Learn about collapsed trachea in dogs from Dr. Kathryn Williams, a friend and colleague of integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby. Dr. Williams shares a personal story about her own dear dog, Fiona, who suffered from collapsing trachea. Through Fiona’s journey from diagnosis to recovery, you’ll discover the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for this common medical condition in small dogs.
“Hey, Doc, Fi is coughing.” a concerned vet tech informed me as she poked her head into the lunchroom during a doctor’s meeting. I promised I would check on her when we were done.
Fiona, also known as Fi, is my trusted sidekick. She has accompanied me to work since I adopted her. A Good Samaritan found her and brought her into the vet hospital trying to find the owner. Unfortunately, no one claimed her. And so this spunky, scruffy Chihuahua mix has been by my side ever since.
Fiona’s collapsed trachea diagnosis
When I checked on Fiona, she was sitting in her bed, coughing occasionally. It wasn’t uncommon for her to get a cough at certain times of the year. Initially, this dry, honking cough didn’t sound much different than normal so I gave her an antihistamine since this usually solved the problem.
That night her cough came back with a vengeance. It became constant, to the point where she was gagging and restless. I scooped her up, and headed toward the 24/7 emergency hospital where I work. I was a nervous wreck. Even though I’m an emergency veterinarian, I can’t think straight with my own animals.
Thankfully, my friend, who was working that night, helped take great care of Fiona. As we reviewed Fiona’s X-rays, we noticed a narrow windpipe, which indicated that she had a condition called collapsing trachea.
What is a collapsed trachea?
The windpipe, or trachea, is a tube that connects the mouth to the lungs. It is lined with C-shaped rings of cartilage that holds the airway open when a dog breathes in and out. Cartilage rings in the bronchi (airways of the lungs) serve a similar function.
In dogs with collapsing trachea, this cartilage is weaker than normal. Thus, the trachea collapses on itself during exhalation (breathing out) or coughing. In some cases, the weak cartilage can extend into the bronchi, making it difficult for air to pass through the lungs.
During tracheal collapse, the sides of the trachea rub together, causing irritation and worsened coughing. This vicious cycle of coughing and irritation causes further weakening of the cartilage.
Which dogs are most commonly affected?
Middle-aged to senior small breed dogs seem to be at an increased risk for collapsed trachea. This is in contrast to large breed dogs, who are at a higher risk for laryngeal paralysis in dogs.
Common breeds affected by collapsing trachea include:
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Pomeranians
- Shih Tzus
- Toy Poodles
- Lhasa Apsos
- Chihuahuas
What factors may contribute to a collapsing trachea?
Concurrent diseases can make symptoms worse. These include:
- Obesity: Excess fat deposition increases the weight on the rib cage and the work necessary for your dog to take a breath. (Wondering if your dog is overweight or obese? Try out Dr. Buzby’s three easy steps for finding your dog’s body condition score.)
- Infections: Kennel cough or pneumonia can trigger coughing, which can make tracheal collapse worse.
- Heart disease in dogs: An enlarged heart puts pressure on the trachea, leading to coughing.
- Environmental allergens: Pollen, cigarette smoke, or other environmental allergens may irritate the airways, leading to increased coughing.
How is collapsed trachea diagnosed?
The most common symptom of collapsing trachea is a dry, honking cough. The cough may be worse in cases of excitement or exercise. However, there are other conditions that can lead to coughing in dogs, including heart disease, heartworm disease in dogs, kennel cough, or pneumonia.
During your dog’s exam, your veterinarian will thoroughly listen to your dog’s heart and lungs. He or she will also lightly palpate your dog’s throat and trachea. A dog with collapsing trachea is more likely to cough when the vet places light pressure on the windpipe. However, this is not enough for diagnosis. Additional testing may be required, including:
1. X-rays
X-rays are the most common screening tool for collapsing trachea. They allow your veterinarian to evaluate the lungs, size and shape of the heart (in case heart disease is playing a role), and, most importantly, the width of the trachea. In a normal dog, the trachea should be a consistent width. With collapsing trachea, there is noticeable narrowing of the trachea.
However, an X-ray captures one snapshot in time. In mild cases of tracheal collapse, the trachea returns to normal at some points. This may make it difficult to catch the collapse on an X-ray.
2. Fluoroscopy
This moving X-ray allows veterinarians to track the width of the trachea in real time as the dog breathes. Fluoroscopy is particularly useful in cases of mild tracheal collapse that traditional X-rays might miss.
3. Bronchoscopy
During this test, a veterinary specialist places a tiny camera into the airways of your dog while he or she is under anesthesia. This allows the specialist to see if the trachea collapses while breathing. Samples of the airways can also be obtained in case there is an infection present.
When is collapsed trachea an emergency?
Any condition involving unhealthy airways can become an emergency, including collapsing trachea. Get in the habit of observing your dog’s vital signs including his gum color and normal respiratory rate. If you notice the gums turning from a healthy pink to a muddy or blue color or your dog seems to be using more effort to breathe, take your dog to an emergency veterinarian right away.
In severe cases of collapsing trachea, the windpipe can become so narrow that it is like breathing through a straw. The resulting respiratory distress may be life threatening. To help your dog relax, the veterinarian will give a mild sedative, as panic can make respiratory distress worse. He or she will typically also start your dog on oxygen.
What is the treatment for collapsed trachea in dogs?
While it is impossible to rebuild weak cartilage, there are medical and surgical methods to treat collapsing trachea. These may help your dog breathe better. Your vet may recommend lifelong changes such as:
- Weight loss to decrease the pressure of excess weight on the lungs. For helpful doggie weight loss tips, check out Dr. Buzby’s article: How to Help a Dog Lose Weight.
- Walking with a harness instead of a collar to reduce pressure on the airways.
- Reducing environmental irritants, such as cigarette smoke, in the house.
Medications used to treat collapsed trachea
A variety of medications can be used to manage collapsed trachea including:
- Cough suppressants to reduce coughing. The more your dog coughs, the more the trachea collapses. This leads to increased weakening of the cartilage.
- Steroids like prednisone for dogs as a temporary measure to reduce inflammation and swelling of the airways.
- Sedatives to keep your dog relaxed and prevent excitement and stress that can make tracheal collapse worse. These may be prescribed after a respiratory distress crisis or in some other situations.
- Bronchodilators, such as theophylline, to open lower airways. This may help reduce pressure in the chest to make breathing easier overall.
Surgical treatment for collapsed trachea
In severe cases, a board-certified veterinary surgeon can perform a surgical procedure to help open the airways. Sometimes the collapse is mostly confined to the portion of the trachea outside the chest. In that case, the surgeon will place rings outside the trachea to help hold the airways open.
In situations where the collapse occurs deeper in the chest, the surgeon will place a mesh stent in the trachea under anesthesia to hold it open from the inside. Unfortunately, there is no procedure that will help open the collapse in lower airways such as the bronchi or bronchioles. Even with surgery, post-operative management and prevention of coughing are highly important.
According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 70% of dogs improve with medical management alone. Dogs who have had a stent placed show a 90-95% improvement. Talk to your veterinarian to find out what treatment options are best for your dog.
The rest of Fiona’s story
So what happened with my little sidekick, Fiona, when she was diagnosed with collapsing trachea? To start off, we treated her with an injection of butorphanol, a mild opiate that works well in cases of respiratory distress. The injection worked quickly. It suppressed her coughing and also calmed her down so she didn’t become stressed during her flare up.
Thankfully, she didn’t need to be hospitalized or put on oxygen, and I was able to take her home that night. Now I walk her on a harness to prevent putting pressure on her neck, and she is on daily cough suppressants. Otherwise, she is living her best life between napping on the couch, walks in the park, and occasional trips to the beach.
Parting words of wisdom from a dog mom who understands
Finding out your dog has a collapsing trachea can be scary, especially when the diagnosis is made during a respiratory crisis. Even though I knew Fiona was at a high risk of collapsing trachea when I adopted her, the diagnosis was a kick to the gut.
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to reverse the damage to the tracheal cartilage. What’s done is done. The good news though, is that there are lots of management options to help keep affected dogs breathing easier. Take heart—a dog can keep living the good life with a collapsed trachea, just like my sidekick Fiona.
Does your dog have a collapsed trachea?
Please comment below with your dog’s story or any words of advice for other dog parents in a similar situation.
My Yorkie is being treated, but I would like to know if bobbing his head up and down is normal and licking air? He does rest normally, but begins bobbing if he is hungry or thirsty.
Hi Dorthy,
I am sorry your little guy is displaying these strange behaviors. Without witnessing these episodes myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I am suspicious this could be symptoms of acid reflux or other GI issues. Please make sure your vet is aware of this new behavior. They may need to do some testing to rule out possible causes. Hoping for clear answers and an easy solution!
My 4.and 1/2 yr old Pom/Spitz mix was treated twice for kennel cough, but since my pom never contracted this, I was suspicious that it wasn’t kennel cough. I took him to another vet who immediately diagnosed him with a collaping trachea. He did an xray that also showed an enlarged heart. He is currently prescribed, for his 19.7 lb weight, Theophylline 50 mg. , 2 capsules every 12 hours for 14 days, Chlorpheniramine 4 mg, 1 tablet every 12 hours for 45 days, and 5mg Prednisone, twice daily for 3 days, then 1 daily for 4 days, skip a day, then 1 tablet every other day.
We are on day 3. I called the vet yesterday because Cheddar’s respirations were very rapid and he was panting a lot. He said it was the Prednisone and that he would ” settle into it.” After his evening doses he is in wonderland. His coughing occurs every time he becomes the least bit excited. As a very reactive, more like Spitz than Pom, and very active and always on alert dog, he now seems just in a constant fog. I was searching to determine if the dosages seem correct? To me, the excessive panting would seem like that would irritate his treachea and heart even more. The dividing line on doses seem to be the 20 lb mark. I am assuming he is getting the 20-40 lb doses. He has a lot of fur but probably closer to 19 lbs than 20. Could the panting and disorientation be caused by too much meds? He is scheduled for sedated xrays next Tuesday. On the initial xray the vet said his heart was 2 points larger than normal??. I am so confused by all this. any help greatly appreciated.
Jennifer in Oklahoma
Hi Jennifer,
I am sorry your pup is having so many issues and is facing this difficult condition. Panting is a common side effect of prednisone and should not cause an issue with the collapsing trachea due to the anti-inflammatory action of the steroids. I did not look up all the recommended dosages of the medications your boy is taking but can assure you that most drugs are calculated by the specific weight of your dog (mg/kg) and not given based on a weight range. I am glad your vet is being proactive and planned to take some x-rays. What did you find out? How are things today? Don’t forget you can always ask for a consultation with a specialist if needed. Hoping all is well and praying for a positive outcome for your sweet boy.
My friends baby is a 13 year old jack russel
mix. He was taken to the emergency vet the other night for persistent coughing. He was diagnosed with an enlarged heart that is pressing on his lower trachea causing the cough. It seems to be worse anytime he is laying down or trying to rest, seeming because it causes his heart to put more pressure on his trachea. He is on all of the meds suggested but is still having coughing fits every 30-60 min. They recently put him on a narcotic hoping that would ease the coughing. I’m not sure of the medications, one is to make the heart pump more efficiently and I believe another is a diuretic, and then an antibiotic. I’m wondering if there are any massage techniques to help the pressure on his trachea? He’s getting some turmeric for inflammation as well but nothing seems to be helping his cough yet. It’s been about 36-40 hours since being in the emergency vet and the next available appointment in her area is Monday. Any help to get this little man comfortable would be greatly appreciated 💙
Dear Alana,
I am sorry your friend’s pup is not doing well and is experiencing these severe symptoms of heart disease. You are such a good friend to be researching for ways to help. Unfortunately, I am not aware of anything else that can be done at home that is available over the counter. Sometimes a nebulizer can help with coughing but, since this is secondary to heart issues, I am not sure how effective it would be. Your friend may be facing some difficult decisions about quality of life sooner rather than later. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone involved. Bless you all.
Been doing a lot of research and getting multiple opinions on how to treat my Pomeranians collapsed trachea. He’s now on Lomotil which seems to help but recently developed chronic congestion of clear mucus over the past few weeks. Antibiotics didn’t clear it up. Can a collapsed trachea cause mucus to build up and not drain properly? I also wonder if his recent dental cleaning and the tube they use caused irritation to this esophagus. Do you think deep dental cleanings are too much of a risk for a dog with collapsed trachea?
Hi Brian,
I am sorry your Pomeranian is struggling with the symptoms of collapsed trachea (CT). The increased mucous and coughing can definitely be caused by this condition. It is not uncommon for the endotracheal tube used for general anesthesia to cause some irritation to the trachea. While this can complicate things for dogs suffering with CT, it should improve with time. You may want to ask your vet about using an anti-inflammatory medication just to see if it helps get things under control. While dental cleanings come with their own risks and possible complications, I think the risks of uncontrolled dental disease and oral infections may outweigh any concerns about the dental procedure for this specific situation. Hoping your pup is feeling better and has recovered from any negative effects from anesthesia. Best wishes to you both.
Hello
My baby Libby has a collapsed trachea. She is 14 1/2 years old. She is on hydrocodone anti inflammatory and also butorphanol with gabapentin
The butorphanol works good for her but,I can’t find a pharmacy to make it. Scottsdale is too far. What other cough suppressant will help her? I’m need of help please.
Dear Stephanie,
I understand your concern for Libby with not having access to the medications she needs. Without playing a personal role in her medical care, it is hard to make specific recommendations about treatments. Please make sure your vet is aware of this supply issue. There may be a mail order pharmacy or compounding pharmacy that can get this medication to you. Hoping you can find a quick solution to this problem. Best wishes and good luck!
My 11 yr old maltipoo was just diagnosed 3 days ago with collapsed trachea. She was coughing with each breath. We took her to the vet & he gave her an injection of butorphenol, intermittent oxygen, & got xrays. After seeing narrowing of trachea, he sent her home on robitussin & clindamycin. I called him back & asked for temaril P also. He refuses to prescribe narcotics for anyone so now I am looking for a new vet. I need the right meds for my furbaby because her cough is not controlled. she is running fever also and I don’t know why. Her liver was enlarged and abdomen tight from coughing. I keep thinking something else is going on but I don’t know what.
Hi Julie,
I am sorry your senior girl is struggling with this ongoing cough, and I understand your concern. Unfortunately, without examining her myself, I can’t offer specific conclusions or recommendations. I agree it sounds like something else may be contributing to this situation. I think a second opinion or more in-depth investigation would be a great idea. Hoping you can find the answers you need to ensure your girl is comfortable and feeling her best. Keep up the good work and take care!
My dog Baby is a 5 1/2 lb chihuahua with a collapsing trachea. I giver her dasuquin everyday and a carprofen from the vet. She vet ordered a bronchiodialator for her but Chewy said they don’t give those to dogs of her weight. I asked the vet about cough medicine. She told me it would not work on the condition. I am not sure how much the carprofen is working… I am not rich so my options are limited here. I’ve already spent a ton on just trying to get her treatment.
Dear Debbie,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your little pup. I think it is crazy that a website (Chewy) would override a veterinarian’s prescription and not fill what was requested. I am sorry you are dealing with that headache! Is there a different pharmacy you would be willing to use that would fill your vet’s prescription? I encourage you to call some of your local pharmacies and ask about pricing for this medication. There may also be a coupon available online at http://www.goodrx.com that could help keep the cost to a minimum. Also, talk to your vet about reaching out to an internal medicine specialist for advice. Most local specialists welcome calls from general practice veterinarians in the area and will offer guidance with complicated cases. A specialist may have ideas about different treatments or medications to try and could help navigate this tricky path. Hoping you can find the help you need to ensure your sweet girl is happy and comfortable. Praying for a positive outcome.
Hello Dr.Buzby How are you dear. I have a story and a few questions about my 18 year old Chihuahua that has enlarged Heart and trachea collapse as well as back right ligament problem Water on the lungs too Wondering do i do that here. regards Trevor Robarts Halifax Nova Scotia Canada.
Hi Trevor,
I am sorry your Chihuahua is facing so many issues at once. You are more than welcome to tell your story and share your experiences with us. I am limited to the advice I can offer without being personally involved in your pup’s medical care. So, I may not be able to give you the answers you seek, but I am always here to offer encouragement and support.
I’d like to know more about using bronchodilators, our dog has dealt with this disease for too long he’s on his last days maybe, he’s on meds but never offered a bronchodilator how available are they? do they help ?
Hi Jay,
I am sorry your boy is struggling with severe symptoms from his collapsing trachea. Bronchodilators should be something your vet can order for you, or they can be called into a local pharmacy. They work better for lower airway disease (main stem bronchi) but would possibly have some beneficial effects for the trachea as well. I am not sure they will be the miracle cure you are looking for but could be worth a try. Also, many vets are now using Cerenia off label to treat this condition. Cerenia is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has shown to offer great benefits in the treatment of many inflammatory conditions and diseases (not just for treating nausea as labeled). I encourage you to discuss this possible treatment with your vet. Hoping you can find the answers you need to restore your sweet boy’s quality of life. Bless you both.
My 15.5 yo wheaten has this (I think). Rhe bet said it’s bronchialmalacia. He is getting worse even on meds. The past 2 nights he has been getting up & panting & whining. He is on oxycodone but refuses anything else! This is so hard. 🙏🏻🐾
Dear Deb,
I am so sorry your senior boy is struggling with these severe symptoms. Praying for comfort and peace as you navigate this difficult path. ♥
My lovely 12 year old Irish setter has had tracheal collapse for a number of years but it has suddenly got worse especially at night, she is on gabepentin and codeine but they make her very sleepy which is no quality of life . She does rally on odd days and will try to do a zoomie but that makes the cough worse . I don’t want her to suffer but don’t know when you should let go
Hi Ruth,
I am sorry your Setter is having these chronic issues. Please make sure your vet is aware of the extreme drowsiness the medications are causing. There could be other options to try that would not cause this level of sedation. You may want to consider reaching out to an internal medicine specialist. They will know all the latest information and sometimes have access to treatments that can be cost prohibitive in general practice. Here is a link to another article that will help with assessing quality of life: Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
Hoping you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for your sweet girl. Best wishes and bless you both. ♥
Sir/Madam,
My dog suddenly started coughing yesterday but I am not able to rule out the reason will you please help me out he coughs more when gets excited and settles after sometime.if you want I can send you his video.
Hi Susan,
I understand your concern for your dog with this coughing that has recently started. Unfortunately, without personally examining your pup I can’t make specific conclusions or recommendations. I encourage you to schedule an appointment with your vet to have your dog evaluated. They can guide you through the process of getting a diagnosis and finding the appropriate treatment. I think it is wonderful you were able to get this strange behavior on video. It could be very valuable to your vet in helping to get some answers. Wishing you the best for a positive outcome.
Hello Dr. Buzby! This page on your blog is such a great help! Being the pet doctor AND the pet mom make you the best person ever to hear from regarding your knowledge and experiences!
I adopted a little guy from a rescue shelter JUST BEFORE the quarantine in 2020. I never intended to have two dogs, but when I saw him (I was there with my mother who wanted a cat), he looked so much like the other one I adopted there that I was instantly his mommy, at least in my heart and mind.
The shelter said that he had no kennel cough, but I guess that no one slept near him at night, because that is when his cough was very present and severe. I had to negotiate trying antibiotics for him since all of the practices were mandated to be closed. Then my first dog caught it, so I knew for sure that’s what it was. Case closed. Right?
Wrong! Even after the antibiotics, he continued to cough at night and at various times during the day. He was diagnosed with a moderately loud heart murmur, so I thought that the coughing made sense.
Just recently he had an x-ray, and the doc could see how very teeny tiny his air spaces are. He improved with another round of antibiotics, a cough suppressant, and then steroids to see if more improvement could be achieved. His coughing was then pretty much limited to night time, especially when he moved, even a tiny bit.
But just last night, he suddenly looked unwell. His head and tail were down, and he was seeking comfort. I also noticed that in the past week, he has been balding on his back. That’s new.
So, we are on watch with him. The vet wants to see him, but I just spent over $1000 for his exam and all of his medicines (and new halter). He is lethargic. His respirations are at least 100 per minute, but he didn’t cough once during the night or during the day today that I know of.
The only thing that I can think of that may have triggered this condition was that he coughed on a soft treat that was too dried out and hard. I can imagine that it may have scratched his throat, imposing too much on his limited breathing space. Other than that, my only thought is that his trachea is too weak to keep the air flowing, and it´s causing this situation.
There is no fever, and he does not seem to be suffering outside of his obvious signs of feeling lousy. I am not going to proceed with any surgery or stints.
If he begins to look like he is in distress, I will take him to an emergency care, if necessary. For now, he’s just not himself, but he’s calm and he’s never alone.
Does it sound to you like he could be dying from a collapsed trachea? If so, is it possible for him to die somewhat peacefully at home, or will euthanizing be more optimal? He is very accustomed to this labored breathing, and is so traumatized by a vet visit.
I know that no one can know without an exam, but I’m also wondering whether he can rally and gain strength after a few days of rest. I thought that he was dying several other times, and he’s always made a great come back. This time is different, so I’m just looking for your gut response. I’d really rather not take him in if the only options are surgery, or to be told that he will never get better.
I am a vigilant dog mom and have no intention of seeing him in distress for hours until he dies, but like I said, he has practically come back from what looked like near death before, and at this time, we’ve already administered all of the stage 4 medicines. He’s not eating yet today, so…. I feel like I’m answering my own question.
Your thoughts are appreciated. Thank you for sharing Fi’s story.
Dear Jennifer,
My heart goes out to you as you face this most difficult situation with your senior boy. Although collapsed trachea can cause respiratory distress and an increased respiratory rate, it seems odd to me that your pup has a respiration rate of 100 even while no coughing is taking place. This just makes me suspicious that the majority of your guy’s problem may be due to heart disease or some other complication rather than the collapsed trachea. Of course, without examining him myself, I cannot be sure. I definitely think humane euthanasia would be a gentler goodbye than passing away from airway distress and lack of oxygen. I always think it is better to let go one day too early rather than one day to late and allow unnecessary suffering. If you think you need your boy to be evaluated by a vet, maybe you can reach out to a house call/in home euthanasia veterinarian. That way you can get the answers you need and avoid the stress of an in-clinic vet visit. Praying for your comfort and strength as you navigate this tricky path. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Hi there, my 10 year old Yorkie poo has the dry, honking cough and I’m almost certain it’s a collapsed trachea. When I took him to the vet, he dismissed my concerns and said the coughing was from a heart murmur and the fluid buildup. While I understand this can also cause coughing, I’m not sure if this is what my pup has going on. The vet prescribed lasix and a vasodilator and I’ve seen NO improvements (granted it’s only been a week). May I ask if lasix and vasodilators work for collapse trachea? I feel like a cough suppressant and bronchodilator may be a better option? Thanks!!!
Hi Jamie,
So sorry to hear that your Yorkie poo is coughing and you haven’t seen any improvement on the current medications. Like you mentioned, coughing can have a variety of causes, including a collapsed trachea, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease (coughing comes from an enlarged heart compressing the airways, fluid build up, or both). And to further complicate matters, sometimes dogs can have more than one condition at once that is contributing to the cough. Generally Lasix and vasodilators primarily work for heart disease, and aren’t going to have as much of an effect for collapsing trachea. Since it has been a week and you really haven’t seen any change, I would recommend checking in with your vet. It is possible that he or she may want to do further diagnostics (such as a chest X-ray, echo, etc. if your dog hasn’t already had those tests) to try to get to the bottom of what is causing the cough and make some changes to figure out the best course of treatment. Alternatively, you could also consider getting a second opinion for a fresh set of eyes and/or visiting a specialist.
I hope that you are able to find some answers and an effective treatment plan soon so your pup can start feeling better. ❤️
Thank you so much for posting this. I’m going through not knowing if it’s kennel cough or collapsed trachea or both. Vet said if things don’t clear up after antibiotics, he will need examination with X-rays. Your story with your little precious sweet Fiona gives me great hope that if mine does have collapsed trachea he can also live his best life. ❤️
Hi Lisa,
I am glad the article was helpful and offered some guidance. How are things going with your pup? Hoping you received good news, and all is well. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Dr. Buzby,
My 14 1/2 year old chihuahua was just diagnosed with trachea colspse. She doesn’t make a honking noise, just a coughing like choking issue, when excited and first thing in the mornings right when she wakes up. She may only do this 3 or 4 times a day. She was put on Cerenia 1/4 tablet. How long does this tablet take to show any improvement generally? Also could her symptoms be something other than trachea Colapse. thank you.
Hi Tammy,
Sorry to hear you are dealing with some coughing and possible tracheal collapse with your chihuahua. Typically when I use Cerenia for tracheal collapse, most dog parents reported improvement within a few days, but some felt like it took about a week. Unfortunately it doesn’t work for all dogs, so if you aren’t seeing improvement, you may want to check in with your vet. Maybe your pup just happens to be one who doesn’t respond to Cerenia and needs a different medication. Or perhaps like you asked, some of the symptoms are related to another respiratory condition such as chronic bronchitis. Either way, I hope that you and your veterinarian are able to find some solutions to get your little gal feeling better soon!
hi my 16 yr old schnoodle also was just diagnosed with collapsed trachea and he is on a steroid and cough suppressant which helped by I read up on it and there is a herbal medicine called throat gold I bought through Amazon and it has been a godsend. It started helping after the 2nd day. He was goose honk coughing several times a day and now it’s maybe could times a week when I pick him up the wrong way. It’s a bit pricey but so worth it for my Spunkys comfort.
Hi Rhonda,
This is great information! I am so glad you found something that helps your senior guy get some relief from his coughing. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers!
Our 15 yr old chihuahua was diagnosed today. The vet subscribed antibiotics. I’m just looking for information to make him more comfortable. He seems so distressed when coughing begins and neither of us sleep much during the night. I’m thinking about the herbal medicine Throat Gold. Hopefully for that price it will help.
Dear Linda,
I am sorry your little pup is dealing with coughing due to a collapsing trachea. Hopefully the medication will decrease the severity and frequency of these worrisome symptoms. If you decide to try the Throat Gold supplement let me know what you think! Wishing you and your senior guy all the best.
Hi, my chihuahua Alfie aged 11 has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. He also has a chronic cough that makes him gag. I’ve been told he has an enlarged heart that is pressing on his windpipe. He has been prescribed codeine as a cough suppressant. However, this is in liquid form and despite trying our hardest we are unable to get him to take the medicine. The dosage is too much to disguise in food/treats etc. I note that your Fi was also treated with cough suppressants. Can I ask for the name of the cough suppressant and whether it was in tablet form?
Thank you.
Hi Lyndsey,
I am sorry Alfie is struggling with this chronic cough due to his enlarged heart. The dog mentioned in the article, Fiona, actually belongs to Dr.Williams. Unfortunately, she did not mention specifics about Fiona’s medications. I can tell you that there are cough suppressants that come in tablet form. If this is something you think would benefit Alfie, please make sure to let your vet know. I am certain there is a way to make medicating your sweet boy a bit easier. Wishing you both the best!
hydrocodone -homatropine tablets. I’ve usually gotten them from a rite aid although it’s a lot of jumping through hoops to get this medicine since it’s a controlled substance and also most places don’t even carry it!but it’s way easier to put in a tiny bit of peanut butter!
My chihuahua is almost 17. Diagnosed with tracheal collapse. I spend many nights up and down. I tried everything. Throat gold did not work. He doesn’t have heart problems. Everything points to tracheal collapse. The only thing that has worked so far is Tussigon. It is an opiate so hard to get a prescription for it. They think you might take it. But I never have. My Louis gets the Tussigon. It’s expensive. Nothing I can do. It’s been almost three years. Now he’s starting to wine and cry at night more. I am considering asking for a medication that will open the airway more. They’ve never offered that. I’m wonder if the combination of the Tussigon and dilator would help even more. The vet also told me that he would need antibiotics also for the rest of his life. Hard to keep up with the cost of everything. I won’t have another dog. I can’t go through this again. Too difficult. But for anyone that wants to know what really helped it was the Tussigon. It comes in a pill form and I either cut it in half or give a whole one with peanut butter. He takes it straight away. It’s like he knows what it is now.
Dear Cari,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with a chronic cough. Even though the treatment is expensive, I am glad you have found something that helps offer your boy some relief. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Praying your pup can maintain a good quality of life and wishing you all the best for many happy days ahead.
I have a 14-year-old shih Tzu. recently took her in and she was diagnosed with Cushing’s, dynamic tracheal caudal mainstem bronchial collapse, age related pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic lower inflammation. She received various treatments and saw pretty good improvement. I know it will never be perfect and won’t go back to where things were. I just want her to enjoy the rest of her life and live it the best she can.
I understand not to over exercise her, however, I worry about muscle wasting, such a fine line, I just don’t understand how to gauge things. She is constantly panting because of Cushing’s and all the other issues.
Hi Julie,
I am sorry your little pup is dealing with so many issues all at once. I understand the muscle wasting is concerning, but unfortunately there may not be much to prevent it from progressing. In senior and geriatric dogs, the loss of lean muscle mass is less about exercise and more about hormones, metabolic issues, and endocrine changes. Even if you could exercise her regularly, this would probably not prevent the muscle loss from occurring. I hope her treatments will continue to be effective for her airway inflammation and breathings problems. Keeping you in my thoughts. Bless you both.
My pup has always barked really hard. Any evidence that this could cause CT.?
Has anyone tried hyperbaric chamber for CT? I am buying a portable unit and seeing if that helps.
I am also going to see if this technology will strengthen the trachea tissue. http://Www.neu.fit
Hi Preston,
You bring up some very interesting ideas! I have absolutely no experience with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in dogs, but it does sound intriguing. There is no evidence or research to indicate that the frequency or intensity of barking contributes to the onset of CT.
Our 9 year old rescue beagle mix was recently diagnosed with collapsed trachea (although hasn’t yet been xrayed). We started him on hydrocodone a few days ago but have only seen a very small improvement. How long should we expect it to take for his coughing to truly subside, if at all? It’s not as severe but it’s definitely still present. Thank you!
Hi Myra,
I understand your concern for your pup and this chronic coughing. Unfortunately, with the diagnosis of collapsed trachea, the couching is usually a lifelong issue and is never fully resolved. The goal is to minimize it as much as possible and control the occasional flare up. How are things today? Does the medication seem to be helping? Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Elvis Presley P., the novel! (Sorry I’m trying to make a joke, as I just spent 2 hours typing this “comment” out. It ended up becoming a novel. So I’ll let you just jump right in:
Hi! I am crying as I am reading your article, as it kills me to know that my almost 15 year old overweight beagle is struggling his little heart out to breath. I just feel like an awful parent. The fact that I haven’t taken him to emergency care, as the vet bills, is one of the only reasons that are making me resistant. Also the fact that he has absolutely crippling fear and anxiety that goes along with vet visits. I brought him in 2 months ago to his vet and she tested for diabetes which she already said, before testing him that is most likely not the problem, she belived “in her heart of hearts” it to be cushing’s disease, but that she had to rule out diabetes first (flag 1 of my sketicism, like why can’t you just test for what you believe the problem to be). She literally said if she could diagnose and treat him without doing the actual test, she would, but for I guess, legal or moral reasons, she has to confirm by test. But in my head I’m thinking, if you believe THAT strongly in your heart that he has this disease and NOT diabetes, can we please just go straight to testing for Kushings. But as I could’ve guessed (and as the vet herself predicted) he did not have diabetes. So by the end of that appointment, I paid $800 just to get a phone call 5 days later that everything came back fine and he doesn’t have diabetes. That’s what I was left with “he is fine” like….he is clearly not fine???!!! What are you talking about lady!?!? just don’t trust my veterinary clinic and I know that sounds terrible, but the vet literally called me a penny pincher, as she was naming the other tests she could do. She said, “well we could also try (this that and the other thing) but I know that you seem to be pinching pennies.” I am sorry, but how much more inappropriate and unprofessional and insensitive can you get?
Anyways, I don’t know enough about all of this stuff to know if I am getting ripped off or not. But it breaks my heart to think that I am letting Elvis suffer and get worse and worse with every coughing fit that he has. She gave him Trazedone I think it’s called and it doesn’t help him in the least (which she was aware of, as she prescribed it to him in January of this year due. to the same coughing, gagging and wheezing and honking sounds. I figured it was worth a shot because he is so exhausted from coughing. He can’t sleep for more than 30 minutes without a coughing attack. He is overweight and has been his whole life. That is also something that I have no one to blame but myself. He hasn’t worn a harness in about 10 years because it would make him so scared and sad when I would go to put it on, later figuring that it must be the huge masses under his armpits that are being squished by the harness. He is a lumpy boy and yelps when he is picked up, I know how to pick him up but he will still try to run away or jump off the bed or couch when I attempt to, which is horrible because every time I think his little stubby legs are going to crack when I hear his him hit the hardwood from those heights. All in all, I just really have a hard time with all of this because so much of his pain is enabled by my choices. I know he shouldn’t be walking up or down stairs and he does it at least 30 times a day, going up and down looking for food, being absolutely restless. He shouldn’t be jumped on and off of beds onto hardwood floors, he shouldn’t be obese, he should be walked more often just to help keep him healthy. I just really am not sure what I should do. I can’t let him get put down for me not being a good mom. He is totally fine and normal besides that (I understand the potential cushing’s diagnosis as he solely LIVES for food now, which has just increased drastically over the last couple of years. OH and he drinks HUGE amounts of water and pees and poops all of the house, even after just coming inside from going. I’ve been giving him a lot of honey, which definitely seems to help alleviate the cough, but I realize it is making him poop like it’s nobody’s business, a very very soft, poop which is not his norm. Yesterday morning, he literally pooped on the stairs, not on the landing, mid-flight of steps. This was very concerning as I know he must’ve been unaware of this, because I walked up the steps to go get something from my room (Elvis was moseying up behind me) and by the time I walked back down the stairs, he had pooped on them. I live with my parents and basically at this point, everyone is just stressed out and annoyed by Elvis (including myself, because in the moment, it’s just like omg Elvis, what the heck is your problem, like go relax and lay down, we all get so frustrated how he jumps up off the couch EVERY time somebody even walks toward the kitchen. He is so restless with wandering up and downstairs, into everyone’s room or bathroom to look for a trashcan to knock over and go through. Elvis actually makes it impossible for us to leave him either downstairs (by putting up a baby gate, or put him in a baby-gated space downstairs where there are no carpets for him to ruin further (which is so bad he has literally peed on the family room carpet so badly and so many times, it has gone through the carpet, sponge padding and stained the plywood with pee. We steam clean nearly 3 times a week and if anything, it now seems to just bring out the smell of pee even more, doesn’t get rid of it at all. What’s different is that instead of when he was younger, and would pee by a door, or poop in the basement by the back door (aka trying to HIDE it or at least show that he was waiting by the door until he couldn’t hold it any longer, now he will legitmatly lift his leg in front of us and start peeing on the couch, or my bed, or just while walking through the house sometimes. This past summer he even lifted his leg and peed on my cousin’s boyfriend’s shoe (this was Elvis and his first time meeting-GREAT impression Elvy!!!!!) and he has done the same thing TWICE to my sister’s boyfriend (thankfully he hasn’t done the same to mine!)
I just need some guidance, because my sweet boy shouldn’t have to die just because I increasingly let his life get worse. I don’t know if I mentioned my trying to partition him off from using stairs or jumping up and down on things, He will literally bark for 2 hours straight if that’s what he has to do for you to just let him have what he wants. He is a complete vulture for food and will sit and cry and wine and stare you down until you have to get up and go put the plate in the sink, out of his eyeline, he will not relax until you do that. I also just feel bad that his whole life he enjoyed wet food, gets to sit on the couch with us (even has his own couch that was early on, designated ‘Elvy’s spot’ because of him squishing down the cushions so badly <3, and sleeps in bed under the covers at my moms feet. I feel like it's unfair of me to take all of his normal life habits away when it's my own doing for his now health problems. Like my mom makes me feel guilty whenever I try to say ' we can only give him dry food because that's what LITERALLY every other person I know that owns a dog gives theirs. ' But Elvis will literally turn his nose up at it and not eat and she says it's not fair for him to get 15 years of wet/dry and now we just take it away to something so undesirable to him that he won't eat it (because CLEARLY, this little man will do ANYTHING for a crumb or morsel of food dropped.)
I just don't know what I should be doing or what I should be listening for from veterinarians.
I saw that you replied to other people's comments and I am sure this is going to be the longest one you'll ever read but this actually just helped me a lot to write everything down. I need help and I need to help Elvis but I need somebody who can hear everything that is going on and has been going on his in lifetime. It's hard for me to think of everything on-the-spot to a vet.
OH, speaking of even going to the vet, Elvis's anxiety for the vet is so horrendous that he won't get in the car with me because he knows that's the only place he now goes to in the car. Petco has asked he doesn't come back, because of the way he gets when they try lifting him up or doing ANYTHING to him, I was in the back of the store when we took him to get his nails done, I knew it was Elvis because I knew how freaked out he was, but I had never heard him so upset. The vet also many times requests that we do not bring Elvis in without giving him a sedative of some sort (prescribed by them) at least 2 hours before his visit because he bites them, I tell them time and time again that it literally does absolutely nothing for him, if anything I think it makes him more anxious feeling a bit out of sorts. For the past few years due to COVID I haven't been able to go into the vet with him which is regrettable on my part, I can't imagine the fear my man had. I was finally able to go when I went just two months ago, Elvis peed allllllll off the vet room floor, as I was in the middle of telling the vet tech about how he will just pee an absurd amount randomly (so Elv actually demonstrated a perfect example, my perfect little boy 🙂 but when the vet came in to like "touch" him and just put pressure anywhere on his body, I warned her, I said it hurts him and he doesn't like to be touched (this is the woman that called me the penny pincher, and she said (with a slight hint of sass) "no I don't believe that's the case, I think he just doesn't want us touching him" and I'm in my head just like lady, this dog looks like he is about to have the fight of his life, if you think that's just him being a 'grumpy old man' you're out of your gosh darn mind. But he really does look like that, like he looks like an animal in the wild, that is in fear for his life and willing to do what he has to to protect himself. I'll be honest, I was a little pleased when I saw the fear in the vet and vet techs eyes, like I was holding Elvis on the table and they literally looked like they were cowering on the other side of the room. She said to get the muzzle and I said "I'll hold him, you just have to put it on. But this girl really screwed it up by going too slowly and nervously to do it. I said, "if he sees it, and sees what you're trying to do, we won't have a chance in hell of getting that on him". I'd understand a normal person being nervous about a dog they don't know, but a vet and vet tech, that's your job. Like I know for darn sure scarier dogs have to go to the vet, like big dogs who are scared, that's like Elvis x4! So how do those dogs get treated?! Anyways, I literally had Elvis on the table as I had one strong arm around his belly like a football hold (he was still on the table all 4 paws) and then my right arm basically had him in a headlock, squeezing the back of his head so that it was pushing against the side of my head, so that I could keep him from moving it and taking her hand off. But like I said, the vet was like Oh we can't have you doing that, you aren't supposed to, thats our job and I was like no it's fine, I trust him more than you do and I'd rather it be me restraining him than a stranger (simply for the safety of them, I was honestly just like, just let me do it it'll be easier for all of us.) Like I said they were scared to death though and said that she had to take him in the back and basically put him in a "giant blanket" that would restrain him. So I let her do it because clearly those 2 were not going to be able to get a muzzle on him which is absurd and embarrassing for them, as their sole purpose is to care for and help animals, they couldn't even do the steps to allow themselves to care for him. I don't like when he goes in the back because as you can see, I do not trust this clinic, I don't like that I can't see him or be with him it just seems fishy to me when they resort to that. But also, he does need some sort of anxiety pill before he goes in because I fear that if they were able to get the muzzle on, Elvis seriously would've had a heart attack. This is just so upsetting to me, as I have been sitting for an hour typing, you just see on my bed he is the sweetest old man and he is so freaking exhausted, he looks at me so sadly as if he's just saying please help me. Like right now, he is coughing as he is keeping him eyes closed, and hes shaking actually. I think I need to take him to urgent care today but the way that he literally has panic attacks now just from being in the car, I never wanted to have to take him into a vet again until he eventually had to be put down, and even then, I wanted to have somebody come to the house and do it (my friends dog who was 17 was put down last month so that's when I found out about such a service). I am crying again, thinking about if he had to go and die in a vet clinic, that would literally just make me feel like such an evil person to put him in a position like that. I want him to be happy, given lots of chicken nuggets, and then asleep on the couch with me mom dad sister and our cat who loves him to death even though he could care less <3 🙂
Please help me.
Please help Elvis.
He's not ready to die, and I'm not just saying that in the sense of me being a selfish owner and just keeping him alive for my own sake (because I have had a couple of friends who I've seen let their dogs live through that, the dog wasn't even a dog anymore, they'd walk into walls, literally the one, the 17 year old, walked straight into their open pool this summer and absolutely would've drown had the dad not been outside on the deck and heard the plop into the water. I had watched those 2 friend's dogs basically "dying" for the last 2-3 years of their life. It would actually upset me so much to see those dogs, so I ended up stopping going to their houses. My friends could come to mine or we could go out and meet up, but I couldn't bare watching those poor animals that truly looked like they would've been at peace if they were able to find rest and go to sleep forever </3
I promise, that's not Elvis, you would think he is a completely fine and happy dog the way he springs up for food, still has a spry little strut when he goes for walks, gets excited when anyone comes in the door….like he's just not on death's doorstep and the only thing I think making that a possible reality, is lack of help for him on my part.
I am so upset right now. I just took about WOW 2 hours writing all of this. I hope I can receive your input on what I should do further in terms of seeking care, how to alter his life at home to his benefit (diet, stairs, etc) or if after all of that, you do think he sounds like he's better off being put to rest, I just really wish you could meet him because as long as it wasn't in a vet setting, you wouldn't guess that he has any downfalls hehe. He's just an annoying old, begging, peeing, sleepy boy who wants nothing more than to eat, sleep, and stroll around the neighborhood. He's literally the best guy ever no matter how much I yell at him (which I also HATE myself for because I really don't know if he has any control or knowledge of the peeing/pooping in the house but I think he does) because he will bark at the door to come inside incessantly and no go pee outside, but will come inside and pee 5 seconds later.
He's still perfect though <333333
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE FOR ME AND ELVY !!!!!!!!!!!
-Sam
Hi Samantha,
It is obvious from your words how much Elvis means to you and that he is dearly loved. Since I haven’t examined him myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. I will do my best to address your concerns, and as always, I will be honest with you even if it is not what you are wanting to hear. The reason your vet did some lab work prior to testing for Cushing’s disease is you have to rule out other possibilities first. You don’t want to test for Cushing’s and get false results due to concurrent issues that were missed or start treatment for a disease that is not actually present. I truly don’t think your vet was trying to be condescending about your financial concerns and I applaud them for paying attention to details like this to help you make decisions within your means. I understand the honey helps with Elvis’ cough, but that amount of honey for a dog is extremely unhealthy and is probably contributing to his weight gain. You mentioned that your senior guy has been known for having “accidents” in the house his whole life. I am worried that this may not be a medical issue but is instead behavioral, just like him begging for food and crying when he is left alone. He may have separation anxiety and a daily anxiety medication may be something to investigate, but it also sounds like he is calling all the shots in your relationship. It might be time for some tough love. He will continue to do whatever you allow him to get away with. The behavior you describe when he is taken to a vet or groomer sounds like fear aggression. This can be a hard thing to deal with as it usually stems from a lack of socialization as a very young pup. I’ll be honest, it bothers me on a very deep level that it would please you to see fear in your vet’s eyes from the aggressive behavior of your dog. I am a vet too. Yes, it is our job to do our best to keep animals healthy and prevent harm. That doesn’t mean we are required to get bit or put ourselves or our staff in harm’s way. I have refused service for several dogs in the past due to the potential risks to my staff. Also, veterinary clinics are required to have liability insurance. Every liability insurance company will tell you that an owner should never restrain their own dog in the clinic. If the owner gets bit by their own dog and then decides to sue the clinic, the owner will win the case every time. I know you were trying to do what you thought would be best in the moment, but again the risk for your vet was too great to proceed in that manner. I do think a house call vet might be a good option for you and Elvis. He may be more comfortable receiving care in his own home. Like I mentioned earlier, I haven’t evaluated him myself, so I do not know if euthanasia should be considered at this time. I hope you can find a vet that you will be comfortable partnering with to help address Elvis’ medical issues. Wishing you both the best of luck.
Hello Dr. Buzby!
Let me just say that I am extremely grateful and appreciative that you took the time to read and truly give such a thoughtful response! I am sure that took a while to read and I really really do appreciate you spending your time doing that. Obviously you are going above and beyond helping people and their animals, as you are taking time ‘out of office’ to address complete strangers! So I am absolutely so grateful to hear from you! That was incredibly kind. I appreciate hearing your perspective and I definitely do feel very badly for making the vet Elvis had out to have malintent because you’re right, just like you, she clearly went into the field due to a passion for helping animals. So that is totally on me for feeling insecure about comments made, so that’s my problem, not hers! I don’t mean to offend you or any other veteranarian by saying that she didn’t have purely helpful intentions. I do think I needed to hear the tough love thing because you are right, obviously he will continue the same habits unless another variable changes to break the cycle. Simple as that.
Again, I am so so thankful that you took the time to read and respond to my post. Thank you so much for that and I wish you all the best as you continue helping animals and people, whether it be in-person evaluations or virtual interactions such as this.
Elvy says thank you also! 🙂
Hi Samantha,
Thank you for the kind words. I wish you nothing but the best and give Elvis a big hug for me! ♥
My chihuahua terrier mix, Panda, is 14 years old. He had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. He coughs often and pants often, particularly after walking up a hill or stairs. He is on Gabapentin,, Vetmedin and Galliprant. I have another younger dog so we go on walks everyday. I finally got Panda a stroller so he can still join us – and ride once he has had enough. He will often have his coughing fits and my inclination is to massage his neck to calm him and help the cough subside. I am wondering if this is truly helpful or if it is a bad idea. It seems to help in the moment. Any thoughts on this?
Hi Nancy,
I love that you have a stroller for your pup. What a sweet thing you have done for Panda to allow him to still take part in family outings. Has he been diagnosed with collapsing trachea or is the coughing just due to his heart condition? I am not sure that the neck massaging is doing much to physically stop the coughing episodes, but it may be helping to relax your pup which in turn helps to minimize the symptoms. I don’t think the massaging is a bad idea. I hope Panda has many happy days ahead. Enjoy every moment!
My yorkie poo is 15 years old and she was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea and heart failure. She is on vetmedin, lasix as needed, and was on a steroid for a bit. She wakes up at night in these anxious fits. The only thing I can think to do is see if the vet will give her some anxiety or seditive medication. Any advice for a dog with CHF and collapsed trachea?
Hi Jade,
I am sorry your senior pup is struggling with these chronic issues. I agree, the only option at this point may be an anxiety medication or sedative. Some anxiety/sedation meds are not recommended for patients with CHF, so finding a good fit may be difficult. It is never a bad time to discuss the possibility of palliative care with your vet. I hope you can find the right combination of therapies to give your sweet girl some relief and restore her quality of life. Bless you both.
Our 3 year-old dog Coco is a Pomeranian Shih Tzu mix that 3 days ago was brought emergently to our vet due to coughing, vomiting and foaming at the mouth. She was diagnosed with collapsed trachea and prescribed Cerenia for 4 days and Lomotil for cough as needed.. We are feeding her soft food now because she will cough(almost choke) when given anything hard.. My question is how long will it take for her to recover from this episode? She is very anxious now when before she was such a fun loving dog and it really saddens us that this has happened at such a young age..
Hi Patrick,
I am so sorry Coco is still struggling despite the medications she is taking. Unfortunately, there is no way to know when or if she will improve. Coco may end up requiring surgery to help keep her airway open and breathing stable. Please make sure your vet is aware of the anxiety and issues your pup is currently experiencing. They may decide to try a sedative or anxiety medication to help get things under control. It might be a good idea to schedule a consult with a specialist to see if they have any other ideas about treatments that could be of benefit for Coco’s specific case. I hope she will start to improve soon and get back to living her best life. Praying for a positive outcome!
Hi Dr Julie,
Our 13 year old Dorkie has been diagnosed with collapse trachea since the beginning of the year. He is still very playful at his age. He still loves to play ball, swim and go on his walks. His cough is pretty much under control during the day for the exceptions when he gets excited and or drinks, Why is night time a struggle? Is it the way he lays? Is it the temperature in the room? This week I read somewhere that Bone Broth (for dogs) can help, especially the beef flavor. Have you ever heard of this helping?
Hi Jennifer,
I am glad your little guy is doing fairly well and is able to enjoy playing and swimming. Just as you, I am also a bit perplexed by the nighttime coughing episodes. Since we know anxiety can trigger these issues, it makes me wonder if he is starting to have nighttime anxiety as seen in many dogs with dementia/cognitive dysfunction. Does your dog have a history of snoring? Just wondering about the possibility of an elongated soft palate (usually seen more in flat faced breeds). Since I haven’t personally examined your pup, it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. I definitely think you should talk to your vet about these concerns. They may be able to prescribe an anti-inflammatory or antihistamine to take before bedtime to help with these nighttime flare ups. I do think Bone Broth is great and can be a helpful tool, but I do not have any experience with it being used for this specific condition. I hope you can find the right treatment to help your sweet boy get some rest (you too!). Praying for a positive outcome and wishing you both the best.
My vet just told me Maltese that is 13 has a collapsed trachea and he said sometimes cerenea helps with the coughjng along with cough medicine. I wonder though if I need to go for a second opinion
Hi Amy,
Your vet is exactly right. Cerenia has been found to be extremely helpful in dogs with collapsed trachea due to its anti-inflammatory effects. With that being said, it is always ok to seek out a second opinion. I hope you find the answers you need to make the best choices for you and your little pup. Best wishes!
My Chihuahua just turned one in March. Last week he’s been making a honking goose noise and when I took him to the vet, she told me he has collapsing trachea. He gets plenty exercise and he wears his harness so i don’t know why he’s developing this disease. It breaks my heart when he coughs and gets so sad. The vet took X Rays and says that it is pretty mild. I don’t want him to get any worse but when she told me that he won’t live a healthy 10+ years it broke me. I’m not sure what I can do to help him get better. It’s every other day that he will make that goose noise. I’m on a mission to make him lose at least one more pound. He’s a chihuahua mix so Im not sure what he’s mixed with that possibly could’ve gave him this gene. I love him so much, I want to try my best to strengthen his trachea. Any advice will help
Hi Amber,
I am sorry your little guy is struggling with this issue, especially at such a young age. Chihuahuas are one of the most common breeds in which we see this condition develop, so I am not sure the other breed that is mixed in is to blame. Unfortunately, collapsing trachea is cause by weakened cartilage. No amount of exercise will help prevent it. There are several medications that can help lessen the severity of this condition and try to prevent coughing episodes. I recommend you talk to your vet about your concerns and see what medications might be an option for your pup’s specific case. You can also consult with a veterinary surgeon to see if your dog would be a good candidate for surgical correction. I hope you can find a good solution to keep your little guy comfortable and allow him to live a long and happy life.
My 5 yr old male chihuahua rescue baby came to me with heart worms and the honking cough which really concerned me especially when he wasn’t able to eat or drink because of the cough but it seemed once he started to heal from the worm disease his coughing came less but he did have severe episode a few months ago that he was coughing all night up to the point I was terrified of losing him, he had never been diagnosed with collapsed trachea until then even though I tried to explain his vet the cough and what exacerbated it etc… but she would always relate it to his heart worms and enlarged heart . Found a new vet and she was able to diagnose his collapse trachea immediately, 3 months of hydrocodone and very seldom will he cough not unless he’s excited or been exercising and playing, my question is as long as he’s not experiencing coughing and respiratory issues should I continue to consider surgery for him? Vet says it’s my choice and offered no pro or con. I’m at a loss for helping my favorite angel baby who’s brought me nothing but pure joy and happiness and I want to keep him healthy as possible and do what’s best for him. Thank you for your time and attention
Hi Terri,
I am glad your little guy seems to be doing better since starting the hydrocodone. As far as surgery is concerned, since I haven’t examined your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. If you want to know the benefits and risks for your dog’s specific situation, I highly recommend you talk to a veterinary surgery specialist. They can give you their expert opinion and let you know if your dog is even a candidate for the surgery. If his heart is still enlarged or weakened from the previous heartworm disease, he may not be a good candidate for anesthesia. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet boy. He is lucky to have someone like you in his life to be such a great advocate for his health and wellbeing. I wish you both the best!
I noticed the statement coughing makes the collapsed trachae worse which makes sense to use a cough suppressant.
Researching the medications hydrocodone and tramadol use as cough suppressants I can’t find out why they suppress cough.
I would be more inclined to use Tramadol but correct me if I am wrong. It has a SNRI rapid anti-depressant that is relaxing with a feeling of well being and much less side effects than hydrocodone just from my own experience after hip replacement.
Working in psychiatric units I’ve descovered that not all patients get the rapid anti-depressant effect which is calm awakening effect but rather just drowsiness. Does that apply in dogs as well (mine is a 14 year old chihuahua)?
If so I assume the synthetic opioid part suppresses the cough plus the SNRI anti-depressant would also serve as an anti-anxiety medication.
Just concerned it’s risks in small dogs. Use also have the added problem of it being a controlled substance.
I think Hycodan is a syrup form of hydrocodone.
Is it neccessary to be given as a syrup? This is difficult for my dog but small fractions of tablets easly put into her favorite snack is easy peasy.
My chihuahua has to take gabapentin and trazadone at 6 pm for night terrors and noticed there is no coughing after taking those and very relaxed and happy but not drowsy but sleeps at night.
I wanted to stick with those but the dosegaes are at the upper end.
31.25 mg Trazadone, 100mg capsule Gabapentin and she weighs 6.8 lbs although I’ve been working at reducing weight a little.
I have seen wide doseage suggestions for both in the literature but concerned with toxicity. So far none of the bad side effects.
I am re-experimenting giving one first and wait an hour to see the effectiveness then the other.
The gabapentin by itself did little to calm her coughing until I added the trazadone.
Today I’ll try the trazadone first which I have feeling will produce the same result but fingers crossed.
She does have a heart murmur 3/5 last grading but rarely the long gag after cough.
Amazing she was walking with me slowly 3 miles a day which improved her cough and breathing and just being relaxed but suddenly the heat and humidity went up and had respiratory distress but was able to get her back to respirations 35/min using current medications.
The Vet did listen to her lungs and no signs of fluid which worried me which they did for free (God Bless them). They wanted to send me to emergency Vet for oxygem tent but I have been able to get her back with alot of calming support and the meds but it was scary.
I’m looking in getting a used oxygen concentrater and test it and make a nose cone for emergency backup using the lowest setting but I think being hypervigilant in checking humidity and temp will prevent this.
How about very early in the morning when the temp is low but humidity is still high like 98%?
May start walking her in pet stores for now.
I am sorry for the length but maybe these questions will help others.
I want to do everything possible but I’m disabled now rehabbing and not employed. She is the love of my life and goes everywhere with me
If I had the money I’d do stint placement but think my vet said risky with age and heart murmur with little benefit if I remember right. I could be wrong.
Thank you very much in advance. Blessings.
Hi CJ,
I am sorry your chihuahua is struggling to breathe and has been through so much difficulty lately. I understand your concern and the want to find additional help. Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions and recommendations. Hydrocodone works to suppress cough by acting directly on specific areas of the brain. To be honest, I am not familiar with tramadol being a commonly used medication for suppressing cough in veterinary medicine. It is more widely used for pain control and recent studies show it may not have much effect at all in canine patients. Hydrocodone does not have to be used in a syrup form and human preparations sometimes contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs. Yes, hydrocodone is a controlled substance and would need to be prescribed by your veterinarian. With many of the new regulatory laws surrounding opioids, most vets are hesitant to prescribe this kind of medication and for good reason. If you think your little girl needs an additional medication to help with the coughing, I highly recommend you talk to your vet and see what options would be a good fit for her specific case. I understand how much you love her and know you want to keep her with you as long as possible, but it concerns me that she could need oxygen intervention daily just to survive. I am not sure that struggling to breathe every day is a good quality of life. I pray you find a solution that works for you and your sweet girl to make her happy and comfortable. I wish you both the best of luck.
Philosophically my feeling is that if we would not euthanize a human being for a collapsing trachea I don’t want to euthanize my dog for it. A person may be able to choose assisted suicide in some regions but animals do not have that choice. If it is possible to respect that spiritual position I’m wondering if you can recommend palliative measures to keep the animal comfortable in the way that we might with a human being In support of a natural dying process. My dog is 16 and not a candidate for a stent.
Hi Rahti,
There are definitely medications and treatments that may be able to offer pain relief and comfort for dogs while their health is declining. Since I haven’t examined your senior pup myself, it is difficult to make specific recommendations about which therapies are appropriate. I highly recommend you seek the advice of a veterinarian that specializes in hospice and palliative care in your area. They would be able to evaluate your dog and make suggestions on the best way to keep them comfortable. I wish you the best as you navigate this difficult path.
Hello,
My 15 yr old lab/ retriever mix was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea about a year ago. Poor guy, I hate what he goes through. He is technically my sons dog so really his decision to end the suffering, but thats my question, is he suffering, the restlessness at night seems like it to me. Yes, he has collapsed. We have tried, CBD calming treats which help and also Doxepin but its knocks him out so much, whats the point. I am a hospice nurse, and I have to express to my son that we have to love him enough to let him go. I would like different opinions from others.
Thanks!
Hi Connie,
From what you describe about your son’s dog, it does sound like he is struggling. I always think it is better to say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late and have them suffer needlessly. It is difficult to think about quality of life and sometimes letting go is the most loving and unselfish option. I will attach some links to other articles that offer additional information and great comments from other readers on this topic. I hope you can find the answers you need to have a productive conversation with your son. Wishing you both the best while you navigate this difficult path.
1. Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
4. In-Home Dog Euthanasia: Heartfelt Answers to 12 FAQs
5. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
My 13 year old poodle-cross has collapsed trachea and couching badly. He is panting and pacing. He is on Sinulox and Fumor but still very bad at night
Hi Cindy,
I am sorry your senior boy is struggling so badly despite his current medications. Make sure your vet is up to date and knows about the nighttime issues. They may decide to try a new medication or change the dosage of his current meds. Also, your pup might benefit from seeing an internal medicine specialist. I hope you can find the answers you need to restore your pup’s quality of life. Praying he can get some relief and rest soon.
Tika my Pom Baby girl has a collapsing Trachea. When it is really bad she sleeps and all the sudden gets up walks a few steps and collapses on her side on the floor unable to breathe. When she gets oxygen she lets out a God awful scream that I’m sure is fear. When I see it happen I get her up on her front feet and massage her throat gently and she begins to cough and in a few minutes is back to normal. My vet has treated Tika with hydrocodone surup and recently I requested we try Predinsone to see if this will help. It helped the first week of 1/2 pill every 12 hours and 3 days every 24 hours. But when we did the every 48 hours we went back to these fainting episode 3 times a day.. I just don’t know what to do know. I think an antibiotic would be helpful and maybe a different type of cough suppressant. Any other idea? Or suggestions. She needs help! And I’m a wreak with stress and worry.
Hi Sherrie,
I am sorry your girl is struggling to breath and having such traumatic episodes. It must be very frightening to watch her when this is happening. I am not sure an antibiotic would help any as collapsing trachea is not caused by bacteria. It might be a good idea to get a referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist. They have a lot of experience treating very complicated cases and have access to higher level testing and treatment that sometimes is cost prohibitive in a general practice setting. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for to help restore your sweet girl’s quality of life. Best wishes!
I have a 13 year old PomChi who was diagnosed with a partially collapsed trachea a few years ago. He has recently decided he absolutely hates the cough syrup/hycodan (just pulling out the syringe makes him panic) and until reading this blog I had no idea there may be other options. We just recently moved and are getting settled, trying to find a good vet etc, so we don’t have a vet that knows our case yet. Is there some specific options I can be asking for? I read above that a pill could be an option?! Does it work as effectively as the syrup? I have only ever been given the syrup which to be honest has always been tricky to give my dog, but recently is just causing both of us more unneeded stress. And he doesn’t take the syrup daily, just when he has bouts of coughing, which weirdly enough seems to be every time the weather drastically changes (can this be correlated?). Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Hi Jewely,
I am sorry your little guy is giving you so much trouble with taking his medicine. He is lucky to have you advocating for his health and wellbeing. Pills work just as well as the syrup and may be an option, but it depends on the dosage your pup requires. Most vets default to pills but will choose a liquid if the needed dosage would make splitting tablets very difficult. For instance, if you dog’s dose of cough medicine would require cutting a small pill into 10 equal pieces, then liquid may be your only option. When you find a new vet, I recommend you talk to them about your medication concerns. Ask if a pill form is available or if a compounding pharmacy could flavor the syrup differently. And yes, weather changes can definitely affect the amount of inflammation in our bodies and how our bodies respond to chronic conditions! I hope you can find a new vet soon and together help relieve some of these coughing episodes for your sweet boy. Best wishes and bless you both.
Hello!
My chihuahua is 13 years old and was diagnosed in September with an enlarged heart and fluid in his lungs, he was given medication ( Vetmedin, Furosemide, and enalaphril). He had a check up in November and that’s what I was told he got worse and his trachea is collapsing however he still in the same three medications as before. His coughing is really bad and at night it’s bad that it keeps them up all night. What can I do or tell the vet to help with his cough attacks since it looks like nothing seems to help. I thought about putting him down since I don’t like to see him suffer but not sure if he’s suffering it or not
Hi Jamie,
I understand your concern for your little guy and these terrible coughing episodes. I do think you should reach out to your vet and discuss your concerns. There may be an additional medication they could prescribe to help with the coughing. Also, your vet can re-evaluate your dog and help you decide if his quality of life is good or if he is suffering needlessly. It may be a good idea to find a vet in your area that specializes in hospice and palliative care. I will attach a link to another article on this topic that may offer new information. Best wishes to you and your senior pup.
Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
Which cough suppressant do you recommend for my chihuahua with collapsed trachea?
Hi Dagmar,
Unfortunately, I can’t suggest a specific medication for your pup without being able to examine him or her. However, if you make an appointment with your veterinarian, he or she can prescribe a cough suppressant based on your dog’s examination findings. Best of luck to you and your pup!
Hi Dr Julie, our baby (4 years old Yorkie) was diagnosed with a collapsing trachea this week. His honking started from one day to the next. My heart breaks each time I hear him cough. He is the most excitable dog and loves his walks and chasing the ball which obviously we have to reduce and monitor now. His vet has prescribed an anti-inflammatory and codeine for his cough, which has reduced his cough but he still coughs whenever he gets excited which is often. My question is, what else can I do to reduce his coughing fits? What can I do so that his quality of life is not affected? Are there any homeopathic medicines or trachea strengthening supplements I could give him? I know it’s difficult to answer but how much coughing is “acceptable” so that his coughing does not deteriorate his condition? He is a healthy weight. Thank you so much for your post, it has been so helpful reading about other collapsed trachea stories to make sense of what my little one is going through.
Hi Sonja,
Sorry to hear that your dog was recently diagnosed with a collapsing trachea. It can be a lot to take in. I think that your vet has a great medication plan so far and would agree that some amount of reduced exercise/excitement is probably helpful. It may take a little bit of time to see the full results from the medications. Because collapsing trachea is really a biomechanical problem, I don’t know of any particular wondrous holistic “cures”, but you could consider consulting with a holistic veterinarian who specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine. To find one near you, go to https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/, select “small animal,” the modality you are looking for (i.e. Chinese herbs, etc) and your state. It is great that you are thinking so much about wanting to ensure that the coughing doesn’t interfere with his quality of life or worsen his disease. You mention a “trachea strengthening supplement” and I have had some moderate success with our supplement, Encore Mobility™, for patients with collapsing trachea. I don’t want to get your hopes up, but it certainly cannot hurt and may be beneficial. You can read more about one of the active ingredients, New Zealand Deer Velvet, here: Deer Antler Velvet: The Science Behind the Supplement
And you can purchase here: https://shop.toegrips.com/products/new-zealand-deer-velvet-for-dogs-veterinary-formula
Unfortunately, I can’t really answer your question about how much coughing is too much other than to say that as little coughing as possible is ideal, but you most likely won’t get to the point where he never coughs. I’m glad to hear that the article has been helpful and I hope that your little one will be on the path to improvement soon! You are obviously very caring and conscientious and he’s lucky to have you!
My chihuahua is 10 years old. She started coughing about 2 years ago, but has had bad congestion where i can hear her lungs gurgling all night. She has enlarged heart and on heart medication. What also worries me is that she takes Clavamox. It doesn’t seem to help her congestion like before. The steroids dont help anymore either… Should i ask the vet about cough suppresants? I forgot to add that she has been diagnosed with collapsing trachea along with her enlarged heart. She is not over weight, but could lose a couple of pounds
Hi Hilda,
It can definitely be concerning to notice your dog’s coughing and congestion getting worse and not responding to her current medications. As you mentioned in your comment, I would certainly recommend a follow-up visit to your veterinarian so he or she can evaluate your pup and determine if new medications should be added for her heart disease or collapsing trachea and/or if her current medications need to be adjusted. I hope you are able to get your sweet girl feeling better soon!❤
Hudson is an almost 14 year old morkie-poo and has had CT for years but it worsened after a car accident where he lost a leg. That was 5 years ago and very recently the CT has become severe. We are working with our trusted vet to keep him living his best life. At the moment, it seems he will be on a combination of steroids and cough suppressants for life. I am in the stage where I am trying to figure out the best cocktail of meds for him. I have a handle on how to manage his day to day – what I am looking for now is some honest insight as to what to expect when his last moments are nearing us. Is respiratory distress the only way to know when things have taken a dire turn? I watch and listen to his breathing constantly- but I’m never certain of what I am seeing or hearing and whether it’s normal. I look at his tongue color and relieved to see pink. I’m just going with instinct and looking to Hudson to let me know something is more seriously wrong. I am sickened by the idea of him suffering or worse, me not knowing that he is suffering. I’m terrified by all the unknown and just hoping for some understanding on what to expect at the very end. How will I know? I don’t want to miss anything.
Dear Michelle,
I understand your concern for Hudson and think it is great you are searching for advice on how to navigate his final days. He is a lucky boy to have you taking such good care of him and advocating for his well-being. Respiratory distress is probably the most obvious sign, but before it progresses to that point you will probably see an increase in Hudson’s resting respiratory rate. If you can start getting a feel for how fast he is currently breathing when resting (count breaths for a minute) then you will be able to tell if that rate is increasing. There are many other factors that play a role in evaluating quality of life. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. Ultimately, I would rather let go one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. Hoping you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet boy. Wishing you comfort and peace. Bless you both. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
4. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye