Your dog is your best friend, wants to accompany you wherever you go and give you love, love and pleasure, so that your life will never be the same again after adopting one. That’s why at Animal Expert we know that the most important thing is not only to provide you with all the care, affection and food you need, but that your health must also be the only priority for you.
The dog is an animal resistant to most diseases, but at some point it can suffer from some disease, so be aware of the signs. That’s why we want to talk to you about the collapse of the trachea in dogs, their symptoms and their treatment, in order to detect this disease in time.
- It is a condition of congenital origin that usually affects dogs of small breeds.
- Especially poodles.
- Yorkshire Terriers.
- Chihuahuas.
- Pomerania.
- Maltese and Pekingese.
- Among others.
It is a deformation of the trachea, an organ that connects the top of the respiratory system with the lower part and whose obstruction prevents sufficient air circulation. The trachea is made up of deformed cartilage, which reduces the space to allow air to pass through, causing the trachea to sink.
The disease is progressive and degenerative, so treatments, although they significantly improve the quality of life of the dog, do not cure it. It is usually diagnosed between 6 and 7 years of age, and when it occurs before 12 months indicates a more severe state of evolution.
Depending on the phase or severity level at which the collapse occurs, it can be divided into four different degrees, in which 1 is a minor deformation and 4 is one in which a minimum amount of air enters the airways.
Coughing is usually sporadic when trachea collapse is minimal, usually in stressful situations or strong emotions, and becomes constant when the condition worsens. For its characteristics, it can be confused with the cough of the kennels, although when accompanied by other symptoms it can be easily ruled out.
As the collapse of the trachea worsens over time, preventing the animal from receiving the amount of oxygen it needs, it is common for it to develop other diseases, such as bronchitis, tracheitis, or even the onset of pulmonary hypertension, which can eventually lead to heart failure.
Only the veterinarian can determine if your dog has a tracheal collapse or if it is one of the most common respiratory diseases in dogs. The most common is an X-ray, which can examine the state of the trachea and the rest of the respiratory system.
In addition, this can be supplemented by a fluoroscopic analysis that allows the study of the behavior of the pathways during the respiratory process. The specialist may also recommend a tracheobroncoscopy to better observe the condition of the cartilage.
For the first three degrees of trachea collapse, pharmacological treatment is chosen, while in grade 4, only one surgical intervention is useful:
In addition to strictly following the treatment indicated by the specialist, we give you some tips to help you offer a better quality of life to your four-legged partner:
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Respiratory Diseases section.