Possible collapsed trachea? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

DorkyYorkies · 02-23-2008, 09:54 AM

I adopted two yorkies (Duckie and Turtle) two weeks ago. Many of you may know about them from the posts here on YT. My question is concerning Turtle. He weighs four pounds and is 3 years old. He seems to be having signs of a collapsed trachea, bronchitis, or some sort of respiratory cold. When he eats, drinks, or gets a bath, he sounds like a goose. It's almost like a cough, I don't really know how to explain it. It lasts for a good 5-10 minutes, and it seems to be getting worse. What do you guys think this could be? Do dogs this young generally develop collapsed tracheas? I really hope it's just something that can be fixed with medicine. I would hate for him to have to suffer with a collapsed trachea

addicted · 02-23-2008, 09:58 AM

My Bella is only 1 years old and she has collapsed trachea. I don't think they are ever too young to have it. I'm sorry, I don't know what it could be. Have you taken them both in for a vet check yet? How are the two doing? Please post pictures!

DorkyYorkies · 02-23-2008, 10:09 AM

Yes, I took them in for a vet check and shots two days after I got them. The cough was not that bad when I took them, so the vet wasn't concerned about it. That's why I wonder if it's just a cold or something. I don't use collars on them either. I am thinking we may have to go for a re-check and find out what's going on. They have been doing great other than that! I will definitely take some pics and post them.

BLEU BOY BARBER · 02-23-2008, 10:23 AM

I am totally unaware just wanted you to know we read the thread and will say a prayer..

Just be sure to use a harness and be careful when they go up any doggy stairs they catch their chins on the bottom especially if your baby is small.

Handle with care is the best advice I have and I am sure you probally already do dat!

cj125 · 02-23-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by addicted

My Bella is only 1 years old and she has collapsed trachea. I don't think they are ever too young to have it. I'm sorry, I don't know what it could be. Have you taken them both in for a vet check yet? How are the two doing? Please post pictures!

I agree.

I think I'd get the vet's opinion to ease my mind. Do they have a cough too? Or just the goose sound?

Ladymom · 02-23-2008, 10:38 AM

The only way to tell if he has a collapsed trachea is to have your vet do xrays. It's possible that his former owners used a collar on him and damaged his throat.

Here is some information about the condition:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=410

tpaxton23 · 02-26-2008, 04:48 AM

It does sound like he may have a collapsed trachea. One of my two year old yorkies, Dylan, was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea after his neuter surgery at 8 months old. Collapsed trachea's are genetic. I have never used anything but a harness on mine and he still developed the collapse.

5 to 10 minutes is a long time for an episode. I can usually get Dylan to stop honking if I pick him up and calm him or distract him by getting him to smell something. I've been told the more they cough the more damage it causes so it's better if you can try to shorten the episode.

There is also medicine that they can prescribe to quiet the cough but my vet doesn't want him on anything until his condition worsens and he really needs the medicine. A humidifier should help turtle and we also use nebulizer treatments at night that have seemed to help. Dylan starts honking whenever he gets excited which is about 10 to 15 times a day. His episodes usually do not last longer then a minute (except bathtime ones).

I hope your vet can help Turtle. I followed their story and was so glad that they were finally rehomed together. PM me if I can help in any way.

MindieRose · 02-26-2008, 07:31 AM

Is that what that honking is? My mother in laws dog (maltipoo) does it a lot when she gets excited or drinks too fast.

tpaxton23 · 02-26-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Is that what that honking is? My mother in laws dog (maltipoo) does it a lot when she gets excited or drinks too fast.

Yes, it is probably a collapsed trachea.

DorkyYorkies · 02-26-2008, 02:11 PM

I am taking him to the vet to have a pre-dental exam done this week (he has a bad build up of tartar), so I will definitely ask the vet about this and have him thoroughly examine him. Thanks so much for all of the advice!

Kate · 02-26-2008, 08:40 PM

Sadie will be six years old in April. She honks off and on, but only when she gets excited. What I do is hold her chin up and stroke underneath her chin, and that helps her breathe better. Also, sometimes getting her out in the fresh air will help.

Do not use hairspray, candles, etc., as this will make it worse.

Also, it could be a condition called reverse sneezing.

Please let us know what you find out.

Good luck.

sadiesamie · 03-01-2008, 11:21 AM

xrays is your best option. they are around 80-100.00
I also no longer keep a collar on my little one. Nothing around the neck at all. They make cough syrups that help with the coughing. If your dog is coughing ask the vet about Hydromet.

but first do xrays. try to video tape your dog also. that helps the vet see what your dog does. Most cameras have video option on them these days and that came in handy for us. sometimes it's hard to get our dogs to do what we are talking about when at the vet. :-)

must save Joey · 03-06-2008, 07:35 PM

My Joey has this goose-like cough so I know what you mean. It happens to him when he gets overly excited and is also thought to be more frequent with season respiratory allergy season. I was shown by a doggie chiropractor how to help little Joey when this happens and it works. If you feel the promonate bones on both sides of his chest at the top of front legs as he sits straight up you will notice a divet or "valley" between them. This is where his trachea is located. When Joey is stretched forward and honking like a goose (which is very stressful to both of us I must say) I gently massage this divet area and it seems to release that trachea and it is corrected. I have also heard that if you live in a cold climate it can help to take him out into the cold to correct it. Good luck. It does sound though like you may have additional problems more extensive than Joey since it involves eating and drinking.

fab1835 · 03-20-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by must save Joey

My Joey has this goose-like cough so I know what you mean. It happens to him when he gets overly excited and is also thought to be more frequent with season respiratory allergy season. I was shown by a doggie chiropractor how to help little Joey when this happens and it works. If you feel the promonate bones on both sides of his chest at the top of front legs as he sits straight up you will notice a divet or "valley" between them. This is where his trachea is located. When Joey is stretched forward and honking like a goose (which is very stressful to both of us I must say) I gently massage this divet area and it seems to release that trachea and it is corrected. I have also heard that if you live in a cold climate it can help to take him out into the cold to correct it. Good luck. It does sound though like you may have additional problems more extensive than Joey since it involves eating and drinking.

Our 5 yr. old Yorkie, Jingles died from a collapsed trachea on Feb. 9, 2008. He was on meds for this condition and was at the vets office twice the day he died. Spare yourself the heartache and get x-rays for your beloved yorkie. Do not guess.

Keno · 03-21-2008, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fab1835

Our 5 yr. old Yorkie, Jingles died from a collapsed trachea on Feb. 9, 2008. He was on meds for this condition and was at the vets office twice the day he died. Spare yourself the heartache and get x-rays for your beloved yorkie. Do not guess.

Oh dear! That is so sad. I have had to have Keno on Hydromet once but that was when she was a puppy.

I was never told of collapsed trachea. I need all this information.
I hope Turtle is fine. Maybe it is just a cough. Sending love.

Let us know what the x-rays show.
Prayers are on their way for a good diagnosis.

02-23-2008, 09:54 AM	#1
DorkyYorkies Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 123	Possible collapsed trachea? I adopted two yorkies (Duckie and Turtle) two weeks ago. Many of you may know about them from the posts here on YT. My question is concerning Turtle. He weighs four pounds and is 3 years old. He seems to be having signs of a collapsed trachea, bronchitis, or some sort of respiratory cold. When he eats, drinks, or gets a bath, he sounds like a goose. It's almost like a cough, I don't really know how to explain it. It lasts for a good 5-10 minutes, and it seems to be getting worse. What do you guys think this could be? Do dogs this young generally develop collapsed tracheas? I really hope it's just something that can be fixed with medicine. I would hate for him to have to suffer with a collapsed trachea

02-23-2008, 09:58 AM	#2
addicted HAPPY 2008!!! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SGV, CA Posts: 1,299	My Bella is only 1 years old and she has collapsed trachea. I don't think they are ever too young to have it. I'm sorry, I don't know what it could be. Have you taken them both in for a vet check yet? How are the two doing? Please post pictures! __________________ Linda Penny Simba Bella Chance joined CRAZY CLUB & NUDIST CLUB

02-23-2008, 10:23 AM	#4
BLEU BOY BARBER Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,760	I am totally unaware just wanted you to know we read the thread and will say a prayer.. Just be sure to use a harness and be careful when they go up any doggy stairs they catch their chins on the bottom especially if your baby is small. Handle with care is the best advice I have and I am sure you probally already do dat! __________________ *Spoiled Rotten Mama's Boy* *Bleu Boy 's Sophie* We Are Wrapped Around Your Little Paws Bleu Boy Barber Dedicated Atlanto Axial Subluxation Paw Parents

02-23-2008, 10:38 AM	#6
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,343	The only way to tell if he has a collapsed trachea is to have your vet do xrays. It's possible that his former owners used a collar on him and damaged his throat. Here is some information about the condition: http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=410 __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ High Quality Handmade Bows for the Pampered Pooch

02-26-2008, 04:48 AM	#7
tpaxton23 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 840	It does sound like he may have a collapsed trachea. One of my two year old yorkies, Dylan, was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea after his neuter surgery at 8 months old. Collapsed trachea's are genetic. I have never used anything but a harness on mine and he still developed the collapse. 5 to 10 minutes is a long time for an episode. I can usually get Dylan to stop honking if I pick him up and calm him or distract him by getting him to smell something. I've been told the more they cough the more damage it causes so it's better if you can try to shorten the episode. There is also medicine that they can prescribe to quiet the cough but my vet doesn't want him on anything until his condition worsens and he really needs the medicine. A humidifier should help turtle and we also use nebulizer treatments at night that have seemed to help. Dylan starts honking whenever he gets excited which is about 10 to 15 times a day. His episodes usually do not last longer then a minute (except bathtime ones). I hope your vet can help Turtle. I followed their story and was so glad that they were finally rehomed together. PM me if I can help in any way. __________________ Dylan's Dogster Diesel's Dogster Maddie's Dogster Jixer's Dogster

02-23-2008, 10:09 AM	#3
DorkyYorkies Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 123	Yes, I took them in for a vet check and shots two days after I got them. The cough was not that bad when I took them, so the vet wasn't concerned about it. That's why I wonder if it's just a cold or something. I don't use collars on them either. I am thinking we may have to go for a re-check and find out what's going on. They have been doing great other than that! I will definitely take some pics and post them.

02-26-2008, 07:31 AM	#8
MindieRose YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 463	Is that what that honking is? My mother in laws dog (maltipoo) does it a lot when she gets excited or drinks too fast. __________________ Proud Mommy of Gavin, Ethan, Morgan, Nia, Olivia, and Kiana. Also Mommy to Cleo(Maltipoo), Joe and Lola(Shih-Tzus), Lilly Appletini and Diesel(Yorkies).

02-26-2008, 02:11 PM	#10
DorkyYorkies Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 123	I am taking him to the vet to have a pre-dental exam done this week (he has a bad build up of tartar), so I will definitely ask the vet about this and have him thoroughly examine him. Thanks so much for all of the advice!

02-26-2008, 08:40 PM	#11
Kate YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 745	Sadie will be six years old in April. She honks off and on, but only when she gets excited. What I do is hold her chin up and stroke underneath her chin, and that helps her breathe better. Also, sometimes getting her out in the fresh air will help. Do not use hairspray, candles, etc., as this will make it worse. Also, it could be a condition called reverse sneezing. Please let us know what you find out. Good luck. __________________ Kate & Sadie If it's not a Yorkie, it's just a dog.

03-01-2008, 11:21 AM	#12
sadiesamie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: McKinney, Texas Posts: 588	xrays is your best option. they are around 80-100.00 I also no longer keep a collar on my little one. Nothing around the neck at all. They make cough syrups that help with the coughing. If your dog is coughing ask the vet about Hydromet. but first do xrays. try to video tape your dog also. that helps the vet see what your dog does. Most cameras have video option on them these days and that came in handy for us. sometimes it's hard to get our dogs to do what we are talking about when at the vet. :-) Last edited by sadiesamie; 03-01-2008 at 11:23 AM.

03-06-2008, 07:35 PM	#13
must save Joey Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: florida Posts: 12	My Joey has this goose-like cough so I know what you mean. It happens to him when he gets overly excited and is also thought to be more frequent with season respiratory allergy season. I was shown by a doggie chiropractor how to help little Joey when this happens and it works. If you feel the promonate bones on both sides of his chest at the top of front legs as he sits straight up you will notice a divet or "valley" between them. This is where his trachea is located. When Joey is stretched forward and honking like a goose (which is very stressful to both of us I must say) I gently massage this divet area and it seems to release that trachea and it is corrected. I have also heard that if you live in a cold climate it can help to take him out into the cold to correct it. Good luck. It does sound though like you may have additional problems more extensive than Joey since it involves eating and drinking.