I have a 3 year old black Lab male. He exhibits signs of severe panting, blueing of the tounge, gasping for air, vomiting and temperature rise. Water consumption and eating is great, weight is great as is his coat, shine and low shed. Sounds like heat stroke but he did it back in the winter on one of the coldest days we had. None of the times he has done this was he exersizing. When he did it back in the winter I thought he may have choked but now I know that wasn't the case. He has had 3 episodes and I have him scheduled for a vet check of his heart and bloodwork. Has anyone seen this kind of thing before?

Sounds a lot like exercise induced collapse. Here is an article you can share with your vet:

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/library/eicstudy.html

Sorry - I read your post wrong... I thought you said he was doing it during exercise. Maybe it's a seizure?

If I were you , I wouldn't be able to get this dog to a Cardio-VET fast enough.

I agree...check his heart with a cardiologist..let us know what happens..we can all learn from your experience

I can't get him in any sooner! They will call if they have a cancelation.

Have any of you ever seen this before?

I lost a dog to lyme disease years ago that had these same symptoms. It was his heart that went bad. Tell your vet you need to be seen today. If he won't, then find a new vet. You need one that will treat your dogs in severe emergencies.

I would skip a regular vet for this one and go to a cardiologist. Preferrably one that will do color dopplar, or at the least echo.

Took to reg. vet and he referred me to Ohio State U. Has an appt. Mon at 11:15...was the soonest time. Everything was "Back to normal" by the time I got him to my regular vet. It almost seems like seperation anxiety. Once I pay attention to him and bring him everywhere I go he shows no symptoms, each time I have seen the episodes it was just after I got home.

Not sure if the vomiting quite fits, but since Labradors, usually males middle aged to older dogs, are one breed most commonly affected with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis... might be something to rule out too. A dog can overheat quickly during a LP attack and yes gums can turn blue.

Make sure you write down all the symptoms, any change in the sound of his bark, swallowing food or water, the environment when they occur, if they occured after the dog was excited, etc.
... just so you can recall everything when you get in for that appt.

You didn't mention how frequently these episodes are occurring.... just curious, but something you want to mention for sure when you go for the referral.

Oh ok, just reread your post where you said he's had 3 episodes.... so I guess they've been spread out over the span of quite a few months?

I have documented symptoms and have taken him to the vet before on a previous episode. I will bring the prolapsed tracia (Spelling) to his attention also, Thank you! There has been no change in appetite, weight, coat, bark or attention. His tounge is what turns blue but by the time I get him to the vet he is always back to normal on all stats! Boggles my mind I tell ya. I feel that if it does have something to do with seperation anxiety that that's when his heart would most likely give him grief as that is when he seems to be most excited, when I come into view, not while exercising, running or playing. The vet had me listen to his heart too and it sounded strong and steady. I'll post when I find out something. Again, THANKS!!

This sounds like it. Same symptoms exactly.

"This sounds like it. Same symptoms exactly."

In the early stages of laryngeal paralysis, the symptoms might easily be unnoticed at first. I had a 13 year old neutered male diagnosed with "laryngeal paralysis".

Please let us know how you make out, I'm sure many of us will be thinking of you both and hoping it's something that can be easily diagnosed and get your boy "fixed up".

Would the symptoms of LP come and go? I have seen the incidence in him 3 times in the past year and a half...

Can you possible video tape it to show the vet?

"Would the symptoms of LP come and go? I have seen the incidence in him 3 times in the past year and a half..."

I can only answer from our experience... some of what I realize now were symptoms were barely noticeable (a slight raspy change to his bark, like he actually had laryngitis), I believe that was his first symptom... at that point we didn't rush to the vet, thinking it was an old age thing.
The gasping episodes eventually started under stressful situations and were fairly infrequent... soon the high heat outdoors was hard on him and could easily bring on an attack, we're talking just minutes outside long enough to potty.... eventually we had to consider his quality of life when the episodes became too frequent. It is scarey for the owner and the dog when one of these episodes come on.

If it is LP, your doctor will advise on the possible options you have. I will say, my old guy wasn't a good candidate for any of the corrective surgeries and he had a couple old age issues going on.

Please don't get stressed before you have any type of diagnosis... just stay observant. If this is what it is and he has one of these attacks where his tongue/gums are turning blue (lack of oxygen) and overheating, you might want to consider talking to your vet in the meantime so he can instruct you what to do if that happens due to LP. Just a suggestion.

Thanks again.

One more thing...I can't find if this is hereditary if it is ILP, none of his ancestors had this that I'm aware of.

I have a list of questions for the doctor but the waiting is killing me.

I don't believe in Labradors it's believed to be hereditary, although in some breeds it's thought there is a hereditary factor. I know I've read some case are even thought to be due to trauma.
If you do a Google search on "laryngeal paralysis", alot of info will come up... might then do one on "laryngeal paralysis Labrador Retriever" and "laryngeal paralysis hereditary" and see what kind of info it brings up.

"I have a list of questions for the doctor but the waiting is killing me."

I guess you mean the specialist next week??? Couldn't you leave a message for your primary care vet that you have a few more questions since your dog's exam? Your primary vet should be able to answer questions about LP and you might ask him if he ruled out LP or if he considered the possibility based on the symptoms you describe.

Sounds like possible heart problem? Hope you get an answer quick. Let us know.

I have a client's lab that was similar only she didn't progress to the vomiting--but i'm sure she could have....it was diagnosed as Tachycardia of labrador retrievers by ultrasound and holter monitor....the cardiologist says he's seen it before--the heart is normal structure but for some unknown reason they have tachycardia--he said he's seen some outgrow it--it is usually in young dogs.

Thank you, I googled all of the suggestions made and made many, many notes. He has been fine so far, normal bark, but that never did change, playful, glued to my side. My son and daughter-in-law have been "babysitting" while I'm at work, he looks forward to going there instead of being home alone. He show NO symtoms of anything until he has his "attacks" and as I said before I've only seen them just as I'm getting home, not even 5 min after. I have been picking him up at all different times so he doesn't anticipate my arrival at my sons and I try and curb his excitement when I do get there. Big S***! He does love his momma.