Collapsed trachea_Help us please.
 

Dear yorkie lovers,

I am an owner of a yorkie Manyasha, we are from Moscow, Russia. Manyasha is 11-years-old. In general she is quite well, we have almost never had problems with her health.

Around a year ago she started coughing when she got excited. Coughing was rare and short (few minutes). However, over time she started coughing more, longer and the cough has become loud and deep. Now she coughs every day very often. We went to a few vets and recently, 2 weeks ago, Manysha underwent tracheoscopy. The results showed that she has got tracheal collapse, it reaches 85%. It means that the trachea is 85% narrower than it should be. The vets said that Manyasha requires surgery, quite urgently. They said the one option for us is placing a stent, other options (other surgeries) are not suitable as they are more experimental and the vets are less sure about them. However, stent placement isn't a panacea either. There are side effects like stent moving etc.. So, now we have to make a very serious and difficult decision. (Btw we have taken a lot of meds, antibiotics, hormones etc - almost no effect at all)

Does anyone has the same problem? Does anyone's doggy already have a stent? I would be very grateful for any your feedback, especially concerning the stent placement.

Thank you very much in advance. I so badly need some advice. Ksenia

I am so sorry about your little girl. I had a pup with collapsing trachea that was very bad, but my vet did not recommend surgery. I know scary and serious it is. My heart and prayers are with you.

Thank you very much for your reply and support.. What happened to that pup of yours with CT? How did you help him or her?

I am very sorry for you and Manyasha. One of the Yorkie exhibitors here recently post about a new treatment for collapsed trachea. It is called Adequan and reportedly has had very positive results in dogs who suffer CT. You could ask your doctors if this treatment is available where you live.

Here is the post about it: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...blem-news.html

My little angel passed away when she was 9.5. She had collapsing trachea from the time she was very little. I have always wondered if it was from being debarked as a young pup. My past breeder was so taken with Gracie, and although she was small, she was hoping that she would get big enough to breed. She had her debarked which makes me very sad, but Gracie was able to develop her voice, and she was such a happy little girl. When she was still tiny at 6.5 months old, her breeder asked me if I would take her. Nothing would stop Gracie. She lived life at full speed. In hot weather or when it was very cold i carried her a lot when I walked her two other Yorkie sisters, but I let her walk part of the way. The biggest thing I did was to always carry ice with me to cool her off. When she would start to struggle to breathe, her temperature would rise. I often had to submerge her in the sink to get the breathing under control. Gracie also would jump in our pool several times a day to cool down. She'd let me know when she wanted to go out to the pool. I always thought I'd lose her to one of her acute attacks, but she died a day after barking the whole day when our landscapers were doing a leaf cleanup. She was just so excited, and it must have been too much for her heart to bear. My vet talked to me after she passed away, and he was so kind. He said she lived years longer than he had expected because of the care she received. Gracie was such a special dog, and we will never forget her. Even with her CT, she was so full of life and love. I wish I could help you more.

very sorry for what you and manyasha are going through. i know there are many threads with great info here on ct. wishing you the very best if you move forward with the stent and keeping manyasha in my prayers.

Tnank you very much Maximo for your information, I will definitely find out more info about it in my country. Thank you Lisaly for what you shared with us.. I am very very sorry for what happened... I cannot imagine my life without our little Manyasha. I will take into account your advice concerning cooling. Thank you for your feedback and support Rubymoon2072.