Why does my dog have a wheezy bark when he sprints? Is it normal?

Hi there! I would recommend having this checked out by your vet when you're able to. A wheezing sound in the throat, hoarseness, and/or a raspy quality to her panting or breathing are all concerning for something interfering with normal air flow in the back of her throat. This could be due to laryngeal paralysis, a growth or tumor, a foreign body, or something simple like a respiratory infection causing some swelling or inflammation in this area. Your vet can do a complete oral exam under sedation if needed to get a better look at her throat, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing to help check for abnormalities.

If he was kenneled or groomed recently or has been around other dogs, it may be kennel cough. His breed is also predisposed to developing heart disease or a collapsing trachea. Shadow should be examined by your vet if the cough is worsening or if he is developing other symptoms such as lethargy, exercise intolerance or difficulty breathing. Chest xrays can be done to diagnose respiratory or cardiac disease.

This mild whistling is very common and normal at peak exercise. It should be investigated with sedation, throat exam and xrays if it worsens, causes him distress or any coughing or difficulty swallowing arises but other than that it should be no cause for concern. MAny dogs can become more temperamental as they age and you should be careful not to react or encourage such behavior by drawing attention to it and talking to him and indirectly praising his actions. Firmly ask him to sit/wait/lie or otherwise break his focus if you see any triggers arising

Poor guy. He may have a type of bronchitis or asthma. I would definitely recommend getting him seen by your vet and get some x-rays of his chest done to determine the underlying problem there. I would also try video taping one of his episodes to show your vet so that we can get clarity on what you are seeing at home, since most pets won't repeat the event while at the vet. Another possible thing this could be is a reverse sneeze. Look up reverse sneezing dogs on youtube to see if this is what Toby is doing. If he is having reverse sneezing episodes, then these are not of concern and are not life threatening. They are typically caused by mild allergies or irritation to the larynx. You can help Toby during these episodes by gently rubbing on his throat and offering him small amounts of water on your finger. If they become more frequent and start to impede on his quality of life, then you should visit your vet to rule out other undelrying causes that may require treatment. I hope that things work out for your pet Toby moving forward and hopefully these wheezing episodes are just normal reverse sneezing events. Take care!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Wheezing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Jayme 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 day!

Hello, the wheezing could indeed indicate allergies, rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection or perhaps something associated with her lungs or trachea. If it is very mild and only heard when he is close to you, this may be a variation of his normal breathing. I would monitor for any concurrent sneezing, coughing, or nasal discharge. Other signs could include lethargy and a decreased appetite. If you note any of those, then have Rexxy evaluated by his veterinarian then. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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!