Collapsing Trachea in Yorkie

[BarbaraM]

Thank you everyone!

@gidget529 -Such a sad time for you - that is so heartbreaking. I am so sorry. The vet said Tussigon (sp?) may be in Ted's future at some point, too.

@beachdog - Dr. C has reduced the amount of the hydromet. Whew! He was soo drugged out. Had to close all bedroom doors, fenced off living room and put gate in front of stairs. Today with the new dose he is ready to go (but everything is gated - he is only allowed down the hall and in the kitchen). A totally changed dog. More energy than I expected!

@teffiemoore - that's fine, really its ok. Please just concentrate on caring for him. I know how much care goes into these little heart stealers. As for Ted, he is doing really great. Not one sound. Not a honk, cough, no baffley sounds like a paper covering an air hose and flapping (the only way I could describe it). Even after three sneezes - not a honk or cough-or snort at all. Our days are pretty much just housework and if I run to the store I have my daughter keep watch. It has only been a couple weeks and I am still hovering over him. Every little noise I run. Sheesh. He does try to follow me wherever I go, the sweetie. He just can't go down the stairs and he doesn't like it. We walk around in the backyard a bit with the other two. And that is it. Or, watch tv. Right at 10 he whines to go out and to bed. He's back to his ole self and I can't be happier.

Should he still be honking a little? The doc was surprised he wasn't making any sounds when she called. I told her he was right next to the phone, licking my chin. She seemed surprised? ( The only sound he does make is alot of whiney for more food.)

[beachdog]

That is great that you didn't hear any noises. Poor Paris always makes noise. He wakes in the morning hacking and snorting. I give him his morning dose of hydromet and a teaspoon of honey. When I get home from work aroun 2:00, if he is coughing, I give another dose of the hydromet, This isn't every day. Then at night another dose of hydromet and a spoon of honey. The honey coats his throat and soothes the cough. If he wakes up in the night , it is another spoon of honey and he goes back to sleep. Paris of course has other problems, he has a heart murmur and is totally blind.
We are managing but some days it is heartbreaking.

www.paristheblindwonderdog.blogspot.com

[beachdog]

What dose did he reduce the hydromet to?

[gidget529]

I am so glad to hear little Ted has not had a cough! Yay!!

Poor little Paris is such a cutie. It breaks my heart he is going through this w the CT. I wish someone could find a better way to "cure" this other than those darn stents.

[gidget529]

I hope little Yogi is doing well on Lomotil. My vet never suggested this for the CT so I'm not familiar w it in CT. Hoping Yogi is getting good results!

[teffiemoore]

Originally Posted by gidget529

I hope little Yogi is doing well on Lomotil. My vet never suggested this for the CT so I'm not familiar w it in CT. Hoping Yogi is getting good results!

Thank you for your kind words....I was reading what your last day was like with Cricket and broke my heart...I think that is such a huge focus when we find out this diagnosis. I hope all your other babies are well.

Barbara, you were saying the honking and noise was quiet with Ted now. With controlling his symptoms, I hope you both have many days of him seeming to be normal. We mostly do here. Lately it seems I've been needing to change a few things, because Yogi has been honking and gagging much more. Today things are good, and this is what you do...try and continuously tweak things when they are bad.....it's possible to go many years this way. Hugs

[BarbaraM]

Originally Posted by beachdog

What dose did he reduce the hydromet to?

From 4ml to 2ml ev 12 hours - but that could change if he begins to spasm/cough. Which I thought he did this am, and found out it was poodle gagging on water she just drank.


When I give him a small snack of green beans I add 1/2 tabs of homeopathy calming, throat, and asthma mixtures, which I feel have helped too. I love my homeopathy calming tabs and arnica for muscle aches. But some feel it is placebo. Does Ted know anything about placebo, I wonder?

[beachdog]

That sounds closer to Paris' dose. How's it working for you?

[BarbaraM]

Hello everyone - and again many thanks for your stories, suggestions and the kindesses! TeddE and I are sooo grateful for you all.

Looking back, I can't believe how calm I sounded! It was unreal to hear him trying in vain to get air into his lungs. Then, the questions about all those drugs!

Ted has lost three pounds! YAY! Done w/o exercising. Normal amounts of his raw food and NO treats must have been what it took.

I stopped the meds all together and I haven't looked back. He is still on the homeopathy. His "moments" are few, if at all, and of short duration. The backyard is way smaller - our walks are shorter - but he seems very content and healthy.

He loves his new groomer who comes to the house and she also has a small breed with CA ! Door bells are still not functioning and I like it

He is still top dog around here. I am not hovering as much anymore...he even helps me out with the veggie garden chasing every little bird that has the audacity to land near him!!!

Again many thanks to you all !

[ladyjane]

Three pounds is a lot of weight to lose. I am sure he is doing better mostly because of that! That is great! Weight on these pups with CT is deadly.
Happy that things are going well.

[ladybosanova]

I would be taking my puppy to an emergancy vet, my vet has already explained if my puppy need a device implanted to keep the air way open then we will do surgery but she is not that bad yet.

[BarbaraM]

Originally Posted by ladybosanova

I would be taking my puppy to an emergancy vet, my vet has already explained if my puppy need a device implanted to keep the air way open then we will do surgery but she is not that bad yet.

I wish you and your pet the best - (((HUGS))). It wasn't/isn't an easy choice. I was informed it is NOT 100% cure. The stent could MOVE down into the lungs and then that is it. There is nothing that can be done, then.

I didn't want that for my dog. Even after the procedure, the coughing may still persist. The risks during surgery are far too many.

It was a difficult decision. I want to keep him alive for ME. But truly, I don't believe HE would want the surgery and the worry of the plant moving into his lungs. What he went thru just being diagnosed caused him so much stress - he immediately improved as soon as we came home!!

I don't believe he would make it thru post op.

Again, I hope only for the best to you both

[BarbaraM]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Three pounds is a lot of weight to lose. I am sure he is doing better mostly because of that! That is great! Weight on these pups with CT is deadly.
Happy that things are going well.

Thank you ladyjane. I made a little vid to send to his doctor at the hospital. I just KNEW she would not believe it! I swear it is the food that helped him lose the weight (and NO other treats!!)

He still tears around the house with the other two dogs and is KING of the backyard - no bird better even THINK of landing...

Thanks again.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by BarbaraM

Thank you ladyjane. I made a little vid to send to his doctor at the hospital. I just KNEW she would not believe it! I swear it is the food that helped him lose the weight (and NO other treats!!)

He still tears around the house with the other two dogs and is KING of the backyard - no bird better even THINK of landing...

Thanks again.

Haha...that's awesome that he is chasing birds! So happy to hear of his progress!

[BarbaraM]

Hello everyone

Thought I would update the information on our 9 year old yorkie.

TeddE is still thriving *outside barking at something this moment - another squirrel, perhaps?

I recently put the fencing back in the yard to make the yard smaller for him. The door bell still is not functional. AND: he has lost two inches in his belly -- I can see hips!!

He is active and at times begins the honking/coughing noise. I then put him in his kennel to relax a bit and all is well.

He is not on meds. He is still on a raw diet.

We have a little umbroller type stroller to walk him in. But no running wild at the doggie park - ever.

Hope everyone and their fur babies are doing well.

Happy Easter to all.