Breathing issues!!

Hi All,

I am new to this forum, well fairly new but haven't posted before but I need to pick your brain's re my male staffy.

Firstly he's five and a half, always been fit and well until the past recent week's! Over the past six weeks hes' developed issues with his breathing but this breathing problem initially only showed itself when he was excited, anxious, someone comes to the door or we return home etc.... and he literally starts gasping as though he can't take a deep breath and almost sounds like he is asthmatic for wants of a better word! We have had a camera down his throat to see if there is any obstruction, nothing, a chest X ray, clear, antibiotics in case of a bronchial infection, they haven't worked, steroids, they didnt get chance because they didn't suit him, corvental which he is currently on but don't seem to be making any difference. Our vet is now referring us to a specialist with a view to a soft pallette operation because he think's his palette is a little long and could be causing an obstrution, but I am not really settled with this as I am struggling to understand how this can be an issue for a dog only now when is is five?? He is still keen to walk which we do twice a day but I am now noticing that his energy levels are not what they were and he starts to heavily pant after just ten minutes of gentle exercise?

Something has set this off and it's happened over a matter of week's, we recently lost his mate in February and I did wonder whether this was just anxiety maybe, has anyone ever experienced a dog with anxiety attacks?? Or could he have developed an allergy to something? He is a nightmare for foraging around in the garden and I caught him today licking the bushes with bird droppings on, could this be a factor or maybe I'm just getting totally neurotic!!! Probably!!

At a total lost and whilst sat waiting for this referral to come through I hoped I could perhaps draw on someone else's experience of anything similiar to these symptoms???

Any advice or suggestions most welcome

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum

Poor fella .

At least you are getting referred to a specialist. I have had no experience with this personally but if possible I'd try a few shorter walks or a bit of mental stimulation to burn up energy. Until of course you find out what the issue is.

Hoping for the best for you!

Hiya from me and Moo, almost sounds like a panic attack, although I have no experience of this with dogs.

I do hope you get to the bottom of it Xx

Hi Janey & Moo,

Thanks for your reply, I've had five staffy's now and never experienced anything like this before that's for sure!

Hi from me & Katy, sorry I cant give any opinion not come across the problem but i'm sure someone will be on soon that will know

Hi there. Welcome to the forum.

My first thought is anxiety, but I suppose other problems should be ruled out first. Does he sniff at or eat slugs/snails? Does he have regular protection against lungworm?

P.S. I assume that your vet has ruled out heart problems?

Hi Caryll,

Thanks for getting in touch, I haven't seen him sniffing or eating snails or slugs, although there are plenty in our garden (as most), I did research as these syptoms arose Lung worm and spoke to my vet about it, he is up to date with his worming cycle but I did find according to one website that not all worming tablets kill lungworm!! But although I have raised this issue my vet seems happy that all is well there. We have had his heart checked, and my vet said that although it was slightly Larger than perhaps normal he was happy with the beat etc... and didn't think it was heart related but..... its related to something quite clearly I just don't know what!!!!
Any more thought's would be greatly appreciated