tracheal collapse - YorkieTalk.com Forums

lexi'smom · 06-24-2005, 06:21 PM

We went to the vet yesterday and lexi was dx with tracheal collapse, she is inly 5 months onl on monday. The vet said it is very common and not to worry, if it gets worse he will proscribe some meds. Is he right when he says it is very common and not to worry? I am a nervouse wreck now and can't let her out of my sight for a second. When i hear lexi coughing my hight stops and i rush to her. Does n e one have any advice for me, how do i stop freaking out? We love her so much, please help. Is this common?

Annadoodle · 06-24-2005, 06:52 PM

I wish I knew more on it. I just know that these little dogs can be prone to it. Maybe someone else is dealing with this same problem....
I worry about that myself....
Thinking of you.

Olivier · 06-24-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexi'smom

We went to the vet yesterday and lexi was dx with tracheal collapse, she is inly 5 months onl on monday. The vet said it is very common and not to worry, if it gets worse he will proscribe some meds. Is he right when he says it is very common and not to worry? I am a nervouse wreck now and can't let her out of my sight for a second. When i hear lexi coughing my hight stops and i rush to her. Does n e one have any advice for me, how do i stop freaking out? We love her so much, please help. Is this common?

It is common in small breed .

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-24-2005, 10:14 PM

It is common but I was always told that it doesn't show up until middle age. I think she may be too young for a tracheal collapse diagnosis. I would maybe take her for a second opinion to another vet just to be safe.

letty00 · 06-24-2005, 11:36 PM

My baby Lacy was diagnosed with tracheal collapse at 10 months old. I noticed her coughing and at first thought she had kennel cough so I took her to the vet. I was totally surprised when it was her trachea. They start coughing when their airways close up. I was really freaked out about it for a long time. I didn't want to let her run around the house and get too tired and start coughing. I'd worry about if she was going to be able to catch her breath and if she wasn't what was I going to do to try to save her. But then I thought she's a dog she likes to run around and have fun. I'm still really cautious about it and she's now 16 months old. I let her run around the house now with her brother Cruz who's a chihuahua/yorkie mix, but when she starts panting a lot I stop them from running around the house so she can catch her breath. The worriness never goes away. I'm still really uneasy about it. But I gotta let her have some fun and just be a happy little dog. It's impossible to keep them from playing and running around. But just try to limit her exercise. Don't let her get too tired to where she starts coughing. Hope this has been helpful!!

Good luck to you and your baby!!!

Gypsy Rose · 06-25-2005, 12:51 AM

Both of our girls,Gypsy Rose and Gizzie Chavi (aged nearly 2 and 1 resp) have some similar type of problem although I suspect that it is "reverse sneezing" in their case... it sounds frightening and is often I think confused, even by vets for a collapsing trachea - I once heard a little Bichon frise cough in the same way as Gypsy Rose (only had her then) and I stopped and talked to the owners as they were pinching her nostrils, gently but firmly...I have done this ever since and it does seem to help. My girls even come to me now so that I can try it..! It could be worth a try? Another thing I do is blow very gently up their nostrils!! Distraction also works at times. Hope this helps, Ana xx

red98vett · 06-25-2005, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gypsy Rose

Both of our girls,Gypsy Rose and Gizzie Chavi (aged nearly 2 and 1 resp) have some similar type of problem although I suspect that it is "reverse sneezing" in their case... it sounds frightening and is often I think confused, even by vets for a collapsing trachea - I once heard a little Bichon frise cough in the same way as Gypsy Rose (only had her then) and I stopped and talked to the owners as they were pinching her nostrils, gently but firmly...I have done this ever since and it does seem to help. My girls even come to me now so that I can try it..! It could be worth a try? Another thing I do is blow very gently up their nostrils!! Distraction also works at times. Hope this helps, Ana xx

I'm sorry to hear that about your baby - if I WERE to answer - I would say exactly what Gypsy Rose says...Hopefully it's very mild and there are lots of yorkies that are just fine with this diagnosis but she is young to already have this. Just always use a harness and try the tricks in the above post - it works GREAT - Chanel & Cheri both have reverse sneezing and I can usually stop it right away gently pinching their little nostrils.

Olivier · 06-25-2005, 06:28 AM

Gioia have a collapse trachea .

lexi'smom · 06-25-2005, 07:15 AM

thank you for the wonderful help, SO....is she too younge to have this at only five months...do you think it is just a cough and go to another vet. It is mostly at night when it is bed time i haven't really heard it while she runs around. I heard it three times last night, we have pulled her into our room for the time being she used to sleep in a crate in her own room but i am so freaked out. My husband and i bearly slept, just listened to her breath all night. It sounds like a dry hack, i heard it a few days ago for the first time and now it is prob about 5to 6 times a day mostly while she is laying down. Shee seems fine, still eating/drinking, making, and playing just this darn cough that scares the **** out of me. I am a wreck, i am going to the grocery store this a.m. and my neighbor is coming over to watch her that is how freaked out i am. Does it get better? DO they live long happy lives? Do i need to check her breathing every few minutes bc i find myself doing that? I wish it would go away, i know that sounds nieve but i want her to be all better, she is just a baby. Hasn't even lost her teeth yet. Thank you, really thank you to everyone for your advice. I am going to try the tricks to distract her when she coughs.

Olivier · 06-25-2005, 08:43 AM

I know gioia have it because I have seen 3 different vets . Collapse trachea never goes better by itself . Some dogs need surgery , some don't . You can ask for a second opinion . Be sure to always let her throat free of collars etc , etc .

Stitches29 · 06-25-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexi'smom

We went to the vet yesterday and lexi was dx with tracheal collapse, she is inly 5 months onl on monday. The vet said it is very common and not to worry, if it gets worse he will proscribe some meds. Is he right when he says it is very common and not to worry? I am a nervouse wreck now and can't let her out of my sight for a second. When i hear lexi coughing my hight stops and i rush to her. Does n e one have any advice for me, how do i stop freaking out? We love her so much, please help. Is this common?

I met another Yorkie Mama at the vet one day. Her baby was 12 years old. I noticed that he was coughing. I asked her if he has a cold. She said that he had a collapse trachea, and had it all his life. She said his was oval shaped. When he got excited, it would collapse. She hugged him close and told him it was okay. Then he just stopped coughing as fast as he started.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-25-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexi'smom

thank you for the wonderful help, SO....is she too younge to have this at only five months...do you think it is just a cough and go to another vet. It is mostly at night when it is bed time i haven't really heard it while she runs around. I heard it three times last night, we have pulled her into our room for the time being she used to sleep in a crate in her own room but i am so freaked out. My husband and i bearly slept, just listened to her breath all night. It sounds like a dry hack, i heard it a few days ago for the first time and now it is prob about 5to 6 times a day mostly while she is laying down. Shee seems fine, still eating/drinking, making, and playing just this darn cough that scares the **** out of me. I am a wreck, i am going to the grocery store this a.m. and my neighbor is coming over to watch her that is how freaked out i am. Does it get better? DO they live long happy lives? Do i need to check her breathing every few minutes bc i find myself doing that? I wish it would go away, i know that sounds nieve but i want her to be all better, she is just a baby. Hasn't even lost her teeth yet. Thank you, really thank you to everyone for your advice. I am going to try the tricks to distract her when she coughs.

I think it sounds like kennel cough. Chai got kennel cough at 5 months from a vet visit. I worried it was a trachea problem but the cough went away in about 6 weeks. She doesn't do it anymore. She also did it at night and morning when it forst started and then it became an all day thing for a week or so and then went away. he vet did put her on anantibiotic, but, some do and some don't. I don't know if the antibiotic helped or not but it eventually went away.

Did the vet hear the noise? I couldn't get Chai to do the cough until her second visit. If you can videotape of audiotape record it that might help the diagnosis.

Just some thoughts.

Marie · 06-25-2005, 10:51 AM

Im so sorry Lexi was dx with collapsed trachea. You can read this info on Tracheal Collapse. I Hope it helps. Please keep us posted how she is doing.

whispersmom2 · 06-25-2005, 12:40 PM

When trachea collapse is diagnosed at this early age, it might get worse as your baby ages. Don't use collars or anything around the neck. A biggie is DO NOT ACT CONCERNED AND GRAB YOUR BABY UP AND CUDDLE AND TALK ALL SAD. You know the voice we use when they hurt. It will only re-enforce the coughing. Be very matter of fact when you pick her up as you surely will. There is a method of breaking the collapse/spasm and if you will PM me I will try to tell you how to do it.. Remain totally matter-of-fact when you deal with this problem or you will get a baby who learns such actions/behaviors get attention and they will learn to use it..
Collapsing trachea is more common in toy breeds and even more common in Yorkies. The cricoid rings that should be round and more formed cartilege has become softer and oval in breeding the dogs to down-size the breed. Because of those characteristics a gasp or series of deep, rapid breaths will suck the trachea together and then the sound you hear is the result..It is scary but once we know what it is, we can learn to deal with it and not panic. Good Luck with your baby. Of course, I am not trying to be your vet so always check with her before trying ANY suggestions that I write...

lmackey · 06-27-2005, 10:53 AM

I had a Silky Terrier that had the problem very bad, it used to break my heart to hear her. While on my second Silky a friend told me to stroke the throat area firmly (I use downward strokes) when the dog is having an attack. It works beautifully, must relax the trachea or something, don't know, just know it works. Hope this helps, I now have a Yorkie and she sometimes has little spells but I now know what to do.

06-24-2005, 06:21 PM	#1
lexi'smom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 645	tracheal collapse We went to the vet yesterday and lexi was dx with tracheal collapse, she is inly 5 months onl on monday. The vet said it is very common and not to worry, if it gets worse he will proscribe some meds. Is he right when he says it is very common and not to worry? I am a nervouse wreck now and can't let her out of my sight for a second. When i hear lexi coughing my hight stops and i rush to her. Does n e one have any advice for me, how do i stop freaking out? We love her so much, please help. Is this common? __________________ Lexi's Mom, Laura Support Our Troops Proud Wife of an AIR FORCE PILOT

06-24-2005, 06:52 PM	#2
Annadoodle A Yorkie Touched My Heart Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: "soon to be" MO Posts: 1,550	Gosh..I hate to hear this for you... I wish I knew more on it. I just know that these little dogs can be prone to it. Maybe someone else is dealing with this same problem.... I worry about that myself.... Thinking of you. __________________ Melissa & "Sophie Girl" Support Our Troops Supporting Courtney's Fight

06-25-2005, 07:15 AM	#9
lexi'smom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 645	tracheal coll... thank you for the wonderful help, SO....is she too younge to have this at only five months...do you think it is just a cough and go to another vet. It is mostly at night when it is bed time i haven't really heard it while she runs around. I heard it three times last night, we have pulled her into our room for the time being she used to sleep in a crate in her own room but i am so freaked out. My husband and i bearly slept, just listened to her breath all night. It sounds like a dry hack, i heard it a few days ago for the first time and now it is prob about 5to 6 times a day mostly while she is laying down. Shee seems fine, still eating/drinking, making, and playing just this darn cough that scares the **** out of me. I am a wreck, i am going to the grocery store this a.m. and my neighbor is coming over to watch her that is how freaked out i am. Does it get better? DO they live long happy lives? Do i need to check her breathing every few minutes bc i find myself doing that? I wish it would go away, i know that sounds nieve but i want her to be all better, she is just a baby. Hasn't even lost her teeth yet. Thank you, really thank you to everyone for your advice. I am going to try the tricks to distract her when she coughs. __________________ Lexi's Mom, Laura Support Our Troops Proud Wife of an AIR FORCE PILOT

06-25-2005, 10:51 AM	#13
Marie Mom loves Gucci Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 6,427	Im so sorry Lexi was dx with collapsed trachea. You can read this info on Tracheal Collapse. I Hope it helps. Please keep us posted how she is doing. __________________ Huggies, Gucci and Marie http://www.dogster.com/?132187 "I have been egged"

06-24-2005, 10:14 PM	#4
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	It is common but I was always told that it doesn't show up until middle age. I think she may be too young for a tracheal collapse diagnosis. I would maybe take her for a second opinion to another vet just to be safe.

06-24-2005, 11:36 PM	#5
letty00 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Banning, CA Posts: 333	My baby Lacy was diagnosed with tracheal collapse at 10 months old. I noticed her coughing and at first thought she had kennel cough so I took her to the vet. I was totally surprised when it was her trachea. They start coughing when their airways close up. I was really freaked out about it for a long time. I didn't want to let her run around the house and get too tired and start coughing. I'd worry about if she was going to be able to catch her breath and if she wasn't what was I going to do to try to save her. But then I thought she's a dog she likes to run around and have fun. I'm still really cautious about it and she's now 16 months old. I let her run around the house now with her brother Cruz who's a chihuahua/yorkie mix, but when she starts panting a lot I stop them from running around the house so she can catch her breath. The worriness never goes away. I'm still really uneasy about it. But I gotta let her have some fun and just be a happy little dog. It's impossible to keep them from playing and running around. But just try to limit her exercise. Don't let her get too tired to where she starts coughing. Hope this has been helpful!! Good luck to you and your baby!!!

06-25-2005, 12:51 AM	#6
Gypsy Rose Owned by Gyps and Gizz Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wales Posts: 629	Both of our girls,Gypsy Rose and Gizzie Chavi (aged nearly 2 and 1 resp) have some similar type of problem although I suspect that it is "reverse sneezing" in their case... it sounds frightening and is often I think confused, even by vets for a collapsing trachea - I once heard a little Bichon frise cough in the same way as Gypsy Rose (only had her then) and I stopped and talked to the owners as they were pinching her nostrils, gently but firmly...I have done this ever since and it does seem to help. My girls even come to me now so that I can try it..! It could be worth a try? Another thing I do is blow very gently up their nostrils!! Distraction also works at times. Hope this helps, Ana xx

06-25-2005, 06:28 AM	#8
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	Gioia have a collapse trachea .

06-25-2005, 08:43 AM	#10
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	I know gioia have it because I have seen 3 different vets . Collapse trachea never goes better by itself . Some dogs need surgery , some don't . You can ask for a second opinion . Be sure to always let her throat free of collars etc , etc .

06-25-2005, 12:40 PM	#14
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	When trachea collapse is diagnosed at this early age, it might get worse as your baby ages. Don't use collars or anything around the neck. A biggie is DO NOT ACT CONCERNED AND GRAB YOUR BABY UP AND CUDDLE AND TALK ALL SAD. You know the voice we use when they hurt. It will only re-enforce the coughing. Be very matter of fact when you pick her up as you surely will. There is a method of breaking the collapse/spasm and if you will PM me I will try to tell you how to do it.. Remain totally matter-of-fact when you deal with this problem or you will get a baby who learns such actions/behaviors get attention and they will learn to use it.. Collapsing trachea is more common in toy breeds and even more common in Yorkies. The cricoid rings that should be round and more formed cartilege has become softer and oval in breeding the dogs to down-size the breed. Because of those characteristics a gasp or series of deep, rapid breaths will suck the trachea together and then the sound you hear is the result..It is scary but once we know what it is, we can learn to deal with it and not panic. Good Luck with your baby. Of course, I am not trying to be your vet so always check with her before trying ANY suggestions that I write...

06-27-2005, 10:53 AM	#15
lmackey YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1	I had a Silky Terrier that had the problem very bad, it used to break my heart to hear her. While on my second Silky a friend told me to stroke the throat area firmly (I use downward strokes) when the dog is having an attack. It works beautifully, must relax the trachea or something, don't know, just know it works. Hope this helps, I now have a Yorkie and she sometimes has little spells but I now know what to do.