Whippets - Breathing Problems

[snickers]

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Hi

Our whippet is about 15months old and generally seems in fine fettle, eats well, in good condition and flys around the field.

The problem we have is on very rare occasions (maybe 10-15 times in 15months) he seems to develop a "breathing fit", I can only describe it as a asthma attack but in a whippet it lasts for maybe 10-15 seconds and as if he struggling for his breath then he is ok again.

It never happens when we are out or when hes running etc., it seems to be when he is tired as if he forgets to breath.

Has anyone come across this sort of thing in their whippets. I took him to the vets the other month for annual vaccinations and they said nothing to worry about and just monitor the situation.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated.

Thanks

 

[BeeJay]

Sounds like it might be what some of us know as 'reverse sneezing'. Several of my whippets do it and I know that other peoples do it as well. As your dog has been checked by your vet and they didn't find anything worng then it could well be this then don't worry it seems to be a normal thing for a whippet to do.

 

[Esty]

Mine do this very occasionally as well. Sounds like they've got a feather stuck up their nose or something and they need to cough or sneeze. I always just think they've sniffed up dust or something while they've been mooching with their nose too close to the ground!

 

[snickers]

Thanks for the replys, thats half put my mind at rest.

Cheers

 

[pat cope]

Mine do it too, dont worry.

 

[Lisa S]

yes my boy does that as well and it still scares me half to death as it sounds really bad :sweating:

 

[alilemur]

Yes, my Buffy does this quite regularly. She just need s a soothing voice and a stroke and she is fine. Whippets are quirky aren't they?

 

[teachtrinity]

yep, reverse sneezing, sounds awful the 1st time you hear it, all of mine get it occasionally, to get them to stop hold their nose gently and this forces them to take a deep breath which stops it, Molly usually does it in the middle of the night which is a great way to be woken up (w00t) (w00t)

 

[olismum]

:sweating: Dont worry, our lurchers do this too! :blink: Like teachtrinity said hold their noses, I tend to place my hand overthe end and they kind of suck in and take a deep breath and they seem ok again then. Whippets, greys lurchers / /sighthounds/longdogs are a weird bunch and do strange (and sometimes scarey) things. It's what makes us love them even more than a normal dog lol

 

[hopkirk]

Hello

Mine does it too and I have been looking for possible causes online. He only does at night and wakes himself up from his sleep ( quite frightening when it happens)

Your posts have also gave me piece of mind as I have been thinking he may have some alegry and he is in perfect health

Thanks for your help too



Here is a hoto took by my whippet on "whuppet cam" - a camera you can attach to thier collar on walks to see what they see

 

[hopkirk]

View attachment 70275Hello

Mine does it too and I have been looking for possible causes online. He only does at night and wakes himself up from his sleep ( quite frightening when it happens)

Your posts have also gave me piece of mind as I have been thinking he may have some alegry and he is in perfect health

Thanks for your help too



Here is a photo took by my whippet on "whuppet cam" - a camera you can attach to thier collar on walks to see what they see

 

[hopkirk]

View attachment 70275Hello

Mine does it too and I have been looking for possible causes online. He only does at night and wakes himself up from his sleep ( quite frightening when it happens)

Your posts have also gave me piece of mind as I have been thinking he may have some alegry and he is in perfect health

Thanks for your help too



Here is a photo took by my whippet on "whuppet cam" - a camera you can attach to thier collar on walks to see what they see

 

[hopkirk]

sorry for multiple photo - pc going funny in work !!

 

[Janimal]

My Kobi is the only one amongst mine that has bouts of backwards sneezing....it usually happens when he runs down stairs quickly...usually after the cat !!!

scares me half to death... but I have got used to it now, it does sound aweful.

 

[Suerose]

:sweating: Dont worry, our lurchers do this too! :blink: Like teachtrinity said hold their noses, I tend to place my hand overthe end and they kind of suck in and take a deep breath and they seem ok again then. Whippets, greys lurchers / /sighthounds/longdogs are a weird bunch and do strange (and sometimes scarey) things. It's what makes us love them even more than a normal dog lol

My first collie did this too - it used to frighten me to death! Very glad to have an explanation at long last. And a way to help Grace when she is suffering from it.

 

[Haylsey]

Rocket does this when he smells flowers, which he always does..... am sure he is a sniffer dog and not a sight hound! Hes never done it any other time just when he really sticks his nose in a flower, maybe worth watching and see if you can pinpoint a trigger too?

Thanks all for posting I thought Rocket was the only one who did this!

 

[Claire30]

I'm glad I've read this too. My Dexter does this and although the vet couldnt find anything wrong with him, it is still frightening and he seems quite scared when he's finished. I'd looked everywhere to try and find out what he was doing, so now I too can relax a bit knowing that it seems quite common. Thanks for starting this topic!!

Claire