Yesterday I noticed that Otis' bark was randomly really raspy and high pitched for a bark or two. This morning he was barking at something outside and it was normal, we took him for a walk and the one time he barked it was also pretty normal. When we got home our neighbor was outside and he went into a fit of barking and it was high pitched and raspy. I made the mistake of googling this and now I'm worried that it's an emergency. I called the vet and I won't be able to get him in until Monday.... she didn't seem overly concerned because he's eating and drinking fine. I dont notice any change in breathing (he's always been a loud breather/snorer) and he's eating and drinking like the piggy he is. Any thoughts?
Sorry I can't help with barking as Juno so rarely barks it takes us unawares . If you've spoken to the vet and they are not unduly concerned I would try not to worry. Just keep an eye on him and if there's any change speak to the vet again. My best advice is never ever google symptoms, whether for ourselves or families or our pets , we only ever read the worst case scenarios.
What kind of emergency did Google think it might be? I've not ever heard that a high pitched bark is something to worry about on its own. Dogs do use different barks for different things... If his behaviour is otherwise normal I wouldn't be worried.
Oberon, laryngeal collapse, laryngeal paralysis, obstructions in the larynx... All kinds of fun things. His behavior is 100% normal but the high pitched/raspy barking is pretty consistent now. Its really windy and noisy here so he's gone on quite a few barking sessions, all of which have been raspy and high pitched they almost sound painful.
He may just have been barking too much and has made himself a bit hoarse, especially if the weather is dry and windy (and maybe if he's not drinking enough). I guess laryngitis is a possibility, but definitely not an emergency. If he had an obstruction in the larynx he'd be struggling to breathe, but it sounds like his behaviour is otherwise normal. I would not think that was an issue. It doesn't sound like an emergency to me. You have spoken with your vet and described his symptoms and behaviour and the vet is not concerned. That would be good enough for me! Step away from Google, relax, stop thinking about it, and see the vet on Monday if you still feel the need to.
Saba wasn't barking, but he did have a dry cough and was making a sound like growling through his nose. I was worried that his breathing was compromised, so ended up at the out of hours emergency vets, where we got a diagnosis of 'probably Kennel Cough', and a bill for £230!. He's absolutely fine Earlier in the day, he'd had a good old puppy play with my daughter's French Bulldog puppy, and I reckon he got a knock to his windpipe while they were bowling each other over. Goodness, it's as bad as having a baby!
Doug has Laryngeal Paralysis along with his other health issues. His voice altered during the early stages and his breathing has got steadily worse. He was always a snorer and now has a raspy squeeky bark along with his breathing problems. If it is this it is really ok and most dogs sort of plateau out at a certain level and although short of breath and weezy sometimes.They have a normal life. I've had to change some foods for him and if he's chewing something hard I have to be with him as its safest. Obviously he was old when he got it so he didn;t need so much exercise anyway. The thing you have to watch is them choking on stuff and their own vomit. We've learnt to cope with this and Doug is fine. Lots of labs get it but I think its often not diagnosed, I've met a few labs and had to say your dogs got LP get it checked with you vet next time you visit? It seems to develop around 8 to 10 in a lot of labs, Doug is 14 and fine. I watch him carefully. It could be anything from kennel cough virus or something more. If he's breathing fine and comfortable just get him checked by your vet if he is in distress and is airway is comprimissed go to the emergency vet asap. Once you've heard a dog with LP its unmistakable they sound so raspy and have very loud breathing. I diagnosied it in Doug it took my vet a while to catch up and agree. I noticed the tiny changes early because I spend so much time with my dogs it is a very slow gradual process with this problem. If it is this which I doubt(hope) its something which is liveable. Hope he's ok
Just saw these later responses! Thanks for the input. Yes sdegg that's exactly what I was worried about. Our vet said it could be kennel cough or just from being at daycare and barking/playing all day. He didn't have any other symptoms of kennel cough, and he's been vaccinated.... So I'm pretty sure it wasn't that. Nonetheless, he was put on antibiotics and a medicine to soothe his throat a bit. He sounds 100% better now after a few days of treatment. I do think it was something uncomfortable for him regardless of what it was, because his behavior has improved since his voice improved!
