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yorkie729 04-17-2011 05:22 PM
My first post and heart broken
 
Hi everyone! I have a five year old yorkie named Hershey. He is the perfect dog. He is playful, friendly, sweet---just perfect. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea a few years ago. He has been on meds but his condition keeps getting worse. I brought him back to the vet last week and he recommended the stent surgery for him. I am soooo afraid for him to get this surgery. It would be the intraluminal one so he wouldn't need to be cut open. I have read so many negative things about the success rate of this surgery. The question is---do I just wait until he really can't breathe and then take him for the surgery, or do I take him for the surgery and hope he lives a couple more years? I just don't know what to do. Are there any success stories with tracheal stent surgery? I'm bringing him to the specialist on Tuesday for a consultation. I am so sad.

cally930 04-17-2011 05:27 PM
Hi and welcome. I don't have any information for you but I'm sure someone will come along and answer your questions. I just wanted to wish you luck with your little one.

Sammy Mommy 04-17-2011 05:33 PM
I'm so sorry that you and your baby are going thru this. Sending good thoughts and prayers to you both.

lisaly 04-17-2011 05:35 PM
I'm so sorry about your baby. It sounds like Hershey has a more severe case of CT. My little one, Gracie, had CT since she was very young, and surgery was not recommended for her. Her sister, Ashley, had a milder case of it, and she lived to almost seventeen. I don't know a lot about success rates with surgery, but I've read it's not very effective for some pups. I think a second opinion with a specialist is a great idea. Please let us know how it goes. You and Hershey will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Suze225 04-17-2011 05:52 PM
Hello and welcome!!!!! I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but I don't. Just letting you know I am thinking of you and your baby with this tough decision!! I couldn't imagine it!!!

wemple2 04-17-2011 06:24 PM
My first Yorkie, Spencer had CT...he did not have surgery and lived just short of 12 years. The vet suggested weight control as the first option, beings he was overweight, this helped a great deal. How big is Hershey? Maybe this is an option for you as well. Also never, ever put a collar on him, a halter is best.
I would definately get more then one opinion on surgery, this is a big step and may not give you the results you hoped for, read everything you can about the procedure so you and your vets can come up with a reasonable answer. Good luck, welcome to Yorkie Talk and I do hope you stick around and keep us updated on Hershery's progress.

Lil Sis 04-17-2011 06:43 PM
I wish you luck with your decision

Foster Mom 04-19-2011 07:14 AM
My little boy had CT, the vets office did it during his dental they were not careful while intubating him. After about 2 1/2 years we found his heart was enlarged and he was on meds for it and lasix. He had ultrasounds done and we found it was caused by the way he breathed beause of the trachea. The last ultrasound he had the vet said he was improving very much and he had a great prognosis. ^ weeks later he woke one morning and was struggling to breathe and his breath sounds were very wet so we rushed him to the vet, his tounge was blue. The vet heard a new murmur and a new valve leak and said he would be lucky to make it thru the day there was nothing more that could be done. We had to let him go, I could not watch him suffer anymore. Broke my heart he was my baby.

EsmeeKimme 04-19-2011 07:58 AM
So sorry to hear about your furbaby. :(

trin7 04-19-2011 08:02 AM
I found this page about collapsed tracheas and it explains things pretty well. I thought it would be interesting for anyone with a Yorkie. I've read a few things on Google and surgery sounds like a good option with quite a few positive results. Wish you and your pup all of the best. Please let us know how you're doing.:)

Tracheal collapse

Rhetts_mama 04-19-2011 08:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkie729 (Post 3503931)
Hi everyone! I have a five year old yorkie named Hershey. He is the perfect dog. He is playful, friendly, sweet---just perfect. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea a few years ago. He has been on meds but his condition keeps getting worse. I brought him back to the vet last week and he recommended the stent surgery for him. I am soooo afraid for him to get this surgery. It would be the intraluminal one so he wouldn't need to be cut open. I have read so many negative things about the success rate of this surgery. The question is---do I just wait until he really can't breathe and then take him for the surgery, or do I take him for the surgery and hope he lives a couple more years? I just don't know what to do. Are there any success stories with tracheal stent surgery? I'm bringing him to the specialist on Tuesday for a consultation. I am so sad.
I'm sure the vets have explained to you that by waiting until the condition worsens, you will be putting him in danger of developing complications that the surgery won't be able to fix.

Hopefully, the specialist will provide some clarity for you.

Mardelin 04-19-2011 08:15 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama (Post 3505797)
I'm sure the vets have explained to you that by waiting until the condition worsens, you will be putting him in danger of developing complications that the surgery won't be able to fix.

Hopefully, the specialist will provide some clarity for you.
The decision should be discused and made with one's vet. Each situation is different.

To the OP I know the decision is difficult, but only the expertise of your vet will help you through this. We are here for support while you are going through this sittuation, but by all means we are not experts.

shodanusmc 04-19-2011 08:32 AM
I wish you the best. Hard decision for sure, but do not wait until he can't breath. Then it may be too late.

Bella Mae 04-19-2011 08:44 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope you find the right resources to make the best decision. It will be hard no matter the path you choose.
God bless you!

gidget529 04-19-2011 09:31 AM
I really feel for what you are going through, but really have no advice unfortunately. My 1st yorkie had a collapsed trachea which got worse as she aged; however, she had other complicating medical problems, so noone ever suggested the possibility of surgery for her trachea. I can understand how agonizing this decision is. All I can do is pray for your little one and for you that somehow you find the help you need for your little one. :animal-pa

yorkie729 04-19-2011 11:02 AM
I really want to thank all of you for your advice and well wishes. I just got back from the specialist in NYC. Stent surgery is an option but she wants to try different medications first to see if that helps. He will be taking prednisone, theophylline, tussigon and now an antibiotic will be added. She said it's possible that he has an infection that hasn't been detected and that could be making his breathing worse. His trachea is anywhere from 65-75% collapsed so it definitely is a problem. She said that if we can control the clinical signs then we can stay away from the surgery for now. Hershey weighs 12 pounds so we are going to put him on a diet so hopefully that helps too. I definitely feel a lot better about everything but of course I'm still scared. I'm really hoping to see a difference with the meds and his new diet. She also thinks the surgery has a good chance of being successful if we went that route.

lisaly 04-19-2011 02:06 PM
I'm so glad that you took Hershey to the specialist and that he you are now feeling more hopeful about his prognosis. I am really pulling for both of you. I know how difficult this is to cope with, and by getting the best medical care for him and with your love, your baby's quality of life will be so much better.

marcie 04-19-2011 02:32 PM
I am so glad you took Hershey to the specialist. You are a great mom. These kind of things make us worry ourselves until we can't sleep or eat.

wemple2 04-24-2011 11:56 AM
Sounds like you are on the right track...good luck to you and Hershey.

lexi43 04-25-2011 03:11 AM
We have our fingers and paws crossed for Hershey.
From our gang Zoe, Zach, Oliver, Chloe, and Cleo

darnlora 04-25-2011 10:40 PM
Crossing fingers and toes!!!! Hugs coming to you !!!!!

Mom to Hot Rod 04-26-2011 10:32 PM
Best of luck to you and Hershey. I can appreciate a bit of what you must be going thru as the last dental Hot Rod had, his vet said that his trachea was irritated and that she recommended keeping an eye on it. I hope that the meds will help your little one.

MI Yorkielover 04-27-2011 02:56 AM
I am glad your specialist gave you some optimism. Sending positive thoughts, prayers and hugs to you and little Hershey :bighug:

kjc 04-27-2011 04:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkie729 (Post 3505961)
I really want to thank all of you for your advice and well wishes. I just got back from the specialist in NYC. Stent surgery is an option but she wants to try different medications first to see if that helps. He will be taking prednisone, theophylline, tussigon and now an antibiotic will be added. She said it's possible that he has an infection that hasn't been detected and that could be making his breathing worse. His trachea is anywhere from 65-75% collapsed so it definitely is a problem. She said that if we can control the clinical signs then we can stay away from the surgery for now. Hershey weighs 12 pounds so we are going to put him on a diet so hopefully that helps too. I definitely feel a lot better about everything but of course I'm still scared. I'm really hoping to see a difference with the meds and his new diet. She also thinks the surgery has a good chance of being successful if we went that route.
I tried to research that type of surgery and couldn't find much about it on dogs, just humans. So I think it's a newer procedure and may be more successful than what has been done to try to correct this problem in the past. The University of Tennesee is doing reseach on different methods and tools for CT so maybe contact them in the meantime.

I do hope the medications can give your pup some relief. I'll pray that they work. Losing weight and trying to limit excitment will also help. They also have more trouble in hot weather, so keeping him in a cooler environment may help too.

Please keep us updated... wishing you both the best...

zowiandnikasmom 04-27-2011 06:21 AM
you & hershey will be in my thoughts and prayers!

Sandysbabies 04-27-2011 08:06 AM
Since we are going through the same thing with Kayla, I certainly know how you feel. Scares you to death. We now have her on OM prescription dog food. Obesity Management is put out by Purina. I really hate all those prescription dog foods. Have gone through this before with a baby that had diabetes. But, right now the weight is the more important thing. I hope Hershey gets to feeling better and can lose some weight too. You pray for us and we will by all means pray for your little Hershey.


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