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ktjack · 02-16-2014, 11:47 AM

I apologize for any spelling/typing errors.. this is very difficult for me.

I am doing the best I can to spread the word on how dangerous a collapsed trachea is. My dog Jack was 7 years old. He showed signs of a collapsed trachea in August 2013. I brought him to the emergency room when he couldn't calm down... he kept honking and couldn't take full breaths in. After x-rays and a full night in the hospital he was diagnosed with the collapse and put on prednisone and cough suppressants. I saw a specialist so we can adjust his lifestyle, because we are all told that a collapsed trachea is common, not treatable, but can be managed. He was well taken care of. He had another flare up in December. He started barking at a meter man and it frightened him. He was brought back to the hospital and again placed on medication. My poor little guy. He seemed okay, he was doing good, he was my little guy again and I was very good with keeping him calm and relaxed.

Then something horrible happened almost a month later. Jack, like most dogs, heard me in the kitchen and got excited thinking about food!. He jumped off the couch and somehow broke the nail on his back paw. Blood was trailing behind him but he just cared about the food! (Typical Jack)

I wrapped it up and decided I needed to bring him to the vet. This was his normal vet, not the emergency hospital. I warned them that he was having difficulties and needed to stay calm. Well, the excitement was too much and the staff was indifferent to the loud honks and struggles of my pup while I had to wait 50 minutes after his scheduled time
(The excuse later was that "all" the doctors were on lunch break. I don't want to get into that.)His nail was pulled and the doctor didn't care about the breathing. I needed to bring Jack home to calm down, vowing to never go back to his animal hospital ever again.

Later on that evening Jack still couldn't breathe properly. I knew it was the collapse and I knew it had flared up. I rushed him to the emergency hospital.

That night Jack was put in the oxygen tank (he had been in there the two previous times) and finally at midnight I was told he had responded to a sedatives. He was asleep. I came in to see him in the tank, he tried to press his tiny face to the glass but was disoriented and panting. He was going to stay overnight.

5am comes. Jack stopped responding to medicine. They did all they could do. They inserted a breathing tube to keep him alive so I can get there. I don't remember the car ride.

Jack was in the ICU on a table, his face propped up so the breathing tube was kept at the correct angle. The place was full of dogs and staff but I didn't even hear them. I whispered that momma was here and I am so sorry. He was by himself that night, scared and struggling with strangers. I was always the one he felt safe and calm with..I wasn't there.. so heavily sedated, the breathing tube keeping him alive, I whispered in his ear again and again that I was there now and I love him so much. They pulled out the euthanasia needle, I think it was pink, I don't remember... and I told him to go to sleep. You know when sometimes you just hold your pup and whisper for him or her to go to sleep when they are struggling to stay awake? That's what I had to do.

The lady checked him, my face still pressed up to him, and said "I'm so sorry, he is gone." I was able to pick him up and he was heavy and still warm, but he was gone, he was just gone.

Jack was 7 years old. He only had breathing problems for 6 months before it killed him. They checked him for everything else, and a collapsed trachea was the problem
Please don't let anyone tell you it's common and manageable. Perhaps it is, but please ve vigilant. A month ago it killed my "son".

Hug your yorkie tonight. See the best veterinarians and always always opt for the best care possible. It is possible for dogs to stop responding to medicine. I never prepared myself for rhat..

I don't want to scare any of you. I just don't want anyone to be unprepared as I was, despite the attention he received. Before I left that morning I will never forget what I said to my mother. I said "I'm not ready to say goodbye." The rest is a painful blur that started a mourning so deep that I can only now type about it.

RIP Jack, my best buddy. Please remember that a collapsed trachea can kill dogs, sooner than you think.

02-16-2014, 11:47 AM	#1
ktjack YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1	Please read. It killed Jack. I apologize for any spelling/typing errors.. this is very difficult for me. I am doing the best I can to spread the word on how dangerous a collapsed trachea is. My dog Jack was 7 years old. He showed signs of a collapsed trachea in August 2013. I brought him to the emergency room when he couldn't calm down... he kept honking and couldn't take full breaths in. After x-rays and a full night in the hospital he was diagnosed with the collapse and put on prednisone and cough suppressants. I saw a specialist so we can adjust his lifestyle, because we are all told that a collapsed trachea is common, not treatable, but can be managed. He was well taken care of. He had another flare up in December. He started barking at a meter man and it frightened him. He was brought back to the hospital and again placed on medication. My poor little guy. He seemed okay, he was doing good, he was my little guy again and I was very good with keeping him calm and relaxed. Then something horrible happened almost a month later. Jack, like most dogs, heard me in the kitchen and got excited thinking about food!. He jumped off the couch and somehow broke the nail on his back paw. Blood was trailing behind him but he just cared about the food! (Typical Jack) I wrapped it up and decided I needed to bring him to the vet. This was his normal vet, not the emergency hospital. I warned them that he was having difficulties and needed to stay calm. Well, the excitement was too much and the staff was indifferent to the loud honks and struggles of my pup while I had to wait 50 minutes after his scheduled time (The excuse later was that "all" the doctors were on lunch break. I don't want to get into that.)His nail was pulled and the doctor didn't care about the breathing. I needed to bring Jack home to calm down, vowing to never go back to his animal hospital ever again. Later on that evening Jack still couldn't breathe properly. I knew it was the collapse and I knew it had flared up. I rushed him to the emergency hospital. That night Jack was put in the oxygen tank (he had been in there the two previous times) and finally at midnight I was told he had responded to a sedatives. He was asleep. I came in to see him in the tank, he tried to press his tiny face to the glass but was disoriented and panting. He was going to stay overnight. 5am comes. Jack stopped responding to medicine. They did all they could do. They inserted a breathing tube to keep him alive so I can get there. I don't remember the car ride. Jack was in the ICU on a table, his face propped up so the breathing tube was kept at the correct angle. The place was full of dogs and staff but I didn't even hear them. I whispered that momma was here and I am so sorry. He was by himself that night, scared and struggling with strangers. I was always the one he felt safe and calm with..I wasn't there.. so heavily sedated, the breathing tube keeping him alive, I whispered in his ear again and again that I was there now and I love him so much. They pulled out the euthanasia needle, I think it was pink, I don't remember... and I told him to go to sleep. You know when sometimes you just hold your pup and whisper for him or her to go to sleep when they are struggling to stay awake? That's what I had to do. The lady checked him, my face still pressed up to him, and said "I'm so sorry, he is gone." I was able to pick him up and he was heavy and still warm, but he was gone, he was just gone. Jack was 7 years old. He only had breathing problems for 6 months before it killed him. They checked him for everything else, and a collapsed trachea was the problem Please don't let anyone tell you it's common and manageable. Perhaps it is, but please ve vigilant. A month ago it killed my "son". Hug your yorkie tonight. See the best veterinarians and always always opt for the best care possible. It is possible for dogs to stop responding to medicine. I never prepared myself for rhat.. I don't want to scare any of you. I just don't want anyone to be unprepared as I was, despite the attention he received. Before I left that morning I will never forget what I said to my mother. I said "I'm not ready to say goodbye." The rest is a painful blur that started a mourning so deep that I can only now type about it. RIP Jack, my best buddy. Please remember that a collapsed trachea can kill dogs, sooner than you think.