A veterinarian can provide supplemental oxygen and other treatments to ease your dog’s breathing and diagnostic tests can be run to determine the cause of his symptoms. Treatment for collapsing trachea in dogs may be medical, surgical, or a combination of the two.
Treatment for a Collapsing Trachea in Dogs Additionally, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) may be recommended to rule out any underlying heart disease. For a more advanced evaluation, your veterinarian may refer you to a specialist with fluoroscopy (a type of moving x-ray) or bronchoscopy (inserting a tube with a small video camera at the end into an anesthetized dog’s airways).Ī complete blood count, serum blood chemistry, and urinalysis will all likely be recommended for a baseline evaluation. However, the trachea collapse can wax and wane, so it isn’t always visible on regular x-rays. If the classic “goose honking” cough is noted or suspected based on the pet parent’s description, your vet may perform a chest and neck x-ray to screen for evidence of collapsing trachea. If you can capture a coughing episode on video at home, that’ll help your vet during the examination, although sometimes the vet can trigger the cough by gently pressing on the dog’s throat.Ī combination of breed, clinical signs, and physical examination may make your vet suspicious of collapsing trachea. Your veterinarian will start with a thorough history of any coughing or risk factors. How Veterinarians Diagnose Collapsing Trachea in Dogs Tracheal collapse is most frequently diagnosed in middle-aged or older dogs, but it can also be seen in younger dogs. While tracheal collapse can occur in any breed or size of dog, small dog breeds are most at risk for developing a collapsing trachea, including: Heart enlargement, which can be seen in dogs with heart murmurs or congestive heart failure (the enlarged heart presses on the trachea) Upper respiratory tract infection, such as kennel cough or a bacterial infection Recent anesthesia, such a dental where an endotracheal tube was placed in the throat Overweight or obese dogs (fat pushes against the trachea)Īirway irritants, such as air fresheners or smoke A congenital (meaning present at birth) weakness of the cartilage within the trachea seems to play a big role, but environmental factors and concurrent diseases may bring out symptoms. No single, specific cause has been identified to explain all cases of tracheal collapse in dogs. If your dog has blue-tinged gums, trouble breathing, or has fainted, contact your veterinarian immediately. The sound of the cough can be quite distinctive and is often described as a goose honk.ĭogs develop other clinical signs that vary with the severity of the collapsing trachea-in other words, how narrow (or even completely closed) the airway becomes. Symptoms of Tracheal Collapse in DogsĪ dog with a collapsing trachea experiences chronic, intermittent bouts of coughing that tend to get worse with exercise, heat/humidity, excitement, stress, eating, drinking, or when pressure is applied to the trachea. If your dog is having any trouble breathing, this is a medical emergency, and your pet should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. However, in severe situations, tracheal collapse can cause respiratory distress and significant trouble breathing. You may notice some clinical signs, but the dog is able to live a normal life. As a result, many dogs with tracheal collapse will make a dry, goose-like honking cough sound. This flattening, called “tracheal collapse,” can make it harder to get air into the lungs and breathe normally. If the cartilage rings become weakened or the membrane become stretched out or floppy, the shape of the trachea flattens. In both people and pets, the trachea is the tube that carries air from the nose and mouth through the neck and into the lungs, often referred to as the “windpipe.” The trachea is made up of C-shaped cartilage rings with a thin membrane across the top to complete the circle to form the tube.
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