Stage 4 Tracheal Collapse - Advice needed - YorkieTalk.com Forums

beauregard14 · 09-08-2018, 05:05 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get some information from the hive mind regarding my 7yr old yorkie. I am terrified and heartbroken. I can barely stop crying.

He has been diagnosed by a specialist in Toronto with stage 4 tracheal collapse. Specialist says he will need a stent within the year and says I will come home one day and Beau's tongue will be blue and I will have to bring him in for surgery then, or to have him put down.

He rarely does the goose honk (only when he pulls HARD on his leash to catch a squirrel, or gets super excited). Never when he is just at home with me on the couch.

His breathing is not audible, no unusual noises. Had a brief bout of bronchitis but that has been cleared up with meds.

He is still eating and sleeping fine.

My own vet has him on 1ml hycodan 3x a day. Specialist suggested I do not take him outside for walks, that I carry him as much as possible, no visits with dog friends, no groomer.

My vet, previous to me seeing the specialist, didn't seem overly concerned as Beau was behaving normally? And now the specialist made me feel like I am going to lose him tomorrow... I don't know what to think.

To me Beau seems his usual self and I don't know where else to turn.

Is there anything else I can do to manage it? Other medicine to look into?

Where else in Southern Ontario can I see a specialist for a second opinion? Actually I would drive anywhere.

Thanks and love from me and Beau.

Lovetodream88 · 09-08-2018, 08:55 AM

If he’s not showing symptoms I would think it was not an issue. Why did you go to the specialist? Was he having issues then? Doesn’t seem like the specialist was very nice but just trying to scare you into using him.

yorkiemini · 09-08-2018, 11:31 AM

Wow! The specialists did not paint a very good picture did they. Sounds like he is doing well right now however and that is great news. Do you use a harness and not a collar?

I am no expert because I have never had a dog personally with this issue. I guess I would have to see another specialist to validate for myself that the picture the other specialist painted is eminent or not.

Good luck and keep us posted!

MauiGirl · 09-08-2018, 10:07 PM

Like Taylor, I wonder why you took him to a specialist?

I remember some of the members on YT saying in the past that the surgery for collapsed trachea is not effective and not advised (I hope LadyJane will come on and comment on this). Many do ok for a long time on meds and limiting activity.

Wylie's Mom · 09-09-2018, 02:45 AM

I'm so sorry you're going thru this with your baby.

If I were you, I'd be calling back the specialist and be asking why it was staged as a 4 - what, specifically and physiologically, warranted that stage. That may give you more information as to the actual severity.

Gew · 09-09-2018, 04:12 AM

I wonder if there are any studies going on in the major veterinary centers. They might shed some light.

Wishing you the best. P

beauregard14 · 09-09-2018, 04:48 AM

Hi everyone

thank you for taking the time out of your days to respond. I have been a long time lurker of yorkietalk but do not post often. It means a lot to have this community.

I went to the specialist at the recommendation of my vet, as I tend to be a worry wart.

3 weeks or so ago my parents took him to my vet as they were looking after him and he was breathing funny. Based on his xrays he had bronchitis which was cleared up with antibiotics. Went back to breathing "normally" after. My vet, based on the xrays, noticed that the trachea looked flatter than usual, but would not "officially" diagnose. At this time he suggested 3x daily hycodan.

Of course this was worrisome for me, so he referred me to the specialist to get an official diagnosis.

The specialist made the diagnosis based on the xrays, a brief physical examination done by his assistant (or student vet maybe) and a history given by my vet and myself.

He suggested that doing a scope or anything more "involved" would be too stressful for Beau and that if he had to be put under anaesthesia that he would have to have the stent or he wouldn't wake up and be able to breathe on his own.

FWIW, the specialist vet was trying his best to be compassionate and straightforward with me.

beauregard14 · 09-09-2018, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Wow! The specialists did not paint a very good picture did they. Sounds like he is doing well right now however and that is great news. Do you use a harness and not a collar?

I am no expert because I have never had a dog personally with this issue. I guess I would have to see another specialist to validate for myself that the picture the other specialist painted is eminent or not.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I am so grateful that so far he is doing okay, but I am not... he's probably wondering why I won't let go of him.

I have always used a harness with him... I agree about seeing another specialist. I'm going to call the clinic at the veterinary college in Guelph to see if they can recommend anyone or do it there themselves.

Have a lovely Sunday

foreveryorkie · 09-20-2018, 11:04 AM

Sorry to hear your baby is going through this and will be ok. My baby is also 7 years old and has a collapsed trachea along with liver and IBD health issues. He has the telltale sign of honking when he's excited, etc. too and this first occurred at around the age of 3. I'm not sure if it would help your baby but it has helped mine a bit......put a Vick's warm steam vaporizer every night where he sleeps with about 8-10 drops of Aura Cacia eucalyptus oil. Please keep us posted and hugs to you and your baby.

lsiddell · 11-12-2018, 02:38 PM

I haven't been here in awhile but out of the 4 Yorkies I've had one has died from Larangeal Paralysis (sp) and one has severe tracheal collapse. Coco who died last year had gone un- diagnosed because she only had a few episodes until her windpipe completely closed the other has been on cough pills, steroids and hycodan syrup but is progressively getting worse. We've had the test's done and know for a fact this is what is wrong with her. Has anyone had any luck with any other medications. I've investigated the surgeries that they try but they only have about a 50% success rate and my Cali is 11 years old. Help!

Gew · 11-13-2018, 09:11 AM

So wish I could help. I can only say that while at The hospital, I met a Yorkie who had surgery and was much better than before it.

Hope some can be more helpful. Best wishes.

Gew

09-08-2018, 05:05 AM	#1
beauregard14 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 7	Stage 4 Tracheal Collapse - Advice needed Hi everyone, I'm hoping to get some information from the hive mind regarding my 7yr old yorkie. I am terrified and heartbroken. I can barely stop crying. He has been diagnosed by a specialist in Toronto with stage 4 tracheal collapse. Specialist says he will need a stent within the year and says I will come home one day and Beau's tongue will be blue and I will have to bring him in for surgery then, or to have him put down. He rarely does the goose honk (only when he pulls HARD on his leash to catch a squirrel, or gets super excited). Never when he is just at home with me on the couch. His breathing is not audible, no unusual noises. Had a brief bout of bronchitis but that has been cleared up with meds. He is still eating and sleeping fine. My own vet has him on 1ml hycodan 3x a day. Specialist suggested I do not take him outside for walks, that I carry him as much as possible, no visits with dog friends, no groomer. My vet, previous to me seeing the specialist, didn't seem overly concerned as Beau was behaving normally? And now the specialist made me feel like I am going to lose him tomorrow... I don't know what to think. To me Beau seems his usual self and I don't know where else to turn. Is there anything else I can do to manage it? Other medicine to look into? Where else in Southern Ontario can I see a specialist for a second opinion? Actually I would drive anywhere. Thanks and love from me and Beau.

09-08-2018, 08:55 AM	#2
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	If he’s not showing symptoms I would think it was not an issue. Why did you go to the specialist? Was he having issues then? Doesn’t seem like the specialist was very nice but just trying to scare you into using him. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

09-08-2018, 11:31 AM	#3
yorkiemini Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,285	Wow! The specialists did not paint a very good picture did they. Sounds like he is doing well right now however and that is great news. Do you use a harness and not a collar? I am no expert because I have never had a dog personally with this issue. I guess I would have to see another specialist to validate for myself that the picture the other specialist painted is eminent or not. Good luck and keep us posted! __________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car

09-08-2018, 10:07 PM	#4
MauiGirl Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maui, Hawaii Posts: 7,740	Like Taylor, I wonder why you took him to a specialist? I remember some of the members on YT saying in the past that the surgery for collapsed trachea is not effective and not advised (I hope LadyJane will come on and comment on this). Many do ok for a long time on meds and limiting activity. __________________ SANDY, MOM TO TIKI , KAYLA , KARLEE , R.I.P. MEIKA

09-09-2018, 02:45 AM	#5
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	I'm so sorry you're going thru this with your baby. If I were you, I'd be calling back the specialist and be asking why it was staged as a 4 - what, specifically and physiologically, warranted that stage. That may give you more information as to the actual severity. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

09-09-2018, 04:12 AM	#6
Gew YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Clinton Township, NJ Posts: 251	I wonder if there are any studies going on in the major veterinary centers. They might shed some light. Wishing you the best. P

09-09-2018, 04:48 AM	#7
beauregard14 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 7	Hi everyone thank you for taking the time out of your days to respond. I have been a long time lurker of yorkietalk but do not post often. It means a lot to have this community. I went to the specialist at the recommendation of my vet, as I tend to be a worry wart. 3 weeks or so ago my parents took him to my vet as they were looking after him and he was breathing funny. Based on his xrays he had bronchitis which was cleared up with antibiotics. Went back to breathing "normally" after. My vet, based on the xrays, noticed that the trachea looked flatter than usual, but would not "officially" diagnose. At this time he suggested 3x daily hycodan. Of course this was worrisome for me, so he referred me to the specialist to get an official diagnosis. The specialist made the diagnosis based on the xrays, a brief physical examination done by his assistant (or student vet maybe) and a history given by my vet and myself. He suggested that doing a scope or anything more "involved" would be too stressful for Beau and that if he had to be put under anaesthesia that he would have to have the stent or he wouldn't wake up and be able to breathe on his own. FWIW, the specialist vet was trying his best to be compassionate and straightforward with me.

09-20-2018, 11:04 AM	#9
foreveryorkie YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1 Blog Entries: 1	Sorry to hear your baby is going through this and will be ok. My baby is also 7 years old and has a collapsed trachea along with liver and IBD health issues. He has the telltale sign of honking when he's excited, etc. too and this first occurred at around the age of 3. I'm not sure if it would help your baby but it has helped mine a bit......put a Vick's warm steam vaporizer every night where he sleeps with about 8-10 drops of Aura Cacia eucalyptus oil. Please keep us posted and hugs to you and your baby.

11-12-2018, 02:38 PM	#10
lsiddell Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2015 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 24	I haven't been here in awhile but out of the 4 Yorkies I've had one has died from Larangeal Paralysis (sp) and one has severe tracheal collapse. Coco who died last year had gone un- diagnosed because she only had a few episodes until her windpipe completely closed the other has been on cough pills, steroids and hycodan syrup but is progressively getting worse. We've had the test's done and know for a fact this is what is wrong with her. Has anyone had any luck with any other medications. I've investigated the surgeries that they try but they only have about a 50% success rate and my Cali is 11 years old. Help!

11-13-2018, 09:11 AM	#11
Gew YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Clinton Township, NJ Posts: 251	So wish I could help. I can only say that while at The hospital, I met a Yorkie who had surgery and was much better than before it. Hope some can be more helpful. Best wishes. Gew