Narrowing trachea
 

Hello Everyone, I'm so glad I found this forum. My new little guy "Barney" has had health problems ever since we picked him up. He's had Kennel Cough since 8/04/05. The doctor put him on an antibiotic and a bronchiodilator since that time. He seemed to be getting better, but still has the cough. I took him to our regular vet which is 60 miles from our home, but I love her and I thought it was time that she saw him. She listened to his lungs and immediately said he had pneumonia. The vet that prescribed the meds said his lungs sounded better. She took an xray and her findings were: He has a 50% narrowing of his trachea and his heart is swung over to the left indicating a collapsed lung lobe. He has patchy pneumonia in other parts of his lung and probably a consolidating pneumonia L. middle lung love. She said he needed an immediate tracheal wash with cytology, culture and sensitivity and hospitalization, IV fluids and abs, bronchiodilators, nebulization, coupage. She recommended that we return him. He is eating and gaining weight and is active. I called the lady we got him from and she agreeded to take him back, but she doesn't seem to think that this is all that bad. She said that the cough will last about 5 weeks and we are going into our 4th week. She is paying the vet bill and seems very caring. She and her vet said that this is the normal process he needs to go through and will be better. She also said he doesn't need the tracheal wash at this time. I'm so confused I don't want to give him up, but the doctor said that he will require lifetime healthcare. Has anyone out there gone through this with their Yorkie. I trust the lady that we bought him from, but I'm scared. I have agreed to keep him for now. I am to call her on Friday and he will see their doctor again. In the meantime he will continue on his meds. Help!

I do not want to alarm you at all, but one member here did have their Yorkie die after having a tracheal wash. :( Here are the threads by that person, one highly respected breeder here does not recommend a tracheal wash for our Yorkies. Please try to find out as much as possible and perhaps get a second opinion if need be before making a decision. Good luck, we'll be thinking of Barney and wishing him well.

Here are the threads:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...=tracheal+wash
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...=tracheal+wash
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...=tracheal+wash
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...=tracheal+wash

I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to your questions. Please read the threads that Fasteddie suggested, and know our thoughts and prayers are with you.

If he is active, playful, and eating/gaining wt, I would wait a while. You don't want invasive procedures unless they are life-saving. Red flags with dogs is decreased appetite, decreased activity-sounds like you know that already. I agree with the breeder.

I would definitely get a 2nd opinion. After reading about a member's puppy dying after a tracheal wash, I would want to be sure that was the only *lifesaving* technique that would work for your pup.

Please keep us posted. Our thoughts are with you !

After re-reading your post, I would agree that the kennel cough can be overcome. THe part that really worries me is that his heart is where his lung should be, since his lung has collapsed. That is really serious. Can it be repaired with surgery once his kennel cough is gone? What are the chances of his lung inflating again and being healed?

Thank you all so much for your kind words and thoughts. In researching his medical condition I've found that the lobe is part of his lung. The breeder has assured me that everything will go back in place when this kennel cough goes away. He's seems like a tough little guy. Jennifer thank you for the comments. I'll ask the doctor about his lung inflating after the infection is gone. I didn't even think about that.