The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Hi all - I have a question about my cocker, Sadie. We adopted her a little over a year ago from a rescue. She was saved from a life in the puppy mill. They estimated her age at the time to be between two and three years old. We got her spayed once we adopted her and she's been been healthy ever since. She is on the small side at 16.5 lbs. Last week she had a day of vomiting and diarrhea. She seemed fine the next day and we didn't think much of it. Fast forward to Saturday night and she started breathing funny. It almost sounded like she was constantly wheezing and it was fast. She also started vomiting again and refused to eat. Sunday morning she wasn't any better so we took her to the emergency vet clinic. Initially they thought she had pancreatitis but the bloodwork ruled that out (everything else looked good too). She is heartworm negative. They did xrays of her entire abdomen and lungs which didn't show anything. She does not have a temperature either. They put her on an IV of fluid and pain medicine. 30 hours and $1300 later we picked her up from the ER vet and took her home because she was able to keep food down and wasn't making that whining/wheezing noise although she was still breathing fast. They told me to follow up with my regular vet within three days. Yesterday I took her to the vet and he was not at all optimistic. He used some kind of rectal gauge to check her oxygen level and said it was a little low (it averaged in the 93 range). He wantsme to drive a couple hours north and take her to an internal specialist. We haven't taken her there yet. I feel like if we knew what we were dealing with it would be one thing but no one seems to know what is wrong and all of her tests have been fine. She is still wagging her tail and seems like her usual self (aside from the breathing). Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?? We have a Cavalier as well and he is fine.

My only advice is follow the recommendations of your vet. I'd see the specialist but then I trust my vet completely

Offering a prayer for her return to good health. Hugs

I just googled "fast breathing dogs" and came up with these

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-wheezing ... g-problems

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/res ... ea_panting

I really don't know, either. I would encourage you to keep an eye on the gums, pale, white gums are a sign of IMHA, which warrants an immediete trip to the vet, and which some of us have unfortunately experienced. I remember when my dog had it and was on pred his breathing was what you were describing, but that was from the prednisone. Sending good thoughts that you get answers. It is very difficult when you do the right things(get immediete care for your dog) and they have no answers. I would google and google and read and see if you can come up with something that the vet can test for.

If you have a vet you trust and he says go to a specialist, I'd go to the specialist.

If you have a vet you do not trust, I'd fine one to trust.

We cannot possibly give you anything other than ideas here since we are not vets and can neither see nor hear how your dog sounds. In truth I would not even give you an idea of what I thought because if something happens to the dog since you figured I gave you medical information and neglected to take the dog to the vet, I would never forgive myself. JMHO

Tina, if it was me I would see the specialist to ease my mind and to know I had done everything I could. Since the chest x-ray didn't show anything I would keep looking. I'll be thinking of you.