My 4-year-old cocker spaniel is heaving and breathing inwards.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the symptoms you are describing, it sounds as if Charlie is dealing with a severe respiratory disease / infection. I would strongly recommend getting Charlie in to the emergency veterinarian as soon as possible as this could potentially become fatal if not appropriately treated. The sooner he is seen the better. You can try and place him in the bathroom with the hot shower running so that he is breathing in steam and using a humidifier in the meantime while you are waiting to get to an emergency vet. I hope Charlie feels better soon! Please let me know if you have any further questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since he is a Cavalier I worry about heart disease. Unfortunately heart murmurs and heart failure are genetic in this breed and almost all Cavaliers develop murmurs. Since his breathing has changed even when he is awake I would have him examined by your Vet and have chest X-rays done. If a heart murmur is heard I would definitely take X-rays. If the X-rays show heart enlargement I would start him on medications and have an echocardiogram done by a Veterinary cardiologist. I wish you and Simon the very best!

You might ask your veterinarian if the X-rays could be reviewed by a radiologist. While the resolution that the forum pictures allow makes them a bit difficult to interpret, I am concerned that the X-rays do not appear normal, and she may have a more serious underlying condition. It may be that she has some underlying heart disease, cancer, or an infection that requires a more broad spectrum of antibiotic. I agree the blood work you've attached is unremarkable. Was a CBC performed as well? Check back with your vet about a radiology review, and a recheck exam as well. A consult with a cardiologist may be recommended, depending on the radiologist's opinion. I'm sorry I don't have better news, or a solution to offer you to try at home, but I think you need to circle back and followup with your vet on this. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly without seeing a video of the spells that are concerning; however, it seems that seizures are a possibility here. I would highly recommend recording one of these episodes on your phone and showing them to your veterinarian for verification of what exactly these are. If they are seizures, then this is considered an uncontrolled condition if they are happening more than once every 30 days, and Charlie would need to start taking anti-seizure medication to help stabilize his condition and help prevent any permanent brain damage. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck with our pet Charlie and I hope he feels better soon.

I would recommend bringing him to a veterinarian especially if his breathing is off. Thie may be something different than last time. WIthout a physical examination, there is no way to say exactly what is going on. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi. If he isn't improving, I would recommend getting another opinion. You mentioned a possible tumor, and that could be possible. The way they would determine that is by scoping the nasal cavities. I would get him in again.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Abnormal breathing sounds can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. Given his breed, this can also be brachycehalic syndrome though that typically presents in a different way. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!