My Dixie has a collapsed Trachea
 

We had to take our Yorkie into the Vet last night because she was coughing up a white foam and couldn't seem to quit coughing. When she was X-rayed they said she had a collapsed Trachea and gave her some pain medicine and sent us home saying they would call tomorrow after the radioligest reads the X-rays. I got on the computer this morning and found this site to learn more about Dixie's condition. It is making me very sad to read because I don't think there is any hope of recovery for her. She is a wonderful little dog who is about 6 1/2 yrs old. She lays in the crook of my husband's arm on her back and sleeps while my husband does his bookwork. This is our second Yorkie, our first one Dexter had problems also. He didn't have a muscle to close off his bladder and leaked all the time. The vet wanted to put him to sleep because he was too little to stay outside in the weather and would make a big mess in the house. I cried and then made some diapers out of mini pads and a pad holder to go around him. The Vet said he would never leave it on. Well, he left it on for 10 yrs. I bought more mini pads for hiim in those ten years then I did for my three daughters, but it was worth it. Now I need to think of something to help Dixie with her problem. Where there is a will there is a way.

Poor Molly ! She sounds like such a sweet little Girl, and sounds like she has a great Mommy that loves her this much ! Will keep her in my prayers !

This topic is so scary to me.....I just worry so much about these poor babies. I know there are other threads on this topic, so maybe you can do a search and find more answers that way. I often worry that a normal cough or honking is from this......whew! What we go through with this little babies.......course, I wouldn't change it (well, I would like from them all not to have to go through this). Maybe one day, there will be a cure or a procedure to help control this.........We are thinking of you all (Molly and Dixie).

You sound like a totally wonderful Yorkie Mom...Molly is lucky to have you.
My Chelsea Yorkie passed away last February. She was just about to turn 14 years of age and had lived with collapsed Trachea most of her life. There are drugs and tranquilizers to relax them and keep them comfortable when an episode comes on.
When she starts acutely coughing or gagging rub while putting pressure on the top of her head between her ears That usually will relieve the acute spasm.
Good luck to you...I know you will do the best you can for your baby. ;)
P.S. I diapered my first Yorkie for 10 years also. He was untrainable and it was 35 yeaqrs ago before the advent of doggie belly bands , so pampers it was !!!

So Far So Good for MOLLY MAY
 

I'm happy to report that Molly is doing well ! I was amazed when I read your method of stopping a spasm as I have been doing exactly THAT!! I didn't know why it worked but it does. Molly takes one pill a day, (in a Gerber's Turkey stick), and I now give her Nutri-Cal, (which I discovered while reading these posts). Her eyes are brighter than ever and her appetite is huge.
She no longer wears a collar; only a loose halter. Luckily, nobody smokes in my family, but I no longer burn candles, as that affected her breathing. I pray when I have to take her out in bitter cold- She will only poddy outside, so this is scarey on snowy days. She sleeps more than before the attack on Christmas day, but that's OK. I'm always checking her breathing. The Vet said she is not a candidate for surgery, so we are doing the best we can. I enjoy each moment with her and I hope to have her for many more wonderful years.
Judi G

Oh my!! Wonderful news...It's soooo good to hear that Molly is doing better, and she continues getting better! I pray that she lives a long and healthy life :) I know she will have a wonderful, loving life with you :)

PERFECT...you will have your baby around a l ong time by giving her so much TLC.
So sorry I forgot to mention the collar but you already had a handle on it and were using a harness. All Yorkies should be on a harness even if they do not have collapsed trachea's because they can get if from the pulling of a collar. Watch out for sweater necks too and make sure they are loosly around her neck. Good luck....I pray your baby will stay well and healthy for you because you deserve it to be that way concerned and caring Mama that you are, Keep us posted please. :thumbup:

I'm so sorry to hear about Dixie. I hope you can find some way to help her.
Please post updates.
Jessica

Hi, I am fairly new to this forum but I sure love it. I noticed that my 6 month old boy has stated the hipcuping or sounding like he is choking. I had a wonderful yorkie that had the collaped treacha as well so I reconized the signs. Isn't 6 months kinda young for this. We were chasing a frizby when it happened and lasted 5 or 10 minutes. He didn't seem too upset. I am going to try the nose tap.

He also eated and swallows everything. I mean Everything. Any thoughts on what to try. Thanks.

my baby romeo has collapsed treachea too. it's awful to see them suffer. my mom's yorkie has a real bad case. she gives him special coughsyrup when he has a bad attack. it really helps. he was at the university of pennsylvania animal hospital a couple weeks ago and they have a new alternative surgery to the stint. less invasive. more expensive. of course. i will pray for your doggie.

More on Yorkies with Collapsed Trachea
 

Hi, All,
I'm amazed at all the Yorkies out there suffering from collapsed tracheas. My prayers are with each one of you. One thing I'd like to mention is to keep yourself as calm as possible. When my baby, (Molly), was in the Emerg. Vet Hospital on Christmas day, I was a basket case. I cried and sobbed and now realize it made her more scared than ever. Her tongue and gums had turned bright blue-It was the worst thing I've ever seen. I realize now it is my job to keep her calm. That sounds pretty impossible but it's the best thing for your Baby. Luckily, the Vet put her in an oxygen tent, intubated her and she survived, Thank God. Now I make an effort to keep her calm and to keep myself calm so I can think straight. Her life depends on it.

Molly's ill
 

I'm so sorry to hear Molly is ill. My yorkie whose name is Noway has a collasping trachea and asthma.I have a great vet who found out his problem. I give Noway Breathine medication twice a day. I also have a neublizer and meds and use them three times a day. He is put in a small carrier with the nebulizer on the door. Sometimes I use a pediatric mask and hold him while I treat him.I aoso use prednisone when needed. The vet has suggested oxygen but I haven't gone that route yet.Separation from me for a long time seems to bring on the bad attacks.Also the Texas heat doesn't help. We did find out that aerosoles are really bad. Room scents, plugins room sprays are really bad. I got rid of all of them and Noway is better.Noway is 10 years old and I hope I can keep him awhile longer.He was so fond of my husband and I lost Bob three years ago and that is when this all started. Noway really misses him.
I pray for Molly and hope everything turns out ok.


Noway and Jan

I wish I could describe the method that I have used and taught others to use for years. And, it works like a charm. For those of us who remember the way you place your palm side of your hand on the forehead to start to position the head for CPR breaths can get that idea. Hold the nostrils shut and gently push the head down toward the chest. Hold that position til the dog takes a coupla breaths thru the mouth and the spasm seems to break. The collapse occurs because the walls of the trachea stick together and go into spasm. That position seems to separate the stuck linings or something.
But as was mentioned STAYING CALM COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE.

Too true about staying calm! I definitely will try the methods I've read in this thread when Simon has an episode. I'm normally silly and ask him "are you ok?" in a cooing concerned voice and that just seems to upset him all the more, lol as if he needs to answer me - no mom, I can't breathe duh!

Great posts!!!

Jeni

I'm so sorry to hear about Molly. Bless her little heart... I don't have much in the way of advice, just to say that my Cairn Terrier, Maggie (RIP), had a collapsed trachea and lived with it for several years. And that's not what finally took her from us either. The only thing that I can add is that we would feed her small bites and moisten her dry food with a tiny bit of water. Oh, and never let her get too hungry. She would have the honking problem if she ate too fast.

Please keep us posted on your sweet little Molly. Hugs and prayers to you and her.