Dog owners know that keeping their pet healthy depends alertness to changes in their dog's behavior and habits. A sick dog won't consciously do anything to draw attention to itself, so the owner must stay aware of the animal's daily patterns to discern when problems occur When an owner sees that his dog's breathing seems heavy and the dog's appetite lags, early intervention to diagnose and treat any health issue can prevent the problem from becoming more serious.
Instructions
Ask the veterinarian to check the dog for a tumor. Cancer in dogs presents in any one of a number of ways, including swellings, body sores, bleeding, bad odor, swallowing difficulties, energy loss and stiffness. Many dogs with cancer lose their appetites and begin to breath heavily as well. Bring the dog to the veterinarian for an exam. If the vet finds cancer, consult about the possible treatments, which may include surgery, radiation treatments or pharmaceuticals.
Request that the veterinarian examine the dog for possible heart disease. In addition to heavy breathing and loss of appetite, other signs of heart disease in dogs include lethargy, weight loss, coughing, weakness, loss of consciousness and swelling of the abdomen. If the veterinarian diagnoses heart disease, consult with the veterinarian about possible treatments. These treatments can include diuretics to reduce fluid build-up in the dog's heart and vasodilator drugs (ACE inhibitors) to increase the diameters of the dog's blood vessels. Other treatments may include inodilators to increase the amount of blood that the dog's heart can pump and anti-arrhythmics to control abnormal heart beat rhythms.
Test the dog for heartworms. Heartworms attack the dog's heart, killing the dog if left untreated. Symptoms of heartworms in dogs include loss of appetite and heavy breathing, which often causes the veterinarian to suspect asthma, pneumonia or digestive problems. Ask the veterinarian to specifically test the dog for heartworms, which the veterinarian can accomplish by a quick blood test. The best treatment for heartworms involves prevention. Many heartworm preventatives are sold in pet stores and in veterinarians' offices. Once the veterinarian confirms a diagnosis of heartworms, a prescription of an arsenic compound will treat an infected dog.
Suspect a vitamin B12 deficiency in a dog who has heavy breathing and an appetite loss. Dogs often need B12 supplements, especially dogs who have recently completed a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics can deplete vitamin B12 from a dog's body. A blood test can identify a vitamin B12 deficiency in a dog. Treat the dog by giving her an injectable or oral vitamin B12 supplement.