Heart Murmur/Collapsed Trachea
 

Hi fellow Yorkie Lovers, First time on site and looking for some help please.

I own a 12 year old male Yorkie (BUD), he is a normal fit, healthy dog, with good appetite and loves excercise. However about two years ago he was diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur, which we were told wouldn't necessarily cause him any problems. He was fine up until a few months ago when he started to have coughing fits, they have got progressively worse and he now sounds as if he is trying to cough something up (which he doesn't), it is a real hacking sound. However once he does it he is fine again. It usually lasts for about 15 - 20 seconds and can happen any time night or day, when he gets excited or when he is sleeping, he can just wake up, have a coughing fit then go back to sleep again. The vet seems unsure what is wrong, an x-ray showed no damage to trachea but an enlarged heart which is apparently consistent with the heart murmur. She tried him on tablets Vetmedin and Lasix for this which he has been on for 4 weeks and which have not made any difference. She is now saying that the problem is with his trachea and she wants to try codeine and then a steroid. We are a bit concerned as it seems as if she is just grasping at straws and wants to just keep giving him a cocktail of drugs which may or may not help the problem (also these are not cheap!) Trial and error may be the way to go but I am just a bit concerned to keep giving my dog drugs he doesn't need. Has anyone had any similar sort of problems and can help? Thank you so much for reading this, look forward to hearing from you. Laura

I'm no expert, but it does sound as if a second opinion is in order.

Heart Murmur/Collapsed Trachea
 

Thanks, yeah that was our next move, just wondering if anyone else had experience anything similar. Will let you know how we get on.

Poor Bud...I hope you get it figured out! I don't have any expertise for you...just wanted to say best wishes and I think I'd go for that second opinion!

Heart Murmur/Collapsed Trachea
 

Thanks Connie, it's really hard trying to get a good vet recommended but we will keep trying. As for Bud he is neither up nor down, it's us that are freaking out. Will keep you updated.

Laura

Hello and welcome to YT. I dont know any thing about heart murmur,But heres a site on Collapsed Trachea http://www.mylittlemia.com/yorkiecare.html
My Little boy does the same thing and when he does I put my fingers over his nose and rub his throat he will then swallow and once he does hes fine. It only takes a few sec. Good Luck and please keep us updated. I will keep him in My Thoughts and Prayers.

Heart Murmur/Collapsed Trachea
 

Thanks for that I will have a look, it does sound like the symptoms for collapsed trachea but the xray showed nothing wrong - very confusing. Will be going for second opinion I think.

Thanks again, Laura

Welcome, Laura. First, just wanted to say that Xrays will not necessarily show any abnormalities when a Yorkie has Collapsing Trachea unless it is collapsed at the time the film is done. The vet can palpate the sides of the neck and cause the symptoms if it is indeed a tracheal problem. As for the drugs the vet wants to try--of course, it is always wise to have a second opinion. However, codeine is the drug of choice for severe uncontrollable coughing in dogs and humans. The steroid will help with any inflammation in the trachea.
When a grade 3 heart murmur is detected, it can very well be causing pulmonary edema (swelling or fluid in the lungs) but that would show onXray if the films are clear. Lasix would be the drug for that.
I would take the Xrays and go to another vet-maybe even a specialist if possible. Your baby is at the age when we as humans and our Yorkies can start with some age related problems.

Ewok does the same thing and we are on week three of anitbiotics. He says Ewok has a swollen adnoid? His cough has gotten a little better so hope hes right.

Thanks for that information, will keep you updated.

Hope Ewok gets better soon.

Heart Problem
 

Hello,
I was wondering how Bud is doing? I have a Yorkie who is 12 yrs old his name is Gizmo. He has been diagnosed with a heart condition and takes Lasix as well as some other medication for his coughing. He seems to be doing better and when I took him to the Vet today he said that all is well but I cannot exoect the coughing to cease entirely. He gave him some powder to put on his food as he is lacking potassium and now has muscle weakness. Sometimes he will just fall over. To make matters worse, he is blind... and has been for several years. Just doesn't seem fair as he is the cutest and most loving dog. He is like my child, I have had him since he was about 2 months old. I hope that Bud is better now?

Heart Murmur/Collapsed Trachea
 

Hi,

Bud is a bit better now, we took him to a new vet who seems more clued up. He is on Vetmedin - 1 tablet twice daily and the new vet has put him on Corvental-D for his coughing, he was on Lasix but was losing control of his bladder, constantly drinking and peeing like a waterfall!!! So the vet suggested we wean him off them, he is now off the Lasix completely but still takes the other two. The vet also told us not to expect the coughing to go completely and other than having a cough he is as fit as a fiddle, still loves his walks and exercise and eating. So hopefully we will still have a good few years left in him. Hope Gizmo is ok, they are resilient wee dogs so I am sure there is still plenty life left in both of them.

Cheers

Laura

Monkey does this coughing thing too. Maddie also did it. Mostly when they would get excited. I only anticipate it getting worse with age. Monkey's fits are not very long or often, but when Maddie would do it (mostly when I would walk through the door coming home), I would pick her up and gently stroke the sides of her throat and speak to her softly to calm her down. She would stop pretty quickly.

Do you put your fingers over the TOP of her nose or close the opening of his nostrils so he'll breath through his mouth? I also rub the throat and that seems to help.

Someone mentioned stroking the throat. Does it matter if you stroke the front or the sides of the throat?