Ive got a working beardie who will be 3 in aug. I got him when he was about 18 months old. He gets very tired when he excersises- to the point where he will run around with the other 2, but within ten mins he will pant excessivley, lie on the grass with tounge out and often sort of 'coughs and gags' as if trying to get his breath. Needless to say i dont let him over do it. Also if he excersises less than 3 hours after eating (even yoghurt or something as i feed raw) he will be sick within half an hour of getting home. obviously i wouldnt excersise less than 2 hours after feeding anyway. he isnt allowed any water when we get home until he calms down as again, he would just be sick. He also comes to work with me and works with kids as a demo dog and if doing any basic obedience training or small agility course he will tire quickly. He has been like this for a while now and i dont excercise in the heat. he is kept lean and doesnt have a heavy coat.
I just wanted an idea as to what sort of tests the vet may want to do with him, in order to diagnose a problem. If he had a problem with his heart would it show up while the heart is at normal resting rate or can some things only be apparant when the heart is under stress?
I plan on talking to the vet tomorow about this but wanted some other advise if possible, coz i just wonder if the vet may try to get loads of unnessisary tests as its money for them and the dog is insured.

Yes does sound very similar to my Shady.
Not sure what tests the vet will do till I get there tomorrow.
I do know my other dog Milo had the normal vets listen to his heart and they thought it was good and normal but when he saw a specialist for something else he picked up quite a heart murmer that he decided was bad enough to do a scan of the heart on while he had him in.

well im planning on talking with my vet about the situation, seeing what ahe thinks and taking it from there. you know your own dogs dont you and i think you got to trust your instinct. so are you seeing a specialist tomorow or your usual vet? good luck. hope all goes well.

Just seeing my normal vet.  I am under the specialist with my other dog Milo.
Good Luck tomorrow we will have to compare notes.

If it was one of mine, especially if your insured i would be asking for a referral, i would want an echocardiogram doppler, ecg, blood pressure, and blood tests.

thankyou for advise. i will speak to vet n see about tests being done. i dont even care how much anyhing costs, would pay anyway, but sometimes feel that vets want to do unnessasary tests that will just waste time n put stress on the dog.  he can be a pathetic thing if im not right next to him...even if his dad is (and he is supposed to be his dog)haha.