Something is wrong with my dog...?

Question

Whenever i get home from school i come home with an excited tea cup chihuahua, he wags his tail like there's no tomorrow, but when i relax in the sofa he's right there next to me then all the sudden he starts coughing, but a weird cough like he starts weezing or something, i give him water, he stop for awhile, then he starts doing it over and over again, like if he can catch his breath...i don't know i get scared, the weird thing is that he doesn't do that through it mouth he does it in his nose, he blows out air, his not sneezing! Can someone tell me whats wrong with him?

Answer 1

Sounds like a congenital heart defect called Patent ductus
arteriosus, or PDA. When he gets excited his little heart can't handle it so he gets wheezy.

This article tells all about it and there are some surgical options, but I doubt they're cheap.

Answer 2

I agree with Amy C, it's most likely a colapsing trachea. This condition is very common in small breed dog's like yours. It happens most often when they're excited, but can happen any time. Just like trying to suck a milkshake through a straw and having it collapse, that's what happens to his trachea if he sucks in too much air at to great of a speed.

Most veterinarians will prescribe a cough suppressant and maybe an anti inflammatory to get it under control. You may need to use them off and on for the rest of his life. If he's overweight, a diet will usually help, but not cure, the problem.

Hope this helps, I'm a Veterinary Technician with 25 years under my belt.

Answer 3

Hmm,it sounds like a collasped trachea. What is it?

It's a condition of the airways in the throat causing breathing problems. It's characterized by a weezing, snorting sound and coughing. But please note that occasional snorting called "reverse sneezing", in Chihuahuas is normal and is not considered a health problem. You better take him to the vet and hope he feels better.

Answer 4

You may need to have him checked by a vet. He could have a type of asthma and his getting so excited could be what is bringing the attack on. Not many people realize that animals can be the victims of the same things as humans. Asthma and allergies are just some of the more common things that we share with our four legged friends.

Answer 5

Ask your vet, but I think it might be a small dog thing. Our Chihuahua does that when she gets excited. She will go off by herself until she has it under control. My Maltese used to do it, but he hasn't in a long time. I think it has something to do with the esophagus. But definitely check with your vet.

Answer 6

chihuahua are very hiper. Try not to let them get so excited. Try just as soon as you get there pick him up and give him loving while telling him to calm down. I had one and she done the same thing & this method worked very well. Chihuahua are very easy to have a heartattack.

Answer 7

Well it might be that when he gets exited he sneezes like most dogs, bt his nose is stuffy due to a common cold try giving him cooked beef and cooked white rice mixed w/ eachother its amazing for sick dogs your little guy will feel better in no time

Answer 8

Ask a vet: The strange coughing/breathing could be a number of things.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Sounds like he got something and tried to digest it and it did not go down. Check down this throat and see if you can feel something, if not take him to the vet.

Answer 10

While I can't answer your question personally, I highly recommend you take him to a vet as soon as you can!