The first vet did actually see a small collapse. She said it wasn't severe though and they even sedated him and had a good look down the throat. The second Doctor did a full intubation bc at that point it had progressed so fast that no one knew what was going on. On those X-rays she could see the lung looked like it had fluid (which wasn't actually what was going on... The bronchi was so collapsed at that point that no air was entering the one side). Then at the vet ER once they removed the breathing tube they could see the full collapse. The intubation at the vet was actually keeping the trachea open. The most important thing to do is keep the cough under control. He had a few episodes leading up to his death where the coughing went on too long. I believed the vet that said it was irritation due to an inflamed tonsil. My mistake. I've heard great things about hycodan which is an opiate so some vets don't want to prescribe for young dogs. But it was something that I insisted on and my vet convinced me that there was no way that this was a serious trachea issue. I would do research on vets that specialize in small breeds and are experienced with collapsed trachea. To really fully diagnose a fluoroscopy has to be done which requires intubation. This is where I believe a lot of added damage is done to the delicate trachea. Don't let them intubate at all if you think it's collapsed trachea. My vet insisted that it would not cause any damage and that it def would not progress as fast as it did. Again she wasn't up to date on the issue. I think you are on the right track with treating for a bronchial infection. I think that's where my boys issues may have started. And it just wasn't treated properly. Best of luck to you. I know there are some members on here that have dogs that are older than 10 years and living with collapsed trachea. So if it's caught and treated early I think your pup will have a long life. In my opinion there is a few cases like mine where it's just a genetic issue and he was dealt a bad card. For it to progress so fast it's poor breeding. He never had a chance. So sorry for what you are going through. Not knowing is so scary.

can you tell me what "episodes" you refer to? Like what was his coughing like? Were they just when he would get excited or bark? I took her to the Vet on Saturday and asked for the X rays the vet had suggested this the second time I had brought her a few months ago with the similar situation. Her symptoms were worse this time...her cough was longer and as if something was stuck in her throat, she also had like a congested nose....I am so sorry to bother you with so much detail, I just want to see if what happened to your baby is similar to what my Bambina is going through, like I had mentioned they gave her temaril p and hycodane...thanks for all your input

Yes a persistent cough. Like a hacking cough. The first night it lasted all night and through the next day even after we left the vet. Then the prednisone seemed to work so that's why I though maybe it was the tonsil issue the vet was talking about. She said it would continue and not to be worried if it happened again. So stupid I was to listen! Of course something more serious was happening and the coughing usually started at night time. Unfortunately I was told to ween him off of the prednisone and that's what allowed the episodes to begin again. Sometimes after he got excited about something. I was usually able to keep him calm and it would stop. He was always quite excitable esp if ppl came over. It started as a random honk here and there and never lasted more that a couple of minutes but then there was one episode that lasted all night on and off and that's when we went to the vet. Who acted like there was no way it was collapsed trachea even after I insisted that it was. He was so worked up after that visit that the honking went on almost for the rest of the night. Finally it stopped and he seemed to be improving. I called the vet to let her know and she seems fine with the fact that it took so long to stop. She said it was normal and that the prednisone would work. I asked about the hycodan and she said to give robitussin!! Are you kidding me... I'm literally so dumb for not taking him right then to another vet. But the vet makes him more anxious and then the cough would start again and it had been only one day since he stopped. Anyway it sounds like you are def on the right treatment plan. I've heard great things about the hycodan and I really hope that you are able to manage this. It's such an awful thing to not know when an episode will happen. I've heard ppl that keep their pups on the hycodan for the rest of their lives and they do great.

oh gosh, this is all so new to me...never had a dog of my own...my mom had a little chihuahua but he never really had any issues...now that I have this little yorkie , on this group I have learned a lot...especially all the health issues they can have...thanks so much for sharing your story definitely helps a lot!

It really is so scary all the health issues that can arise from bad breeding. My first yorkie is 15 and going strong with very little health issues throughout his life. I thought I did my research when choosing a breeder the second time around. I've even emailed her to let her know that he passed but she hasn't responded. I just hope that she has improved her standards and really checking the quality of the dogs she is breeding. I only hope that no one else has to experience the heartache of losing a beloved dog to genetic issues that are avoidable. Sorry for what you are going through.