please can anyone help me out....i feel like the vet thinks im an over protective owner as ive been a few times with different things now. A few months ago she had a funny attack in which she was breathing rapidly and foaming at the mouth, she went limp and was taken to an emergency vet who gave her anti biotics for kennel cough. She has been ok for the last couple of month although she does pant rather excessively, she breathes normal when sleeping. However tonight she made lots of the grunting noises again and is sleeping the clock around, and if im honest she doesnt seem herself. A few weeks ago i left her alone for a few hours and ever since then she now frets if i leave her, she wont even go outside for a piddle unless im there. I really dont want to keep pestering the vet as im sure im just panicking and all these things arent connected. Could any lhasa owners please put my mind at ease. Also ive read a lot of stuff on google tonight about heartworm but the posts are mainly in the usa, is this a common problem here in the uk??

thanks for any advice

Hi, you would be better posting your question on the dog section

sorry only joined this site last night..not big with forums!

Heart worm is not an issue in this country unless the dogs them selves have been imported , Your breed of dog can have respatory issues due to the short nose and pallet , did you buy from a good breeder , maybe you should contact them as they will know thier breed best vets generalise in all breeds . The breeder may also know if any of the other pups from the litter have had similar problems , but be ready to be told nothing at all if they have anything to hide such as poor breeding practice with un healthy parents ,
You seem to have a seperation issue to and this needs to be dealt with as anxiety can make them pant through stress , so if one you have got the dog checked medically you need to start with training your dog to accept you leaving as a good thing not a bad thing .

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hi andrea, thanks for answering my thread and for all your advice. You find yourself reading too much stuff on the internet and thinking the worst. I thought as much about the heartworm, hadnt heard of it here. I bought her from a well known dog kennels which i was led to believe had a good reputation, although i have heard a few stories recently that have put the kennels in a different light. Pebbles was with her brother when i bought her, her brother was being purchased by someone else at the same time, so effectively she was the last of the litter to be snapped up and i didnt hesitate as she is so adourable and i love her to bits. I think im just fretting as im so frightened of losing her, i think i need to stop google searching things and winding myself up. As for the leaving her situation, she spends a few days with me and a few with my mum when i have to work away, she has never really been left for more than a few hours alone as i spend all my time with her and so does my mum when she has her....she is good though, she doesnt tear the house down when i do pop out, i was just worried because i left her for 8 hours when i went on a night out the other week, she was absolutely fine with me when i got home but since then she follows me and no longer wants to go out (i used to struggle to get her in from the garden at one time) she was just in season though for the first time during this occasion when i left her, so i wondered if this had any connection to her sudden "clingy" state or whether it was just so traumatic for her being left so long that it has scarred her for life!! I feel so guilty at going out now and enjoying myself...something i havent done for 7 months since i got her...god i sound like a post natal mother!! sorry to ramble on and thanks for getting back to me

I would say her clingy behaviour is probably down to her being in season dont forget this is all new to her and she is probably a bit bewildered. Leaving your dog on the odd ocasson is not going to hurt her as its impossible to be with them 24/7 and she needs to be more independent is she well socialised.

Soscialising as Sullivan said above is very important from as young as possible it makes them more sure of the world and less likely to show fear agression, she needs to be well soscialised with lots of other dogs regularly and lots of new people contact , our 2 girls got a bit silly after their season it lasted a few weeks or so then they were back to normal , as long as you are happy with the situation in your haouse when you go out i wouldnt worry about it , the odd night out where you dont get back isnt going to kill her to have to deal with , if on the other hand you fear for her safety while your out get a training crate and make it her littel den that she can chill out in , most dogs if shown a crate as a possative enviroment will love spending time in it . What you need to remember though is you bought a lap dog and as such she will be happy to spend time with just you because thats what they were designed for origionally .

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Hello. I have a 12month old Lhasa called Lola and she also grunts, don't know wheter it is the same sort as your dog but she mainly does it when she gets excited when we have just come in. It is quite scary but the lady who bred her did warn me that this is common with this breed something to do with their epiglottis. Spoke to vet who reasured me. Vet said just to leave her to calm down and it son passes sometimes she sounds like a duck when she does it. As for clingyness Lola does not want to saty in the kitchen on her own at the moment at night. We put the radio on in the daytime when we are out just so she has a bit of noise. They are really lovely dogs aren't they and I just love Lola's stubborness another trait of these breeds.

Hi Karen, yes apparently its quite common in lhasas...like you say very frightening the first time you hear it but something im more used to now. They are fantastic little pets, pebbles has been a little sweety throughtout, she is so loyal and loving...yes a little stubborn at times but ive learned that shouting at her doesnt get me anywhere....she always does what i tell her in the end....but in her time not mine!!! sorry for late reply i dont get on here that often, hope lola is good and still enjoying the radio lol! thanks for the advice, Lynne

hi ive been reading about your lhasa pebbles i have not had any problems with my teddies breathing he is now a year and 6 months old, but teddie is often sick i was wondering what you feed pebbles as i think teddies diet is not agreeing with him, but i am the same as you im always down the vets and they think i am a drama queen but we just couldnt imagine life with out him. lol.