Collapsing Trachea Update

[greyhame]

I also have a 18 month 2. 8 lb yorkie with collapsing trachea. Isnt there any successful surgeries for this condition...greyhame

[Zanders' mom]

Originally Posted by MissSophie

Ours does this honking and sucking in when she has pulled too hard on her leash. We always use a harness for walks. However, she has also done it just for no reason. It is not often, and our vet said she would need to hear it first since she wasn't sure if it was reverse sneezing. When it is over, she seems just fine. We still don't know what it is, and she is six years old.

Hi, my Zander started doing this same thing, in July of last year. I freaked out, the vets that I called said don't worry it is reverse sneezing, for peace of mind I took him in, yeap, .. he is fine. The vet said Zander had allergies to something in the air. My instincts told me, or something he is eating? The vet was more than eager to dispense meds. I told him, I'd do some research.... and get back to him. Well around the time, this was happening, I had gotten my Baby Jazzie she was on Natures Variety so I was transitioning Zander to it as well. I started to wean him off of the NV, I haven't seen a reverse sneeze ever since. Sooo, he was allergic to an ingredient in the food. Phew!

[luvmyorkie]

Originally Posted by silent_soul

hi my name is sharon i have 2 teacup yorkies.. CHYNA AND PIA
CHYNA IS 4 PONDS, AND PIA (BABYGIRL) is 2.3 ponds they both have collasped treacheas plus the cough..
my vet has given me TOBATROL FOR THE COUGHING AND TREACHEA AND ROBITUSSIN DM (HUMAN) FOR THE COUGH..BOTH HAVE HELPED TRAMENDASLY1.of course ask your vet for dosage instruction,,
~sharon~

Sharon,

my lil one HATES taking the cough medicine. I administer the med through a medicine dropper. She's so tiny though and she moves her head about frantically - I'm scared I'm going to hurt her. Do have any tips on getting her to take it?

[luvmyorkie]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents. I have a 1.5 year old yorkie-poo (she weighs 2.5 lbs) and she does the same thing every time she drinks her water. The vet says she's fine...

[fab1835]

Originally Posted by yorkiegirl83

I took McKenzie to the vet last week because she was having attacks that seemed like reverse sneezing when she would drink water or get too excited and I was worried it was CT.

The vet pressed on her throat and said McKenzie didn't cough, and usually a dog with CT does. She gave me some pills basically to keep her lungs open and clear and said to give her 1/4 pill every day.

I haven't given her the pills because she only has this happen once/twice every few days, but she just had a major one where her eyes were watering she was honking and her sides were heaving and she couldn't catch her breathe. I usually put her on my lap when this happens and gently massage the sides of her throat until it subsides.

I'm really scared though. My vet didn't seem to think it necessary to do any additional testing, and she IS a good vet and I do trust her, but I'm just not sure what to do.

She's supposed to be getting spayed in 2 weeks and I'm afraid to have it done w/her coughing issues and am unsure if the meds are just a band aid.

Should I insist on having a more detailed test done?

I'd really appreciate any help on this, I just don't know what to do and I'm terrified...

Our dog Jingles, a 5 year old Yorkie died on 2/9/08 from a collapsing trachea. He was diagnosed with it last year and was on meds for it. The day he died he reversed sneezed twice, I gave him his pill and it didn't help. We brought him to the vets twice that day but it didn't help. My vet held Jingles nose too but nothing happened, so he gave him X-Rays and the collapsed trachea showed up. Be smart- X- Rays!!!

[Kate]

Originally Posted by fab1835

Our dog Jingles, a 5 year old Yorkie died on 2/9/08 from a collapsing trachea. He was diagnosed with it last year and was on meds for it. The day he died he reversed sneezed twice, I gave him his pill and it didn't help. We brought him to the vets twice that day but it didn't help. My vet held Jingles nose too but nothing happened, so he gave him X-Rays and the collapsed trachea showed up. Be smart- X- Rays!!!

This is just heartbreaking. My condolences. I just don't know what else to say. So sad!

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by fab1835

Our dog Jingles, a 5 year old Yorkie died on 2/9/08 from a collapsing trachea. He was diagnosed with it last year and was on meds for it. The day he died he reversed sneezed twice, I gave him his pill and it didn't help. We brought him to the vets twice that day but it didn't help. My vet held Jingles nose too but nothing happened, so he gave him X-Rays and the collapsed trachea showed up. Be smart- X- Rays!!!

I'm sorry about your baby .

We haven't done xrays yet as the vet doesn't see it necessary. I put a humidifier in their bedroom and it has helped tremendously.

I think it could be the really harsh winter we are having here. She doesn't take medication anymore and only coughs after drinking usually.

[tpaxton23]

Thanks for the update. I have a 2 year old yorkie, Dylan that has a collapsed trachea (CT) and the humidifier at night will help. It sounds like your yorkie probably does have a slightly collapsed trachea. If it is only slightly collapsed it is hard to see on xrays anyway. I switched vets because my old vet didn't really know what to do for the CT.

Dylan currently isn't on any medications because he is so young and the new vet wants to wait until he really needs them. CT usually continues to get worse as they age. University of Tennesse does surgery on CT babies but only if the dog cannot be managed with medicine anymore. The surgery is pretty risky and the success rate is not that great yet. I'm hoping by the time my baby needs surgery that they have made lots of progress with the procedure.

My new vet said the most important thing for a CT baby is to keep them from getting overweight and keep them in good shape. I hope your little one continues to do well.

Did you get her spayed?

[luvmyorkie]

I also hope your lil one continues to do well. My vet told met that if you gently blow in their face while they are having an episode, it helps them to breath.

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by tpaxton23

Thanks for the update. I have a 2 year old yorkie, Dylan that has a collapsed trachea (CT) and the humidifier at night will help. It sounds like your yorkie probably does have a slightly collapsed trachea. If it is only slightly collapsed it is hard to see on xrays anyway. I switched vets because my old vet didn't really know what to do for the CT.

Dylan currently isn't on any medications because he is so young and the new vet wants to wait until he really needs them. CT usually continues to get worse as they age. University of Tennesse does surgery on CT babies but only if the dog cannot be managed with medicine anymore. The surgery is pretty risky and the success rate is not that great yet. I'm hoping by the time my baby needs surgery that they have made lots of progress with the procedure.

My new vet said the most important thing for a CT baby is to keep them from getting overweight and keep them in good shape. I hope your little one continues to do well.

Did you get her spayed?

Thank you for the reply! It makes me feel better to know others are dealing with this as well (even though I wouldn't wish it on anyone's babies).

I did have her spayed and she came through with flying colors! Her recovery was extremely fast and she didn't even seem phased afterwards thank goodness!

She does love her walks so we make sure to do that daily (as long as it isn't bitterly cold out) as well as playing around the house.

I do free feed and probably give too many treats, but I am starting to cut way back on the treats and give tiny tiny treats as opposed to larger pieces.

She's just over a year and is 4.2 lbs.

At her annual coming up soon I will be talking more in depth about the CT issue to see what else I can do to help her through this.

Thank you so much again!

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by luvmyorkie

I also hope your lil one continues to do well. My vet told met that if you gently blow in their face while they are having an episode, it helps them to breath.

Thank you very much -- sometimes that does help when I do it.

Normally I only notice the episodes after she drinks water too quickly and sometimes on very very cold days.

[SWEETJADE74]

Originally Posted by vyorkies

Just lost my little guy Dec. 13th 2007, 13 years old. I never let him get overweight. But the enlarged heart just shut his trachea enough, it happen so fast. No medicine could not fix him this time. But I was so blessed to have him for 13 years. My vet gave him six years.

How old was your dog when you found out her had CT?
I just found out he has it and Angel is now 20 months old..
And he is on a 3 small meals a day diet, taking 2 different meds every 12 hours and exercising is minimal and NO stairs...Im freaking out, but the last few weeks since I have found out I think I have heard him cough a total of 2 times.
How long can yorkies live with CT? Do you now, anyone know?
Please help!

[SWEETJADE74]

Originally Posted by greyhame

I also have a 18 month 2. 8 lb yorkie with collapsing trachea. Isnt there any successful surgeries for this condition...greyhame

Success is very poor Ive looked into it.
Im in Greece and I have a 20 month old Yorkie.
Angel was diagnoded 2 weeks ago with CT and I have been a wreck since.
He is too tiny to be suffering.
Anyhow, Im from America, called docs in USA & Canada and no one suggests the surgery, just the diet, minimal exercise and diet (3 small meals a day)