YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - How do I know this is just a reverse sneeze?

YorkieShadow · 02-02-2007, 08:56 PM

Collapsed Trachea:

The trachea is the valuable structure that connects the throat to the lungs. It is made up of 35-45 rings of cartilage that are joined by muscles and ligaments to create the ?tube? that is know as the trachea. When the rings are closed from top to bottom, the trachea is collapsed. Rapid gasping for air can cause the trachea to flatten and make it hard for air to enter the lungs.

Toy dogs tend to have an abnormality in the genetic makeup of their tracheas. The rings easily loose their rigidity and are not able to retain their round shape.

Collapsed Trachea is different than reverse sneezing. Reverse sneezing is when the back of the throat spasms. The dog stands still, stretches out their neck, and often becomes bowlegged while they are trying to get air. It honks, wheezes, and often snorts during reverse sneezing episodes. Often the spasms will cease if they swallow a couple of times or if you close off their nostrils so it has to breathe through its mouth for a few seconds.

Other unique signs will differentiate tracheal collapse. If your dog breathes with a raspy sound or coughs reflexively when you rub their neck, they could have collapsed trachea. If the cough is one or two expulsive bursts, typically with a gag or retch at the end, they could have collapsed trachea. The most common sign is a chronic cough. It is often dry and harsh, and the phrase ?goose honk? has been used to describe the condition. Coughing is often worse in the daytime. You should contact your vet ASAP if you experience any of these serious signs.

This is the main reason anyone who knows about the breed will recommend a harness as opposed to a collar/leash for a yorkie. Leashes attached to collar put too much pressure on the delicate tracheal structure.

Visit http://www.animalclinic.com/colltrac.htm for more information on collapsed trachea.
I Got this information from the link below.
http://www.mylittlemia.com/yorkiecare.html
There is a thread here on YT where one of the members shared a video of their Yorkie with Collapsed Trachea . YOu should try to find that . By watch it it may help you to know if this is how your Yorkie is acting.

02-02-2007, 08:56 PM	#11
YorkieShadow BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 9,999	Collapsed Trachea: The trachea is the valuable structure that connects the throat to the lungs. It is made up of 35-45 rings of cartilage that are joined by muscles and ligaments to create the ?tube? that is know as the trachea. When the rings are closed from top to bottom, the trachea is collapsed. Rapid gasping for air can cause the trachea to flatten and make it hard for air to enter the lungs. Toy dogs tend to have an abnormality in the genetic makeup of their tracheas. The rings easily loose their rigidity and are not able to retain their round shape. Collapsed Trachea is different than reverse sneezing. Reverse sneezing is when the back of the throat spasms. The dog stands still, stretches out their neck, and often becomes bowlegged while they are trying to get air. It honks, wheezes, and often snorts during reverse sneezing episodes. Often the spasms will cease if they swallow a couple of times or if you close off their nostrils so it has to breathe through its mouth for a few seconds. Other unique signs will differentiate tracheal collapse. If your dog breathes with a raspy sound or coughs reflexively when you rub their neck, they could have collapsed trachea. If the cough is one or two expulsive bursts, typically with a gag or retch at the end, they could have collapsed trachea. The most common sign is a chronic cough. It is often dry and harsh, and the phrase ?goose honk? has been used to describe the condition. Coughing is often worse in the daytime. You should contact your vet ASAP if you experience any of these serious signs. This is the main reason anyone who knows about the breed will recommend a harness as opposed to a collar/leash for a yorkie. Leashes attached to collar put too much pressure on the delicate tracheal structure. Visit http://www.animalclinic.com/colltrac.htm for more information on collapsed trachea. I Got this information from the link below. http://www.mylittlemia.com/yorkiecare.html There is a thread here on YT where one of the members shared a video of their Yorkie with Collapsed Trachea . YOu should try to find that . By watch it it may help you to know if this is how your Yorkie is acting.