|
Collapse Trachea Reasons After doing a lot of research and talking to people that have smaller breeds I feel I am learning more about CT. It seems most dogs that have severe difficulty with CT it is due to other problems. ex: enlarged heart, overweight, dental disease. Trauma to the neck (grooming) I am seeing a lot of small breeds that do cough when pulling on a leash and sometimes harness or drinking water that are 15 years old. So does that mean they have a CT or just a weak trachea. Have talked to people that have dogs that cough but when doing tests there is no sign of a collapse in the trachea. I have heard of dogs that do this cough thing and are still alive at 15 years old. So I am assuming they don't have a enlarged heart causing the trachea to get worse. So I thing the key here is to make sure you get your dogs dentals, exercise and keep them at the correct weight. Does anyone agree to that? |
My Ashley had an enlarged heart and collapsing trachea. We did yearly dentals until we discovered an enlarged heart close to her eleventh birthday and then only when absolutely necessary after that. She walked at least two miles a day, weather permitting, and her heart and lungs remained strong. My vet could not believe how fast she was. Ashley died just one month shy of seventeen. I definitely agree that dentals, exercise, and weight control are very important factors. |
That is awsome 17 years old. So did she always have collapse trachea and symptoms of CT and it only got severe when her heart enlarged? |
My first yorkie, Chelsea, had CT. She never wore a collar ever, and never had a weight or any other medical issue. The vet said a weak trachea is inherited, much like poor eyesight is in humans. She was diagnosed by physical exam and X-ray when she was just a couple of years old. It was managed for many years by regular exercise, and training her not to become over-excited, as that would set off coughing fits. The vet said her later enlarged heart and accompanying bulldog type stance was a result of the CT. Difficulty breathing causes the heart to enlarge. Years later, my dad has COPD (emphysema) and his breathing difficulties (30% lung capacity) have also caused his heart issues and enlargement of his rib/chest area as the disease has progresses, so it now makes sense to me. Chelsea lived 12 years with her CT, didn't require meds until her last few years and it didn't seriously affect the quality of life until her last three months. |
Ashley's collapsing trachea came about as she got older. It was the reason her heart became enlarged, which we discovered on an x-Ray when she was close to eleven. She had an echocardiogram, and mostly everything in her heart was within normal limits, so our vet concluded it was enlarged due to her trachea. Ashley's little sister, Gracie, had collapsing trachea, but it was much more severe. We took a lot of precautions with her, and she lived to 9.5 years old. |
Hi Kazzy Thanks for responding. So she never had medication for it? My dog is just a puppy and will do the quick fast cough like a clearing of the throat after drinking sometimes or if he scrathes his neck. I would assume at this point he would not need medicine for it? Is that correct> |
Even a dog at the perfect weight can have ct it's not caused by there weight it is only made worse by there weight. Ct is caused by weak cartilage rings around the trachea. Heart conditions generally cause coughing that does not mean they have ct. There are things that make ct worse like heat, being excited, haveing a collar on being overweight and stuff but that is not what causes it. Most dogs cough when there pulling on a collar that is one of the reasons I think every dog should be walked on a harness. |
I do beleive the dog is born with the trachea problem but somtimes later on life as they age it causes problems for them due to the heart being enlarged or being over weight (my mother in law has a overweight dog and he just started coughing and vet said it is due to him being overweight and it is pressing the trachea. He always had a weak trachea but never had symptoms from it until he gained the weight. |
Quote:
|
I understand that the weight does not cause it. I think some dogs just have a weak trachea from birth so if they get over weight and it presses on the trachea it can cause them to cough more. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:41 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use