Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tracheal collapse in small breed dogs causes coughing and breathing
By Tappin, S W·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2016·Dick White Referrals·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine tracheal collapse.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A middle-aged small breed dog with a collapsing trachea may show signs like coughing, difficulty breathing, or wheezing. Vets typically diagnose this condition using X-rays or other imaging techniques to see how the airway is collapsing. Most dogs can be treated successfully with medications and by addressing any other health issues they may have. If a dog doesn't improve or has severe breathing problems, surgery might be needed, with options like placing a ring or stent to support the trachea. Many dogs do well after these treatments and can breathe more easily.
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Abstract
Tracheal collapse occurs most commonly in middle-aged, small breed dogs. Clinical signs are usually proportional to the degree of collapse, ranging from mild airway irritation and paroxysmal coughing to respiratory distress and dyspnoea. Diagnosis is made by documenting dynamic airway collapse with radiographs, bronchoscopy or fluoroscopy. Most dogs respond well to medical management and treatment of any concurrent comorbidities. Surgical intervention may need to be considered in dogs that do not respond or have respiratory compromise. A variety of surgical techniques have been reported although extraluminal ring prostheses or intraluminal stenting are the most commonly used. Both techniques have numerous potential complications and require specialised training and experience but are associated with good short- and long-term outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26780854/