My senior Shih Tzu's legs give out. Is it bronchitis or heart issues?

Hello, sorry to hear about Shiloh. It looks like she is an older pup and the potentials for what is causing her to collapse can vary greatly (anything from neurologic in origin to orthopedic in origin). In older pets, severe muscle loss, heart problems, or other metabolic problems can contribute to their weakness and collapsing episodes. In a dog with a cough however, I would be most concerned with an underlying heart problem, then a neurologic or orthopedic problem. I would recommend seeing her veterinarian to have her evaluated and check her for any underlying heart problems, neurologic or orthopedic problems. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Poor Tyler! If it has nothing to do with his heart or trachea, then it may have something to do with his joints. He may be suffering from arthritic pain which over time has lead to muscle atrophy and weakness of his hind legs. You can try joint supplements (i.e. Dasuquin) and look into water therapy or similar physical therapy services available in your area to help build up his muscle strength. Then you should discuss with your vet about some other medical treatments that are safe for him, considering his medical history. A radiograph if his hind legs will also confirm a suspected arthritis and determine the degree of arthritis there to help tailor his therapy recommendations. I hope your fur baby gets proper care soon so that he can have a better quality of life. Best wishes.

Based on Riley's age and the clinical signs, it sounds like he may be experiencing at least one but possibly two issues. An 11 year old almost always had some level of arthritis. Some dogs just have more than others. It is not uncommon for older dogs to start requiring joint supplements or non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs to help them have increased mobility as they get older. In order to confirm this, he should be seen by a vet who can palpate the hind legs. They can make sure they don't feel anything out of the ordinary, and can also shoot x rays if they things it is warranted. In terms of the wheezing you are seeing occasionally, it is possible that this is also just another old age change. As dog's get older, their lung's structure and vasculature also tend to change sometimes making breathing a little more challenging. The wheezing could also be a sign of some sort of cardiorespiratory condition. If he is having serious trouble getting around or getting up during these episodes, a chest x ray with your veterinarian would probably be very helpful in ruling in or out several different possibilities. Both the arthritis and cardiorespiratory disease are generally symptomatically treatable.

Poor Buddy! I'm sorry to hear that he's having this problem. From your description, I would be concerned about a possible neurologic problem such as a stroke or brain tumor. He may also have severe arthritis issues, or may have a systemic illness of some kind or may have ingested something toxic. This sounds quite serious, so I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic this evening for an exam. The veterinarian there can do blood work or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help.

Poor Zoe! I would be very concerned that she has a serious medical problem causing her symptoms such as heart disease, which is common in senior dogs. Heart disease leads to exercise intolerance, and it would cause her to become weak during normal activity and fall over. These symptoms are certainly not normal, and she needs a visit to the vet as soon as possible for a physical exam, routine blood tests, urinalysis, and chest x-rays. Once the cause of her symptoms are found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. Heart disease cannot be cured, but it can be medically managed. I would get her into a vet tomorrow or first thing Monday. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I am so sorry to hear that Holly is going through so much. Often when I see a dog who is acting the way you describe I find that they are painful in the neck or the back. I worry that she may have a slipped disc that may be causing her pain and her instability. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If there is an emergency veterinarian available tonight then at least she could get some pain medication and be more comfortable until you can see your regular veterinarian. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I would recommend bringing Chelsea back to the veterinarian and getting x-rays of her chest. This will tell you if she has something lung related. There are a lot of different things that can cause a cough. It can be anything from a tracheal collapse to a lung lesion. Without chest x-rays it is hard to say what is causing the cough. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.