Collapsed Trachea
Collapsed trachea is a common condition in small-breed dogs, but it is occasionally seen in larger dogs as well. There is help available for your dog's collapsing trachea, but first you need to understand the condition so you can recognize it. Actually, the trachea is not collapsed. The walls of the trachea have rings of cartilage called tracheal rings. Dogs with a collapsing trachea have cartilage rings that have become soft or misshapen, giving the cross-section of the trachea a collapsed look. When this happens they cough, and it sounds something like a goose honk — very dry and harsh — and it can last several seconds. Frequently, dogs with collapsed trachea are obese and may have cardiovascular or other pulmonary disease.
The cough is worse during excitement, exercise, and leash pulling. If your dog has collapsed trachea, it will require management on your part so that your pet is comfortable. Your veterinarian may prescribe steroids, bronchodilators, or cough suppressants.
Things you can do at home to help your pet include:
Aggressive weight loss if he's overweight
Use a harness instead of a collar; make sure the harness rides low on the chest and not up higher where a collar would be
Keep her away from cigarette smoke
Give any medications as prescribed
Keep the dog calm and don't allow him to get excited
When grooming the dog with collapsed trachea, instead of putting the grooming loop around just her neck, put one front leg through the loop as well. That will keep the loop from touching her trachea, and if she pulls down on the loop (as most dogs with collapsed trachea tend to do), she won't end up in a coughing fit.
