Help!!!
 

Hi, I am very new....my 12 year old yorkie has had sign of collapase trachea...

Well, after coming back from an overnight trip....I left her with a good friend....when i picked her up i noticed her cough was so persistent and very very unusual then normal....you can say, very loud goose like sound...lots of snorting...etc etc...rather then just a mere couple of secs...its ongoing.....and i know she is having a hard time breathing...

when i took her home...i watched to make sure it would clear up or go away...knowing she probably was so nervous and anxious cause of her unusal settings and there were other dogs there...

finally, i couldn't stand to see her gasping for breathe....note, she still manages to eat and drink...everything else...but her gasping and large sound is just way not normal..........

i took her to the german emgenecy vet...mind you, we are stationed her...and onbase vet is closed on weekend....the german vet didn't seem concerned but she tried to check her heart rate.,...unable to because of her loud noises she was making...she was overly excited and just couldn't seem to calm down....the vet finally game a shot of something to make her calm and another to clear out her lungs....unfortunately, it still didn't work...and could not hear anything.....she really was no help....and just prescibed something that will clear her lungs....or easier to breathe.....she wanted me to continue giving antiobiotics...

Well, now its 2:30am here in germany...and my poor dog is or sounds like she is suffering.................i have never ever heard her like this nor this lung....i have no idea what triggered the cough or her new conditions and symtoms....i hate to ask my friend...who seemed concerned but really it would not be her fault...

anyways, i would have to wait till monday morning...to head to on post vet...right now, the vet said, they will not be open tomorrow.....

i dont know what to do....she seems to finally fell asleep...but i can hear her right now, still snorting....its like someone congested and having a hard time breathing...is there anything i can give her besides the meds the vet gave me...i'm so scared that she is totally suffering and will she make it during the eveing...............i don't know what to do...the meds the vet gave me is not working...........

help, thank you

I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't. I will say a prayer and I'm sending hugs :ghug:. Hope the meds helps your little one get some rest.

she managed to fall asleep...but i could her breathing so badly......after reading some of the past post...she might be suffering pneumonia...i know for sure bronchrontis....

gosh, i am so beyond myself....i am so sad and feel overwhelmed....i don't know what to do just because i can't go anywhere until monday....

thanks for the prayers...yes, i prayed as well...........so far, she mangaing to goto sleep is a blessing....practically the who evening...she could not............


i am so scared its worse then i think it is...................i am so exhausted...having just arrived from our trip and not getting enough sleep...then trying to deal with this afterwards.....my hubby is deployed so i do feel so overwhelmed and scared...this is the first in her 12 yearss.....thats why i am very concerned...

please anyone have any suggestions so needed...

resp distress
 

Did the vet say she had collasped trachea? Or does she have a history of it? Cause it sounds like a resp infection, perhaps kennel cough? does she cough when you massage her throat? if so it might be kennel cough. I hope she is ok.

I think it sounds more like a respiratory infection, could be pneumonia...did they not even do a chest x-ray to see if her lungs were congested. Heart failure sounds a lot like that to, she may need a diuretic. But she needs a vet to be sure. Lots of thoughts and prayers to you and I really hope she does improve, maybe some rest will help...

Put a steamer on her till you can get her in the Vet. I hope the poor little thing will be ok and that it isn't the trachea. Please let us know Monday what the Vet. says.

Thank you for all the suggestions and advice....

at this moment, i still have to wait till tomorrow to see anyone....i'm going to check out on base vet and see what they can do....or know...

the german vet couldn't do anything....she just prescribed some meds...she couldn't hear her heart due to my dogs loud coughing...and honking...i mean it was very loud....never have i heard it loud...plus, she would not relax....the doctor just couldn't seem to do anything until she calms down...we waited for the relaxations meds to kick in...but my dog just wouldn't and the sound wasn't any better...overall, she prescribed some to clear the lungs hopefully, able to breathe...plus, i was to continue giving her antibotics...thats it....

it did worse last night....BTW, she is eating very well and drinking...her actions seems the same just the coughing is really annoying....i practically could not sleep all night because my poor dog was suffering...she is a great sleeper but to see her having a hard time and uncomfy...i did rub her belly and chest...it helped but not much....

out of desperation...i gave her some children tyenol...the one with cough meds.....gave her in a very very small dosage....but it seemed to have worked....at least she fell asleep..and snoring very very loud..but i angled her in a verticaly and she feel asleep next to me...every half an hour just to check on her.....this morning...she woke...did the usual rountine....still coughing hard...ate..i am putting her on a diet..she is overweight...and then gave her another dosage of tyenol....whatever, i can ease her suffering...honestly, i couldn't bear to see and hear what she was going through...

as for kennel cough...it could be...because my friend had two dogs..she isn't use to be around other dogs..but again, because of all that was happening...she doesn't like lots of activity because it puts lots of stress on her....with 4 kids and her mommy not there...i am sure she was very stressed...

again, all the suggestions you ladies gave....will the vet be able to do something? or am i seeing something I don't want to encounter...? she is old...12 years old...she has hype, pancret...and yes, she has been diagnosed collaspse trachea...but we controlled it by not getting her overly excitied...but i feel terrible for even leaving her with a friend...but then again, we never imagined that she's go through this..

i will update as much as i can............thnak you...my yorkie is my first...i had the dog before my dd.....my dh us concerned because my dog adores him...but because he's deployed...he feels just as helpless...............

thanks again

update:

so far, the loud goose like snorting has slowly diminishing...she sounds still congested but i think the children tyenol is really working...or at least doing something....

as weird as it sounds....she is knocked out and sleeping comfortably....again, i gave her a very very small dosage.....and just gave her again.....i think it is working for whatever she was suffering but she needed the rest...my goodness, have you ever heard a dog not being able to sleep in the evening...? thats exactly what happened last night....she did not sleep and kept coughing and soooo congested.....i felt so helpless and could not sleep as well..........

overall, i am relieved....and yes, i prayed very hard for her to have some relief.....to see her gagging for a breath was killing me.....at least with a child we have medication to relieve some pain...but with a dog what do you do? i don't know what the effect of giving children cold tyenol is dangerous or not...but i was very desperate and so far, she seems to be getting better......i know her trachea will always be there and definitly a wake up call to never leave her with anyone.....but just to see she is able to sleep and breathe without struggling....i am so relieved........

she is our family member..............and i am her mommy.....we love her as much as we love our 6 year old.....thank you for all the advices and prayers.....i will update as much as possible.........but the scary part has finally lessened and hopefully, when i visit the vet tomorrow...i will find some answers........as for now, my dog is relaxed and getting the rest she needs...BTW, she is eating so well...........still hungry as ever and drinking....good signs....but i have put her on a diet....whatever i can do to make her last couple years as comfortable...i will have to try...


thanks again!....now for my needed rest as well.............since, coming back from my trip....totaly lack of sleep...............

I had this happen in my Maltese male Max, at 9 years he was diagnosed with a reduced trachea and enlarging heart...the vet put him on a daily dose of prednisone, it kept him happy and comfortable for another 4 years, then the honking, hacking and coughing became persistant, non stop, at that point I had to do the unthinkable, put him to rest, a very sad time but I thank god the prednisone gave him a second chance for quite a few years.

You can also give him Robitussin. I think the dose is one-fourth teaspoon for these little ones.

thanks again....again, she seem to be suffering....i don't know how badly...better then yesterday....goodness, this is the longest weekend i have ever experienced...

its acting up again....but as long as i keep her in a quiet place...she seems to be managing...

i will definitly, look into those meds...

it might be an infection....since, the doctor couldn't check her heart...i really hope this time some results will be found....again, i feel helpless....i think for her to sleep or rest is the hardest...overall, when she is standing...she seems to be able to tolerate...i just hope and pray the vet on post will be able to see her and find something

i worry that if it is worse then we think.........yes, putting her to sleep is an option...only if they cannot help her............if no meds show any result...i will think of that as last resort....i just called our px to see if they have any cough meds....not surprisingly, they don't.....

its going to be a long night.....this is her first real attack and this long.....she seems to be uncomfy but tolerating it.....i will give her another dose of tylenol later in the evening....gosh, i cannot wait till tomorrow morning comes around...hopefully, some results will ease our anixty over my dog.....unfortunately, my friend told me that its a german holiday there will be no vets open....just great....hopefully, our vet on post will be able to do or say something.....

thanks for all the suggestions...she is older so its not a surprise that illness isn't easier as it was back when she was younger....

Thank God she was able to get some relief...some rest...you get some too, you're going to need your strength to take care of her.
If she's overweight and been diagnosed with CT, weight reduction does help, for awhile. She'll most likely be put on a diuretic, maybe even be given by IV or injection at first, to help with the congestion, this should ease her cough. Her little heart is probably enlarged, from congestive heart failure...but this can be treated, not necessarily cured, but at the very least make her more comfortable. My thoughts and prayers will be with you, I know how hard this is, I have gone thru it myself. Please keep us updated, and remember you are not alone, we will continue to be here for you...and ...what's your little girls name? I'd like to know. Thanks...

genie is her name....i am ready to face whatever...couple of month ago...we headed to german doctor because she was breathing differently....the vet said she had bronc....and seriously needed teeth cleaning..but until her wheezing went away...she would perform the procedure....antiobiotics were given....overall, it was never as bad as this........i'm still wondering what caused it...she only stayed with my friend overnight...how could it have gotten this bad......?

if it is enlarge heart...wouldn't the vet find that out when i took her in april??

at this moment, i just want her to breath.....i know she will never be better but just comfortable

BTW, she has had kennel cough before..and i'm pretty sure it was never as bad as this...it was more sneezing then this really annoying wheezing and honking sound...i wouldn't be scared if it happened briefly...but its all day.....every second...................i know it seems something serious...i'm anxious to just go and see.....i'm pretty sure it'll act up again when we visit the vet.....it gets worse when she is anxious.........its loud..................

thanks again........

Genie, what a pretty name...Could she have possibly gotten into something, or maybe a bone or something, maybe she has something caught in her wind pipe or throat, any chance of that? But you did say she was able to eat and drink, right? I remember Spencer would stand a lot, I think he was more comfortable that way, easier to breath...laying down to sleep was the worst. Do you have a vaporizer/steamer? If not maybe try to run a hot bath or shower, close the bathroom door so she'll breath the steam, I wish I were there to help comfort her...and you...it's so very hard to watch and listen to this horrible sounding breaths. Is she peeing plenty, that's what a diuretic will do, she's got to be able to get rid of any built up fluid in her lungs. Is her tummy bloated at all? I am so hoping that it's just a bug, and that she will get better...Did they do a chest x-ray in April, that would show the size of her heart, when there's too much stress on it, the heart enlarges, can't pump as good as it should, so fluid builds up...and they cough, become more short of breath. Again, I'm so sorry she's not feeling well, and my thoughts and prayers are with you, always.

I'm so sorry to hear about genie and that she's feeling so poorly. Wish I had some great advice but sadly, I do not. :cry: I just wanted to send you well wishes and hope she is feeling better soon. Please keep us posted. :(

thanks again, ladies....

no, she did have any x-rays done....it seems at night its the worse...shes going through her gagging really bad....walking around each room trying to get comfy....it is way better then yesterday...i gave her dosage of antiobotics and lung clearer that the german vet gave me...and just right now, gave her another dosage of tyenol....hopefully, it will soon make her sleep comfortable and let her breath a bit better...

yes, standing seems to be way better...i don't know what makes her feel comfy...right now, it is painful to watch her but yes, she is drinking and eating well...............but honking away with her cough.....she also trys to clear by hacking one big one....but still i don't think that makes it comfy.....

again, times is sure ticking slow but early morning as soon as our vet opens...i am bringing her in...i will suggest a x-ray be done if our on base clinic has one...we live on a small post...so not much to offer but our vet is very close to me.....

unfortunately, no humidifer.....i hear her right now, going to room to room..........strugging but again, i hope it will pass soon........she was just napping soundly right now...she did need to go out to the bathroom......i hate hearing her struggle....but through prayers and she is still strong dog....i hope will find some relief tomorrow morning............the meds hopefully, will kick in due time...

gosh, i'm just still beyond myself what could've made it to this point....she only stayed overnight....i guess it really stressed her out...i will suggest the enlarged heart question....i have no idea...the many visits we have done...they all say, her heart sounds good...........in april doc heard wheezing and said it was bronc...she was on antiobiotics but overall.......i really do not give her much stress...knowing any excitment acts it up...........even when ppl or kids come over....she's hack away and start panting...but never ever this bad or long...........

i hope they will find some relief...........shes had many bouts of stomach problems diarrhea....etc...etc..but never ever, had breathing problems.....i rather deal with the above then to see a dog struggle to breathe.............its painful to watch but i have been checking her gums and tongue...not blue yet....

i think she is just trying to clear whatever she feels uncomfy....if i call her...i can tell she also can control it...definitly, much better then yesterday but then again, she is relaxed...oh my gosh, i never seen her so overly nervous, excited and her hacking was really scaring me.........even the vet couldn't seem to control her............i think she felt bad as well..........

thank you and i will update as much as possible.......another long night for me for sure

Hi...there's another thread on here about reverse sneezing/collapsed trachea...it's got a link to some very good information that may help ease her cough...have you tried the Robitussin someone else mentioned, it should be readily available at the PX...I think you should try it...don't remember the dose though...maybe it's in the post...or someone out here will know for sure...rest easy Genie...feel better soon...thoughts and prayers are still coming your way!!!

yes, i checked the px to see if they anything....nothing...even called the shoppette..nothing....i think the commissary had it but at that time she seemed to be getting better....didn't bother stopping by...

i just steamed up my bathroom and carried her there so she can at least breathe.....that helped alittle.....right now, the childrens tyenol has finally kicked in...and she is sleeping soundly on my bed....i have her arched up high just like we would do for a child...poor thing, i think sleeping is the hardest....

gosh, i am exhausted.....i have a child so let alone she keeps me busy now my dog...never imagined i'd go through the length as i do for a canine...but she is part of the family...i'm probably not going to sleep much....i'm about to sleep by her ....she is wheezing a bit and breathing heavy but overall.........she is alseep.........at least she is getting some rest....yes, she is snoring hard...but i can only imagine the struggle she's going through....hopefully, i will be able to find some meds...i'm going to call my friend tomorrow morning...i know she has robtussin.....but i hope and pray the vet could do something...i can't goto the german vet cause its a holiday....prayers needed that the on post vets will see her and be able to do something to relieve her agony......

i'm still at lost what could've caused so much strain....she was fine before she left...and now this....BTW, before i handed her to my friend...i did give her a bath...hmmm, wonder if that was part of the cause of her congestion......sometimes, water would go through her nose...she was till wet.....after i blowdried her..........i don't know...just guessing at this moment....

thanks for the tips and advices...i did read on that about the dosage...i think it was 1/4 tsp........definitly, will ask and try that..........

thanks for the prayers...whether its an animal or not...i can't bear to see her like this.............

shes really struggling right now....gosh, i don't know what to do.....

i hear her panting really bad.....and under my bed....

i honestly, cannot stand seeing her struggle so bad.........

why does time seem forever...its almost 1am...i hope she will be okay till morning...............i think evening seems the worse........shes really panting hard....what do i do??!!!!!

Hope Genie is able to relax and be comfortable. I was thinking the same thing that my fellow Internal Medicine Medical Assistant, Wemple, was, congestive heart failure, where fluid builds up and the heart enlarges. They should've been able to see that on a chest x-ray. Maybe the medicine they gave you was a water pill to try to clear the fluid. Although I don't know anything about collapsed trachea, it could be both of these things working against each other. My CHF patients often complain of coughing and its worse when they lay flat. I'm praying for you and Genie. I'd like you to thank your husband for me, for fighting for this country. I hope you both can get some rest.

i really do not know what to do...she seems to be really struggling to breathe...i am scared this evening is going to be so long....and painful for her...

what do i do??

i do not know what i can do to ease her struggle...its definitly, not a cough but shes panting....she was fine early on but now it just seems to be getting worse again...................

the honking is way tooo loud...i knows shes tired and panicking....I'm so scared.....

she has never had a chest x-ray....it was a typo up above.....

really, this is the first time it has been this bad..........tonight, shes really struggling.............during the day she seemed fine...but now...i can't stand seeing and hearing her............i don't even know who to call cause everywhere is closed..............thats the disadvantage of living overseas..........

i am definitly going to request it.......honestly, if there is no hope............we have decided but i can't imagine something so dramatic could happen so fast....she was fine...yes, she had these coughs on and off....but never ever..this long and bad...........

isn't it always like this when our dh's are not around...especially, us military wives...........i spoke to my dh this evening...he wants me to do what i can for her....but right now, is the problem...............i hear her struggling really bad....i hope to God she'll make it tonight...yes, lying down seems to make it worse..........you girls are probably so right...i'm just shocked that a simple sleepover could result into this..................

the vet isn't open till 9am...........prayers she will make it through that.........i;m trying to hold her, stroke her anything...nothing is working.......she is literally panicking for breathe........

I'm still here for you...Try to hold her upright, head up...pat her kinda hard on the back...over and over again...maybe it'll break up whatever it is, don't mean to hit her hard, but steady thumps, and do the same on her chest, don't want you to break her ribs or anything, but I believe respiratory therapist call it percussion, steady and repeated thumps, taps...did you try putting her in the bathroom with steam? She probably really needs oxygen, but I doubt that you have access to that. Keep talking to her calmly, let her know you love her, I'm afraid you're in for a very long night. Try to let me know how she & you are doing, don't let her walk around too much, it'll use up more oxygen then she may have...Prayers...Hugs...Thoughts!!!

BY THE WAY, WHAT TIME IS IT THERE NOW, HOW MUCH LONGER TIL MORNING?

its almost 2am...i called the MP they felt for me but had no advice...she is has really labor breathing....she fell asleep again.....i've been rubbing her stomach and she is mine walk in closet.....laying on top of a pillow on her back......i am really worried she won't make it in through....

i called all the emgerncy german vets.....none were availalbe...definitly, not like the u.s..........i woke them up....and one vet i usually goto whom i saw last night...she is out of town...........

i swear..........i hope to goodness, she will make it..............i hear her sleeping but really labored breathing...........slight honking............i am really getting emotional because i can't bear to see anyone or animal struggle.........

her tongue has yet to turn blue.....i am in for a long night.........since, my brief trip.......i have not gotten any sleep and now returning home....to face this...........i am exhausted................with a child 3 hamsters one who just had babies....and taking care of them............hubby deployed and feeling helpless..........i am really overwhelmed................i hope i don't have to face putting her to sleep but if there is no cure of if she is going to struggle like this again......i don't think i can let her or bear it..................my hubby told me to do what is best for her..................

thank you for the prayers......i am scared and really tired...........she is precious baby and she is not a dog but a human to us........she knows everything...and to see her going through this so suddenly...really this is the first time ever shes had breathing problem so extreme and long...i don't know how to deal with it.........

thank you for the uplifting words for hubby...i am very proud of him and his fellows soldiers............its hard on us but he is doing a duty....thank you for thoughts.............

i feel alone but thank you for making me feel not that alone................i would call my friend but its so late...no one can do anything other then wait till morning...........freaking weekends............just my luck this would happen during that time..................

i'll keep posted...its definitly going to be a long night...............thank God is she alseep...i don't even want to open the door....she finally getting some shut eye.............

As long as she's sleeping, let her sleep, poor baby...poor you...morning will be here soon, and if she's meant to get well, she'll hang on. When the time is right for her to go, she'll let you know, just being there for her, and showing her your love is really all you can do, if this is the end of her precious life, she'll know that you loved her enough to be there for her. I just feel bad that you're all alone, my husband was here with me, the night Spencer went to sleep and took his last breath, oh and yes, it also was in the middle of the night. We knew he was not going to get better, we had made the decision to let him rest for eternity...but he made the decision for us, and died in his sleep. I pray Genie is not at that point...I pray she's just sick and needs vets care...I pray she gets a good nights sleep and that you too can get some rest. I'll keep in touch...Take care...

good morning ladies...

so far, rough night but my precious genie made it....

i heard her strugging throughout the evening...but overall, she seems to be doing or i can't hear her wheezing badly right now.........its 7:15am...vet opens at 9am.....................praise the Lord she made it through the evening....

she's still breathing fast but hopefully, today when i visit the vet....he or she would be able to do something..............scary as it may seem to think what i might have to decided...i just want her to be comfy..............no more struggle for breath....honestly, i cried myself to sleep because i felt so helpless...it felt like torture hearing her and not being able to do a darn thing...at least with a child we could call an ambulance or take them to a hospital...imagine, with a pet....no where can i go and let her literally almost die without any relief.....................thank God she made it...

thanks for the encouraging words...so sorry to alarm everyone....i hope there will be good news today....but thank you for helping me out....i did take everyone advices and used them....

Oh my goodness...what a time you've had. I am in tears just thinking about what you are going through. I am so glad you made it through the weekend and long nights. I can't give you any advice, but my thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband:hands: :hands:

I hope you got/get good news today. :) THoughts and prayers headed your way.

Waiting to hear how it went at the Vet today. I hope, whatever the outcome, that Genie is able to rest comfortably. Hopefully they have some good medicine so she can relax. You girls are in my thoughts.. Let us know how things went when you can.

Oh my gosh....just read this post.....My heart goes out to you! How is genie??? Please let us know......I will think of her and pray.....Take care!