Quote:
TRACHEA COLLAPSE
There can be a weakness in the trachea and if it collapses the dog cannot breathe. Emergency surgery and inserting plastic devices or coils can be done in some cases to keep the dog alive. This can be caused by severe hacking from a cold or it can be a congenital thing.
Symptoms -- A loud honking, dry cough. Gasping, unable to breath.
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That doesn't seem like most of the description I have read...I mean, it's all technically true, but paints a somewhat innacurate picture of CT.
It makes it sound like a collapse event in these dogs is in itself life threatening. Very few dogs die from CT, most dogs with the defect never show symptoms, those that do vary a lot in degree. Some cases are quite severe and require surgery, but most manage with changes in lifestyle and / or medication.