Canine Tracheal Collapse is a chronic disease that affects the windpipe (Trachea) and causes severe discomfort in swallowing and breathing in dogs. The Trachea is a sturdy and flexible tube with C-shaped cartilage rings. These cartilages help air to pass in and out of the lungs. So, Tracheal Collapse is a progressive respiratory condition where these cartilages collapse. In the worst-case scenario, a collapsed Trachea may lead to the dog’s death if left untreated.
Tracheal Collapse can cause breathing problems for your pooch. As a pet parent, you must have lots of questions. You would want to know what happens if a dog collapsed trachea home treatment options, or signs of Tracheal Collapse. This article will touch on all the vital information you need to know about this chronic ailment in dogs and how to treat it.
The Signs and Symptoms
If your pet’s Trachea is starting to collapse, the first sign you’ll see is a honking cough. It happens when the air pushes its way through the collapsing cartilage rings. Some of the most common signs of Tracheal Collapse are –
- Breathing difficulty and/or rapid breathing
- Abnormal breathing sounds
- Lethargic behavior
- Coughing when your dog is lifted
- Coughing when any pressure is applied to the neck of your dog
- Frequent vomiting or gagging associated with coughing
- Bluish mucous membranes
- Frequent wheezing
- Fainting
A dog with collapsing Trachea experiences chronic and intermittent signs of coughing. If you follow your pet carefully, you will find that the cough persists and develops with exercise, stress or excitement, eating, drinking, and so on. To conclude, the coughing begins whenever there is even a little amount of pressure on the Trachea.
Sound of the Coughing
The most clinical symptom is a dry and harsh cough. You will find that the coughing persists. And the sound of the cough is quite distinctive. In simpler terms, it is termed the ‘goose-honk.’ It is different from your dog’s regular cough.
Diagnosing Tracheal Collapse
None of the clinical signs you read about are unique to a Tracheal Collapse. Therefore, differentiating it from other health conditions might be tough for you. This is why it is wise to visit your vet along with your pet. The vet will ask for your pet’s detailed medical history.
So, in terms of the diagnosis, these are most probably going to be the tests your vet will suggest –
- X-Ray of your Dog’s Chest: The Chest X-Ray is necessary to ensure that the symptoms are not related to the heart. If the X-Ray report shows a problem near the throat, then it might be a case of Tracheal Collapse.
- Tracheoscopy/Bronchoscopy: Tracheoscopy or Bronchoscopy is usually done in a specialty hospital or a fully-equipped clinic. An instrument with a camera fitting is inserted into your dog’s Trachea for a detailed examination. The examination requires general anesthesia.
- Fluoroscopy: It is almost similar to X-Ray imaging, which creates real-time moving images as your dog breathes in and out.
- Miscellaneous tests: Other tests can include blood tests, urinalysis, blood count, heartworm testing, etc. These tests are just to ensure that the cough is not for any other health conditions.
Medications for Tracheal Collapse
If you catch your dog having breathing difficulties, or has blue-tinged gums, rush to the veterinary clinic asap. There they can provide SOS help with supplemental oxygen to help your poor pooch in breathing. Once the condition is under control, the medication and treatment can begin.
Tracheal Collapse can be treated either medically, surgically, or a combination of both. The surgical correction process is complex. You should consult with an experienced and certified surgeon for that.
Nevertheless, it is needless to say how modern techniques bring hope for your dog. With proper treatment, your dog might have a quality life throughout his life. However, you should understand that at least some coughing will persist.
Let’s check out the top medications for Tracheal Collapse –
Cough Suppressants
Every time your dog coughs, the airways become more inflamed and irritated. By using a cough suppressant, you can help your pup in curbing annoying coughs. Besides, it also brings down the irritation that comes with coughing.
Bronchodilators
As the name suggests, Bronchodilators open the airways within your dog’s lungs. It helps in the passage of more oxygen to the bloodstream. These Bronchodilators can be in a pill-like form or inhaler form. Inhaler Bronchodilators are relatively easier to help a pooch in distress. It might need a ‘spacer device,’ though.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids help to reduce the inflammation in your pet dog’s windpipe. Just like Bronchodilators, this too can be taken either orally or through inhalation. And Corticosteroids also need the ‘spacer device.’ Talking of side effects, well, the risks are more diminutive.
Sedatives
Sedatives have no direct cure for the health condition. It just helps with the symptom management of Tracheal Collapse. What it does is that it sedates your pet dog lightly. That helps the dog not get over-excited or overwhelmed for any reason.
Role of CBD and Home Treatment Measures
CBD products have gained popularity in the present times, especially among pet owners, as it offers many health benefits with minimum side effects, if any at all. Cannabidiol has no direct cure to offer that can treat Tracheal Collapse. However, it does help significantly in curbing the symptoms, pain, or irritation. CBD treatment is especially helpful if you are planning to treat your dog at home instead of giving them allopathic medication. Here are the ways in which CBD can help your dog with a Tracheal Collapse condition:
- CBD helps your dog as an anti-inflammatory agent.
- It also works well in relieving the stress and anxiety of your pet.
- Application of CBD might also help as a Bronchodilator.
- CBD helps in bringing down muscle spasms.
- It can also work as an analgesic agent.
- CBD can also help your dog as a pain-reliever and pacifier.
Now, talking of home treatment measures, there are different things that you should follow. Some of them are –
- Use a harness for your dog instead of a collar belt.
- Always avoid using any kind of aerosol in the house.
- Don’t smoke in front of your dog.
- Ensure that your dog stays in a well-ventilated environment.
- Change air purifiers and filters periodically.
The Conclusion
Most cases of Tracheal Collapse are less severe if adequately taken care of. Therefore, if you are planning for your dog with collapsed Trachea a home treatment, you can consider giving them CBD-infused products after a consultation with your vet. However, it is wise to make sure you know the dosage correctly before administering CBD to them.
