stop this...x
 
One of my does it....more in the summer...I thought it was like a hayfever thing (w00t)

First time I almost rushed him to vets :b

Now I ignore him (w00t)
 
Our Bichon Leo does this! We used to think he was having an asthmatic attack.Thanks for clearing this up (w00t)
 
all mine do it from time to time,its is alarming to hear,mine seem to have fear in their face when there doing it too, but thankfully it doesnt last very long.
 
Mine do it too...

It scares Dippy when it happens but Inca just takes it in her stride.

I've found rubbing their throat helps. :thumbsup:
 
dessie said:
moriarte said:
A lot of whippets get it, it's caused by the soft palate obstructing the airway temporarily. Pulling hard on the lead or gulping down food too quickly seem to set it off in mine.
If you hold the nostrils closed for a few seconds, until the dog swallows it usually rights itself. Sometimes called reverse sneezing.

Click to expand...
Rather than cut off the dog's breathing, even easier solution is to hold the trachea (windpipe) tight at the point where the back of the jaw becomes the throat between the index finger and thumb to make the dog swallow hard. I am constantly amazed that Vets have no idea what this condition is.

Click to expand...
Funnily enough our Jeebs had his first attack of this last night, and this works a treat. :thumbsup:
 
Jillb said:
Thank you so much everyone for your replies, I feel so relieved that other people have experienced the same thing with their whippets and it's not that something awful is wrong with mine.  Wish i'd of posted a message first before going off to the vets at a cost of £35 just to be told they don't have a clue. 
Thanks again everyone that has posted a reply.

Click to expand...

£35.00 for What exactly :rant: . Thats a very high consultion fee Jill .

K9 is so invaluable for things like this . :huggles:

The first time my OH heard one of the gang doing this he thought the dog was dying , but hes used to it now , although they can be resting and have an attack of it :wacko:
 
It really does sound weird, Kobi does it quite often and Oscar only now and then.... but must admit I wondered what the hell it was when I first heard it too.
 
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