Dog Heavy Breathing

pollyanna24

I have an 11 year staff. She has arthritis and is on medication for it.

She has been a bit poorly over the last few months, but has good and bad days. She has definitely aged in the last few months.

But sometimes she "breathes heavy." I'm not sure how else to describe it. It's not panting. And it goes away when she falls asleep.

I have it in my head that she is doing it because she is in pain and have prodded and poked her, but she doesn't wince at me.

She isn't eating as much as she used to, but is happy walking and even chasing a ball if she gets the chance.

I took her to the vet, but because she gets so excited at the thought of meeting people, all the vet could see was an excited dog wagging her tail.

She suggested a scan for internal bleeding, but I have no clue why she thinks it might be this.

It might just be a noise that older dogs make (as the vet didn't get to hear the noise, she was just guessing and agreeing me with about the pain thing).

Has anyone experienced similar with older dogs? She does act as if everything is an effort sometimes, but I'm putting that down to having arthritis.

Artytarty

Mine does this in the evenings sometimes, I think she!!!8217;s too hot, not hot enough to pant but it!!!8217;s always when the room is warm.
Do Staffies have breathing issues like pugs etc?
Mines a collie cross.

pollyanna24

Thanks for that. I don't think staffies have breathing issues, but not sure. None of my dogs have made it to 11 before, so I'm quite proud of her.

Not sure about the heating thing, but something to look into.

Misslayed

Click edit, then 'Go advanced', then you can edit the heading

pollyanna24

Misslayed wrote: »

Click edit, then 'Go advanced', then you can edit the heading

Genius. Thank you. I have now amended the heading.

sheramber

Do you have a camera on your phone? Could you film it and show it to your vet?

UKTigerlily

No, Staffs don't have issues like Pugs etc
I too was going to suggest recording it, some good advice there
Hope she's ok; Staffs often don't show pain which is worth bearing in mind x

pollyanna24

Thanks for the replies.

My staffie died this morning which I am gutted about. She showed signs of being fine one day and signs that there might be something wrong the next which I should probably have picked up on.

I’m feeling guilty that she was in pain and me not knowing about it, but I would not have continued with any invasive treatment if I had found out it was anything bad.

My only consolation is that she was on metacam when she died for her arthritis.

Misslayed

Oh, no, so sorry, I've been there, it's so hard. Don't feel guilty, your Staffie died in a loving, caring home, metacam is a general painkiller I believe, so she probably was just at the end of her time. 11 is a great age.

Katiehound

So sorry to hear that.
It's a big blow when you lose a much loved pet.
Take care