My Dog Was Just DX with 2 Diseases...

[EdgyVeggie]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum, and am so happy I came across it! I have a beautiful 2 year old male Yorkie, named Charlie. He was born on 8/15/03. I live on Long Island, New York.

I'm apologizing ahead of time for this extremely lengthy post!

I had my regular Vet refer me to a huge hospital nearby that has different departments for each problem and deals with all types of animals. I recently found out some terrible news about my precious Charlie and have been doing extensive research online for the past 4 days, ever since I found out the results of his tests. This past Friday he had a CBC, a Urinalysis, Chest X-Rays, and a scope down his Larynx under fluoroscopy, all while under anesthesia. It turns out he has a "grade 2" Collapsed Trachea that is 50% collapsed as of now. He also has Laryngeal Paralysis. I was also told that his "valve is failing". (About the valve failing...I was in such shock today when the veterinarian surgeon told me the risks, that I don't remember what valve he was referring to and what that means.)

The vet that gave Charlie the tests (and that would perform the surgery if I decided to have it) called me back today to answer a list of questions that I had. He told me that the chance of surviving the 2 surgeries is 50% / 50%. My dog is luckily in excellent health besides those 2 problems. The vet said that he recently performed 8 of those surgeries and the first 7 survived it and fully recovered, but the last dog died right on the operating table. The dog was 4 lbs and was 3 years old with perfect health except for those 2 problems that my Charlie has. He said that Charlie does have an advantage over that dog, and it is that he weighs 12 lbs! He isn't overweight at all...he is just longer and taller than most Yorkies. (His mother is 6 lbs and his father is 3 lbs...Go figure!!!) The vet said that smaller dogs' organs can't take too much strain, and since Charlie is 3 times bigger than the dog that died during surgery, he has more of a chance of surviving the surgery.

There are a lot of complications that could happen during surgery, but I have found out from doing a ton of research that the risks associated particularly with the Laryngeal Paralysis surgery generally occur in the post-surgery time period. Some possible post-op complications that I have learned about are: inhalation pneumonia due to water/saliva going down into lungs during surgery--my vet said that happens about 10% of the time (which I guess could be classified as being a risk during the operation as well as post-op), as well as hemorrhaging, aspiration pneumonia, scarring causing obstruction of the airway, progression of neurological signs despite surgical correction, heart problems, and thyroid problems.

The vet said that it is completely a gamble...I could let him live out his natural life without the surgery and hope for the best, or have the surgery and hope for the best. If I decide against the surgery, he could be suffering. His attacks have seemed to be getting better recently. It seems to come and go. When it gets bad, he coughs, gasps, honks...it's horrible. It happens out of the blue, but is brought on by barking, howling, running, and also when he gets excited or stressed. So, basically the vet said to keep his exercise, barking, excitement, etc to a minimum from now on, except until after surgery if I decide to go that route. The thing that is scaring me is that if he is only 2 years and 2 months old now and his trachea is collapsed 50% already, the rate of the trachea collapsing seems to be at a fast rate. He seems like he is doing much better now, but the vet said that he knows what he saw and it was not good. Also, sometimes he has really bad months; sometimes he has really good months, so he might just be having a good month now.

I know I have to give him the surgery, because I don't want him to suffer at all, but I just feel like I am gambling with his life! What I plan to do is call the hospital tomorrow (well, later on today, if I actually am able to fall asleep) and see if I could get copies of all the films and paperwork from his tests. I will then look for a good hospital and see if I could get a 2nd opinion without putting my dog through anymore tests because I don't want to subject him to anymore anesthesia, as it is extremely risky especially with his breathing problems.

I just can't believe this! I have been so meticulous when it comes to Charlie's care and health. I always feed him healthy and organic foods and treats, as well as brush his teeth every 1-2 days, keep up with his flea/tick & heartworm care, keep up with regular checkups, and make sure he has adequate exercise, etc. He was my first dog I ever had. I wanted a dog my entire childhood, and at age 26, I finally got him. I was so nervous when I first got him; I wanted to make sure I did everything "right" for him. Obviously, some things in life you have absolutely no control over.

Thank you for letting me babble on and on about this. I guess I am just thinking my thoughts out with this post. I know what I have to do, but it is just so hard. I have to make the biggest decision of my life and am so scared.

If any of you are familiar with either of these diseases, please reply to this post or PM me. Like I said above, I live on Long Island, New York, so if anyone knows of any excellent veterinarians and surgeons anywhere...Long Island, New York City, where ever, please let me know, especially if they are familiar with treating Collapsed Tracheas and Laryngeal Paralysis.

If you made it this far down on my post...Thank you all and may all of your furry babies be well!

[bettyeanne]

I am so sorry to hear about your Charlie! He is only a month younger than our Toto and she has been so healthy all her life, I cannot imagine how you must be suffering with these difficult decisions! Having no experience with either of these diagnosis, the only advice I might offer, you are already doing and that's looking for a second opinion. We too have always provided the "best of everything" for Toto as you have for Charlie! The only thing I can tell you is that we will be praying for Charlie and you that everything will turn out OK. Please keep us posted and hopefully there will be better advice forthcoming from some of our more knowledgeable members.

[red98vett]

Omgosh...I am so sorry for you and Charlie ! That's awful news...while I can't help you make decisions...I've heard they can have sucessful Trachea Surgeries...and hopefully someone with experience will come and post to you -

I just want to say good luck and you have my prayers...you must be so devestated and I'm very sorry.....I hope you can get the help you need so Charlie can live a happy life....

[EdgyVeggie]

Thank you both for your thoughts and prayers. It really makes me feel good that there have been so many people that have responded to my posts. The more positive energy that goes towards Charlie's health, the better.

The weird thing is,is that he seems fine. He always runs around the house and plays with us. When he goes for walks, he drags us around. He howls when the fire station's alarm goes off, he does the 30+ tricks that I taught him, barks when the neighborhood dogs bark and when someone comes to the front door, begs for brushes, gives kisses throughout the day, etc.

I told my vet from day one (before any signs of coughing) to check him out for the top 3 problems that usually occur with Yorkies: Collapsed Trachea, Liver Shunt, and Luxating Patella. He always told me not to worry--"those things don't happen until he would be much older". About a month after I got him, he started coughing. My vet told me to keep track of it. I made a list of the date, time, and how long it lasted. It started about 3 times/day, maybe 3 days/week. Every visit I would tell him that I think it's a collapsed trachea. He would tell me not to worry about it. It would be a little better for a little while, then worsen, then better, etc. It started turning into a honking, gasping, squealing, almost hyperventilating noise. My vet told me to check his gums next time and see if they turn white. I told him they got lighter pink, but not white. He told me not to worry about it.

Then, all of a sudden, last month, he started doing it about 8 -12 times/day, lasting about 8-10 seconds each. One day I got so scared...he had an episode and it lasted about 12 seconds. He looked up at me with a scared look. I just did what I always would do when it happened...hug him and tell him "it's okay". It lasted so long that I was about to blow air in his mouth, but then it finally stopped. I said "F" my vet, I'm taking him to a hospital. That's when I took him for a checkup and then for the test a few weeks later, which was this past Friday.

The hardest thing is trying to understand that surgery is so necessary, since he hasn't been doing it as much. He is still his same old hyper self, running around in circles, bouncing off the walls, always wanting to play catch. I know that it is just a good month, but it seems like he is fine now. Even when it's a bad month, he acts completely normal except for when he has an episode. But right after he has an episode, he runs around, just like normal, as if nothing happened. It's just so easy to say "he seems fine" and just try to keep him from running around and keep him calm. But I know that this always happens, where he has good months and bad months. And like the Vet at the hospital said, he is only 2 years old and already his trachea has collapsed 50%.

Well, there's no sense stressing over this until I make my calls today and find another Vet to give me a 2nd opinion.

Red98Vett--I, too, have heard lots of success stories about fixing Collapsed Tracheas. In fact, the same Vet at the hosp performed a Collapsed Trachea surgery on a Yorkie I know and she is 100% better now. The most dangerous thing is that not only would they have to do that surgery, but they will have to fix the Laryngeal Paralysis...which is the most dangerous according to the Vet, as well as fix the failing valve.

Thank you both again for your kind words. I will definitely keep you posted if there is anything going on.

Take care.

[eensor]

I'm sure you know this, but just incase you don't....make sure he is not wearing a collar with his leash. Harnesses are better for their tracheas. I'll be praying for you and your little guy, Charlie! Where are you on Long Island? I used to live in Stony Brook! I eent to grad school there. LI is so beautiful....and EXPENSIVE!!!

[dexter]

First of all, I am sooo sorry to hear all the stress and drama you are having to deal with about the vets and testing. My Dexter is 10 months old, and I am worried about him. When I come home he gets really excited...and sometimes does this thing that sounds like he is having an asthma attack. It's like he can't get enough air in. My vet diagnosed it as kennel cough...but I didn't think it was that. (he only did it when he was really, really excited) anyway...just to be safe, I put him on the medicine. now when he does it, i just try to comfort him...it's so sad because he acts like he's in trouble. (he's very sensitive anyway...the slightest change in my tone of voice makes him put his ears down and ease up to my face for very aprehensive kisses) anyway...it comes and goes...like one week it will be pretty consistent and then he won't do it for months. i had even forgotten about it until he started doing it this week again.


i changed vets...for several reasons...but my new vet doesn't seem to think it's a problem...he called it an "inverted sneeze" should i get a second oppinion too?

[EdgyVeggie]

eensor--Yes, I knew about the problems caused by collars before I got my dog. I use a collar just to put his tags on when he goes out. But I hook his leash to his harness. Thank you for offering your advice to me though. I live in Hauppauge...only about 15-20 minutes from Stony Brook! Where did you move to now?

dexter--For 2 years, I kept saying to myself & my boyfriend that I want to take him to another vet for a 2nd opinion, but never acted upon my hunch. I am hating myself now for not going to another vet because if I would have caught the collapsed trachea from day one, it could have possibly prevented the paralysis of his larynx from developing as well as the valve problem. Plus, I could have at least tried to treat the collapsed trachea with alternative treatments before surgery. I would strongly suggest that you get a 2nd opinion. Charlie's problem started out similar to what Dexter does...first with a single cough, then it eventually turned into a deep breathing in and out, sort of like catching his breath, like gasping, then eventually all the rest of the sounds started as time progressed. I'm glad to see that you said Dexter went months w/o any symptons, so it probably isn't it, but you should make sure. By all means, I don't want to scare you, and I hope I am not, but you are better safe than sorry. I would give anything to go back 2 years and get a 2nd opinion. I do think it's definitely worth it to put your mind at ease. I hope little Dexter is okay. Hopefully it is just a minor thing that is treated with medicine. I will pray for the little guy too. Please let me know how everything works out. He will be in my thoughts along with my Charlie.

[whispersmom2]

Oh, EV, I am so sorry to hear about your baby's problems. I THINK I read recently that a vet and a human anesthesiologist have developed a stint to help repair the trachea. I believe the procedures being done at the PA vet school. Please research the procedure and have it done if the vets agree on second and third opinions that it is necessary.. This is becoming more common or at least it is being diagnosed more often..Mercy me, I cannot pretend I know how you feel but I do know that you are agonizing over the whole thing..We will all support you when you decide what the treatment will be..In the meantime, we will send prayers your way..

[dexter]

Thanks Edgy...for the advice. Dex is scheduled for a check up next month...and if my vet doesn't think anything of it, i'll make an appointment somewhere else.

Amber

[yorkieusa]

I'm so sorry! We love them so very much and when something like this comes along we feel so helpless. I don't have any experience with either of these things but I have read some about trachea surgery. They can do wonders these days. The hard part for anyone is knowing how much they can withstand and in your case you have a healthy doggie otherwise. My heart goes out to you. I know you are hurting right now.