Collapsed Trachea

The trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that brings air from the throat to the lungs. It is made of circular cartilage rings with a strip of muscle running along the top. Tracheal collapse occurs when the cartilage rings lose their stiffness and the circular shape collapses. Toy breeds are most commonly affected. Dogs with a collapsed trachea develop a chronic unproductive cough which is generally worse in the day and when excited, during exercise, or walking on a leash. It may not cause a significant cough until a second problem, such as obesity, airborne pollutants (smoke, pollens), respiratory infection (kennel cough, etc.), intubation during anesthesia, or heart disease complicate things. Severe cases can completely block airflow, which is an emergency and can result in suffocation.
Radiographs of the chest need to be taken to diagnose a collapsed trachea. Treatment can include medical or surgical therapy. Medical therapy starts with removing or controlling any secondary problems – antibiotics for infections, weight loss program, control environmental pollutants, etc. Dogs with a collapsed trachea should only be walked with a harness. Excitement can make symptoms worse so many dogs do well on cough suppressants and airway dilators for long term treatment. Once the cough starts it causes tracheal swelling which makes the cough worse. Because of this, steroids can significantly improve the coughing. Steroids should not be used for long term treatment. Dogs that do not respond to medical treatment or have a severe collapse may be candidates for surgical treatment. The location of the collapse determines if surgery is an option. Surgery involves placement of a rigid prosthesis around the collapsed trachea to force it to stay open.
If you are concerned your dog may suffer from a collapsed trachea, please contact us a (503) 648-4117 to schedule an appointment.