What to do if my dog is panting, snoring, and struggling to breathe?

If Bruno is unable to breathe, gasping for air, choking, or his gums/tongue or turning blue or pale, this is a medical emergency and care should be sought at your local vet or ER vet ASAP. Some breeds of dog may snore more often, or have trouble breathing. Problems such as asthma, sinus issues, illness, structural problems of the nose or sinuses, etc can all cause difficulty breathing. If this is happening repeatedly, scheduling a veterinary exam is best to rule out any more serious causes and get Bruno some relief.

He needs to be examined by a veterinarian right away. Your vet can take an x-ray of his chest to evaluate his lungs and airway. He could have pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, or fluids in his chest. Please call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bentley. An upper respiratory tract infection cause the symptoms you have described. Small breed dogs are also prone to a condition known as collapsing trachea. This can be diagnosed on x-rays of his neck and chest. I recommend discussing these possibilities with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

This could be an upper respiratory infection such as kennel cough , but could also be a sign of heart disease, especially if Chico is an older dog. Another very likely possibility is that Chico has a collapsed trachea. You will need to take Chico to your vet for an exam and x-rays (which will rule out collapsed trachea and lung edema caused by congestive heart failure). Your vet;s exam will also detect any problems with the heart, that may be causing the cough. Please cschedule an appointment with your vet soon.

This may be due to allergies, infection, laryngeal paralysis or hyperthermia just to name a few causes. In an older dog, heart disease cannot be ruled out. Respiratory distress should be addressed as soon as possible by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. If it is hot outside or inside, remove Burt to a cooler area. Use a fan and cool cloths to gradually cool him off.

If the age you put in, 20, is really correct I would say that you should have her evaluated for cardiorespiratory disease. Mitral valve disease in small dogs is extremely common particularly at an older age. Coughing is often the first sign of heart disease that we see. Another structural issue that occurs in smaller breed dogs is called a collapsing trachea. A chest x-ray should be considered strongly regardless of the veterinarian's physical exam findings. The consumption of grass is often associated with GI upset or nutritional deficiencies. Depending on what the condition is, medications that might be considered are bronchodilators, antibiotics, steroids, and diuretics. More information will be required however before commencing any therapy. Hope this helps.

Your dog may have an elongated soft palate that causes an intermittent obstruction of air flow. Usually it is self limiting and doesn’t cause issues but if this is happening consistently there is a surgery that can be performed to help open up the airway. I would recommend talking to your vet about the issue and having them perform an oral exam. They may recommend surgery. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.