Why does she sound like Darth Vader

Hi

I'm at my wits end with my baby, Ruby - she's an 8 year old black Staffi. 100% OCD, absolutely gorgeous. Extremely fit, loves to play & goes on long walks. She had a healthy diet, good quality food.

About 18 months ago I noticed she sounded a bit raspy when breathing, so off we went to the vets (I have to carry her in as she's such a wuss!) They said that because she's a paw chewer her fur can get stuck in her throat and cause a problem - steroid injection & off we went.

At the start of this Summer, it started again but with constant sneezing and wet (not runny or discharging) nose also constantly licking her lips.
Off again to Vets - heart & lungs fine - could be hay fever so left with Piriton & steroids for a few weeks. It helped slightly but didn't solve the issue (didn't want her in steroids for too long either).

Check up 3 - Weened off steroids and put on Metacam which made her sick so had anti-sickness tablets too!   No change.

Check up 4 - she was put under anaestic and had an explority examination. Flushed out, x-rays - nothing stuck all seemed ok. The vet did notice a slight larynx paralysis but wasn't overly concerned - she hasn't really showed them signs. They diagnosed Rhinitis.

Check up 5 - taken off Piriton as it made her too drowsy. Prescribed Ronaxan - violently sick so only had 2 doses
so stopped this. Was given Tavagil and a steroid inhaler and spacer. Took a while for her to get used to it but using okay now. Still not cured.

I had a second opinion from another Vet who said the courses of treatment were correct. He suggested cleaning her paws 3 times a day, keeping her out the bedrooms. He didn't feel she had larynx paralysis due to no symptoms.

I'm stressed, my husband says she's getting older now and these things will happen. I can't have her being uncomfortable or suffering. Being a Staffi they get over excited and this does not help!! Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Julie & Ruby ❤️

Hi Julie, welcome to the forum from Flo and me

Does Ruby sound like this all the time or is it just when she's sleeping? My Flo sounds like an old train when asleep and always has done but is fine whilst awake.

Thanks for the welcome - I keep loosing the post I've just written!,

She's generally quite quiet whilst asleep, has her moments when dreaming but not overly loud. The vet asked me to monitor her breathing whilst deeply asleep and if it was over 20 breaths per minute to take her in straightaway - thankfully she was 12 per minute.

She is a very vocal dog, doesn't bark much and I know her voice has changed over time sounds more raspy. She could blow up balloons they force she snorts/breathes down her nose at times. She could have a bad habit now because she's that type of OCD dog

They do very much get in to habits so it could be down to that. By the sound of it the vets have ruled out anything seriously wrong so this really is a bit of a mystery.

What isn't a mystery is how your post got lost, I moved it to the health section