I have a three year old male English Setter. When working in the field his endurance is about 1 hour and 15 minutes regardless of the outside air temperature or the amount of "yard work" or "exercise " he receives. We have a large fenced yard that we work him in twicedaily, with emphasis on the hot days so as to bulid his stamina. When we go out to actually hunt, he is typically very enthusiastic but after that magic 1 hour 15 minutes he is "out of gas". His breathing becomes very difficult. He eats grass and then naturally vomits. After which, he gets lethargic and has an extremely difficult time moving air. At time, he seems to have a somewhat blue tongue and if I were a Doctor, I might think he is asthmatic. I have had my vet check him very thoroughly for any type of airway obstruction, to include sedation and scope of his entire breathing system. The vet's recommendation is to administer prednisone prior to hunting and monitor his reaction. We have tried this tactic and see little, if any difference.

Has anyone else expereienced anything like this, or have any ideas whatcould be the problem?

When the episode occurs, does he have very loud breathing like a honking sound?

Yes, although it is not terribly loud. It is raspy and more labored as well as rapid. His sides seem to contract and he shows symptoms of diraheah(sp). We have also withheld food before trips to the field thinking that maybe he hadn't had ample time to digerst his meal - but that did not seem to make any difference.

I'd take the dog to a University Vet Hospital for a complete diagnostic workup.
Lots of possibilities here -- Blasto, inhaled seed, etc.


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Well it could be laryngeal paralysis. Some of the history and symptoms fit what you typically see with this condition. But there are other possibilities as well. I would also have the heart evaluated.

Bottom line...like DocE said, I would take it to a veterinary referral center where you will find veterinary specialists who will be able to diagnose the problem.

Thanks! He has had awork-up, albeit possibly not complete by your standards. He was puit under anesthesia, scoped thru his throat area and thoroughly examined to no avail. Since this has been an ongoing concern, there was a thorough examination to determine if he had possibly contracted a splinter from the "puppy stage" of chewing everything within sight. Still - no concrete answer.

You refer to "Blasto" what is it? It is a term I am not familiar with!

Thanks to you as well! And if it is laryngeal paralysis, what would be the prescribed treatment, or is there a medication that can be administered to prevent recurrence?

my lab would only hunt about that time until i conditioned him more this year.
but he is dead as door nail when he gets home.
he never had breathing problem as you said but foams at mouth on way to hunt.

it looks like he has rabies.

i only saw what you have 1 time but it was not with a hunting dog.
i saw it with dog at home after running a little ..
i think it was heart problems but dog was 10 years old..

to me, it acts like heart problem but usually thats in older dog..
i saw older beagles do this, they would stand there, tongue out,honking trying to breath,overheated..