Preventing Collapsed Trachea? I just went through an awful experience with my yorkie and a collapsed trachea.. It came on over a period of time, maybe 6 months.. He was only 3 yrs old.. But he was highly excitable and barked like crazy at times... He started with the honking and it was only when excited.. then it reached a crisis in the middle of the night.. He trachea was collapsed and air was coming out of this trachea, you could feel it in his neck.. I had two choices, medicate with cough syrup and let him gasp for breath, or try a $3000 minimum stent at MSU..I opted to have him put to sleep.. I was afraid he would never be well.. any successful stories out there? it won't help me as we were in such a panic mode at the time, we made the decision for him to be at peace.. But for the education of others before the crisis hits, where are the success stories? |
I don't have a story for you but, wanted to say I am very sorry for your loss. That had to be horrible for you |
I'm wary of posting a success story because I don't want you to second guess your decision. I will say that I know someone who's dog has suffered with this for 8 years. Financially he was able to afford the more than $10 grand he had to spend on the surgery at Cornell University. His was a little more complex I'm sure, but is the dog 100%? No, is it a success I would say yes because he is able to monitor his boy 24/7 and has a fluid bank account. I'm not sure most could do the same. Thank you for sharing your story, I'm sorry you went through this and I really think that you made the best decision for your baby. |
I have heard the stint surgery isnt very successful. All dogs can have varying degrees of collapsed trachea. When its severe sometimes its the kindest thing you can do is put them to sleep. It sounds like you were in that predictament |
b I believe some dogs are born with this and get worse with time. but this is the reason you should never use a collar with a yorkie not for walking at least I know some people just use them so they can have ID tags on them and that okay |
I had that happen to my little Billy. He was my first yorkie. He did get better. Thisis when I stopped using neck colars for walking. It is a terrible frightening experience. my Little Billy lived to be 14 when his kidneys stared to fail due to steroid use for arthritis. I could put him to sleep, but my father took him to the vet for me and they stopped his suffering |
My Zada has a collapsed trachea. I've never used a collar on her and it was a couple years coughing and honking before she had a very bad spell so I took her to Dr. Ortega in Ventura who is an internal specialist. She was put on steroids for a week which cleared up the infection and allowed her to breathe better, but she now has an inhaler for the difficult times. She's just about home bound to keep her cool and quiet. When she gets around other people or dogs, she isn't able to breath very well. Excitement isn't good for this problem. Because of this, she has an enlarged heart and liver. I don't know how long we will have this beautiful gentle little soul with us but I will do everything possible to keep her comfortable and happy as long as possible. |
Same here -- I don't have a success story either. I just want to express my condolences for your loss. |
TeddE was in critical condition when we arrived at Purdue Small Animal Hospital in October, 2011. They took him and drugged him and made him comfortable. They did the fluoroscopy the next day and called me in to suggest stent surgery. The collapse WAS BAD. But surgery? No other way? His vet suggested meds and I agreed. They released him since he would not relax there. I brought him home and slept next to his cage for the next three nights. I gave him the meds regularly. We disconnected the door bells for it was HALLOWEEN and he had just settled down. We changed his diet to RAW and NO TREATS. No walks. NO excitement. Even the phones were turned to mute for the next few months. He is better than ever. He has lost THREE pounds. He loves his "smaller" back yard. He runs a little, but if I hear him cough I scoop him up. He chases robins. He loves his raw beef patties. He is laying next to me now- tired after snarling and barking at the dog next door thru the fence! He is doing vey well. I do not give him the meds, but I still have them in case. He is on 15 drops of Nova Asthma homeopathy, fish oil and pet Kelp mixed into his food. He goes up and down the basement stairs just fine. He has NOT had an incident like that last one and I will do everything I can to prevent it. His groomer comes to the house and she has a dog with CT. TeddE was NEVER on a collar - only a harness. He is 8 years old and this began when he was 5. A vet heard how bad he was in 2011 but she let him leave. I am bitter about this, yes for she could have done SOMETHING. I mean she has a DOCTORATE, right? sorry. He left his checkup that day honking and gasping sooo loud. he was like that all night long. Took him to the ER and they sent us to the Hospital. Could this have been prevented had she at least given him something to calm him? oh well. We don't see her any more. Good luck to you. I know what you are going thru. |
you should not second guess your gut feeling EVER! That being said Im very sorry you lost your fur baby. :( |
i guess it depends on how bad it is our Oliver has had this for most of his life and he is now 15 years young... we never use a collar only a body harness which is a fine rope type like they use for the shows ... we were also alarmed about it at first ..but have found over time that it is more shocking to us humans than it is too them ...i used to pick him up and run home out of fear but found out the less you are shocked the better your little one copes he would start hacking and gasping for air and then cough in reflex to stop it himself we also through a homeopathic web dr found a cough syrup with honey it was hylands cough syrup for kids it has an antispasmatic in it that stops the spasm or reflex once you give him a few drops of it (about 1/8 teaspoon ) for a 7 lb little one...it acutally stops the hacking in seconds and it can be given several times a day if needed...also, as the dog ages they say the structure of the trachia gets harder so there is less hacking...he still does it but we tell him cough and he does and if the coughing does not stop it he gets the syrup and it does stop... just wanted to let others know there is hope for those little ones..but it is not an easy situation to cope with also hard kibble is not so great for those with this problem homecooked is best to keep them healthy |
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