My Molly has a Collapsed Trachea
 

Hello, to all Yorkie Lovers,
I am new to the Forum and have enjoyed reading the questions and especially have enjoyed reading the caring advice. My Sweet Baby, Molly, is 8 years old. She was adopted and must have had a lonely early life, as she was crated up to 8 hours a day. Also, much to my Vet's disgust, someone had actually filed her teeth down and they are evenly flat. I have loved and adored her for the last 3 years. On Christmas day she began choking and "honking" and I took her to the Emergency Vet Hospital. It was a COLLAPSED TRACHEA and the Vet put her on Aminophylline 50-100 mgs. I have never cried so hard in my life. Her gums and tongue turned blue in the ER. They saved her but I was told it is Stage IV which is the worst stage and that she won't survive another attack. I try to keep her calm, bought her a harness instead of a collar, and feed her fresh food. The hardest part is keeping her calm. I live in fear of that next attack. Has anyone else had this happen? I vowed she would never know pain or neglect again--Is there anything else I could do for her? Thks, Judi

I know there are procedures for this condition......surgert...in fact i know that there was vet developing a new procedure just recently that was showing greater rpomise than what has existed up til now. I think it is a devise that keeps the trachea open. Maybe a search on the internet may help you finjd some experts in this area.

I know how scary that must have been for you. Collapsed trachea is a common condition in yorkies and I have always been afraid of one of mine developing the condition.

I hope you can find her some help.

Judith - I can't offer help but I want to say I'm so sorry and hope she has no more episodes like that - poor baby she sounds like her life BEFORE you was horrible.....

what a good person you are for loving and taking care of her.....Bless her heart - I hope she's going to be ok....

Hello and Welcome to the forum! So sorry to hear about your Molly :( This place will be a well of information and support for you. I don't know much about this particular problem but know you will get great advice on here from people who really care. So glad little Molly has you to take care of and love her :)

So Cal is right there is a surgery for dogs with collapsed trachea. I believe they can put a stint in to hold the trachea open. My vet and I were talking about toy dog probs and he told me this, you can probably do a search on the net and find some info. Good luck and God bless.

Judith, i lost my sweet baby Gracie at 6 1/2 years due to complications from a severely collapsed trachea at the thoracic area. She lived a little over a year from time of diagnosis. She developed heart and lung problems because of it and breathing became too difficult for her. This happened 9 years ago. I took her to a specialist and the surgery they suggested would most likely have left her with a trach tube and a whole set of problems. I researched it with the Univ of ill vet school who referred me to Texas A & M Univ vet school who had just done a long study on collapsed trachea's in small dogs. They were so kind and I talked to one of their vets and she told me her opinion, which was that the outcome was never good when it was collapsed where Gracie's was. They then sent me the paper/ study for $10.00. After reading that and the input from their vet I did not do the surgery. She most likely would have died on the table. She did live another year which had it's ups and downs, many trips to the er vet and regular vets. What would send Gracie into a spell was thunder. I lived in fera of thunderstorms because she would get so upset and go into a choking spell. One day about a week after her last spell my husband called me and said she had'nt moved from her spot in the hall on a big blanket and she was laying in her urine. I took her in and the vet said she's struggling for every breath she is no longer enjoying life.
I made the hardest decision to put her down so she would be in peace.
IMO i would tak her to a specialist and see what the say, depending on where the collapse is and with newer technology surgery may be an option for you. I also had a male Yorkies who had a pretty bad collapsed trachea but he lived until he was almost 13 with the help of medicine. Sorry this was so long but I wanted to give you my experience with it. Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to Pm me if you want.

Talk to your vet for a referral to a hospital that performs surgery on collapsing tracheas. Currently, the stents are being performed, depending on the area of collapse. The procedure is not cheap, usually around $4000, but if successful, your yorkie will be able to lead a fairly normal life. Cough suppressants can help mild cases, but it sounds like your girl may be a candidate for surgery. Good luck with her.
Julie

Molly's "hanging in there" ......
 

:) Thanks for all the good advice regarding Collapsed Trachea. One of my three Vets participated in 2 surgeries that were successful, but he said surgery was not an option for Molly. So, we are doing the best we can. She is such a happy girl; follows me everywhere, loves walks, loves to eat and snuggle. Each Yorkie is unique and Molly has some weird little habits. She loves to hide and bury her "snaps". She puts 3 in her mouth at once and hunts down a place to hide them. If you leave a sock in the bathroom, chances are when you pick it up, a "snap" will fall out. She loves celery, carrots and turkey sticks. I can't let her gain any weight so she doesn't get her favorite- meatballs! Whoever had her before trained her and she can shake hands, sit and lie down and has never had an accident inside. I've tried to teach her to play with a ball but she doesn't understand how to play. She loves having her tummy tickled and is such a Sweetheart. I hope I can keep her healthy for a long time as I am totally in love with this little Angel Baby. I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Oh poor precious little Molly. I can't offer any advice but I just wanted to let you know that Molly is in my prayers. She sounds like a fighter! Codie and Tia send Molly kisses. :p

Molly is doing well!
 

Hi, again,
Molly is doing very well. I started her on Nutrical and her eyes are brighter than ever. She wears a halter, which I take off when she is inside. I never rub her throat...If she starts "honking" I rub her head and try to get her to look up and extend her neck. So far so good.
She does love to eat, though, and seems to be hungry most of the time-which is a problem because I don't want her to gain any more weight. She still sleeps a lot and snores sometimes, which is cute but probably not healthy. Thanks to everyone who said prayers for her.
Molly's Mom

Judith, I am so sorry to hear about Molly. There are so many Yorkies with this condition. It is being diagnosed at an alarming rate.
I do not know if you would be interested, but the vet school at the Univ. of PA has a vet working with a hooman anesthesiologist and the 2 are working on the most advanced procedures to help with this condition.
If you got your baby from a local breeder, I would advise you just give them a heads up about it...It might just be getting started in the lines..Best of luck with her care..

Bless her heart...another trick to get them to stop "honking" is to gently place your fingers over her nostrils - I kind of tap my fingers right on their little nose over their nostrils........it's to get them to take a breath thru their mouths.

When my girls get excited or drink too fast sometimes they do that and this has really helped to stop them from 'honking"...Wishing you the VERY Best to you and Molly...

I don't have any advise to help you. But I just want to say what a wonderful person you are for adopting her, and giving her the best life possible. I will say a prayer for her, and for you during your time of trouble.

Judith, I am so sorry to hear about Molly's condition. I have a Bichon, who has a collapsed trachea. Sometimes I open the freezer door to the refrigerator and hold her so she can breathe in the cold fresh air and it seems to help open the passage way. Good luck with Molly and give her lots of hugs and kisses.

Oh Judith, I'm so sorry about Molly having a collapsed trachea...I don't have any advice for you other than what's already been said but just wanted to tell you that I'll keep Molly in our thoughts and prayers.

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.