Why is my senior lab with arthritis struggling to breathe and gasping?

This could be due to a few different problems that can likely be treated effectively. One possibility is heart failure. They tend to have a decrease in activity and tire more easily after exercise with this condition. It can also cause them to have labored breathing and wheezing after exercise. This can be dramatically improved with medication. Another possibility is that she has a condition known as laryngeal paralysis. This can cause very noisy breathing after exercise. This can be corrected with surgery. It's worthwhile to at-least have Sammie evaluated by a veterinarian. They can likely narrow-down the possibilities with an exam and possibly a few tests. I hope that helps and Sammie gets better soon.

You can request a consult online with one of our vets to share the video. She is an older girl, and trouble breathing can be a sign of something serious like heart disease. It is a good idea to have Zoe seen by her vet this week.

Hi there. Breathing hard or panting at rest can be due to a number of different things. Some common possibilities in an older dog would include hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, liver problems, or heart disease. It's also possible that he's simply hot, or that he is somewhat painful or uncomfortable due to his arthritis. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to. Your veterinarian can do blood work to check for these problems and get him started on appropriate treatment if any abnormalities are found.

Hi. It sounds like he is having respiratory signs. This could be from many things such as....upper respiratory infection, cardiac disease, primary respiratory disease, cancers, or other infectious causes. With his age, he needs a full exam, labs, and chest x-rays. If he is in respiratory distress, you will want to go to the ER.

I'm sorry Odie isn't doing well! He could be in pain, causing him to be very lethargic and not moving a lot. Pain would also cause him to pant and eat less. His pain could be caused by arthritis, which is common in senior dogs, or hip dysplasia. There could also be other medical illnesses causing his symptoms, such as heart disease or cancer. I would have him seen by a vet today for a physical exam, geriatric blood test, urinalysis, and possibly chest and hip x-rays. These tests will determine what is causing his symptoms so he can be treated as needed.

I'm sorry Roxy has been so sick lately! Her symptoms could be caused by cardiac disease, respiratory disease, or even cancer. Unfortunately, cancer is always a possibility in a senior Lab. I would have her seen by a vet in the morning for a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays. Using these tests, the vet can diagnose what is causing her symptoms and can discuss treatment options with you.

I would discuss other treatment options with your vet. I understand that ultrasound can often be cost prohibitive, but your vet may be able to prescribe medications based on their best guess of the cause of the illness. Based on the labored breathing, weakness, and gagging, I would be worried about Donny's heart and lungs. I know heartworm disease is not terribly common, but it is still a possibility. Other possibilities include heart failure, pneumonia, hypertension, or cancer. You might discuss radiographs with your veterinarian to look inside Donny's chest. Increased potassium could indicate lab error, renal failure, gastrointestinal issues, or possibly Addison's Disease, or it could be normal. Elevated white blood cells can indicate bacterial or viral infection, inflammation, or cancer.