Tracheal collapse is typically mild at first and continues to get worse over time, producing coughing, wheezing, gasping for breath, and difficulty eating and drinking. This usually happens gradually and is graded as mild to severe in four stages. These stages are considered as preliminary and do not necessarily mean that your dog will need to have surgery if the veterinarian stages your pet at stage four. However, it is important to note that it can also be acute and come on suddenly, especially if there is a traumatic injury.

Tracheal collapse is a serious condition caused by the narrowing of the trachea that is mostly limited to toy and miniature breeds, such as Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Pug, Maltese, Lhasa Apso, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, and the Yorkshire Terrier. The trachea is part of the airway between the chest and the neck, made up of cartilage and is necessary for breathing. In small dogs, the trachea is not formed as well or as strong as in big dogs and over time, the trachea starts to lose its shape, gradually becoming flattened. This will eventually lead to a serious breathing disorder that can be fatal due to the stress put on the heart and other organs that have to work harder and do not get enough oxygen.

The symptoms may be sudden or gradual, and can be mild or severe, depending on the amount of damage to the trachea. These are the most common symptoms:

There are four stages of tracheal collapse, which are:

The cause of tracheal collapse is not known at this time, although there are some risk factors, such as:

A veterinary professional will suspect tracheal collapse right away if your dog is a toy or miniature breed and has these symptoms. However, it is important to rule out other illnesses or injuries. A complete and detailed physical examination has to be done, which will likely include body temperature, weight, height, reflexes, coat and skin condition, pupil reaction time, blood pressure, breath sounds, pulse, oxygen level, respirations, and abdominal palpations.

Diagnostic imaging, such as chest x-rays and ultrasound are important in determining tracheal collapse because the veterinarian should be able to see the tracheal damage. A tracheoscopy or endoscopy are great tools to determine the damage.  These procedures are both performed by inserting a flexible tube with a camera into the airway or windpipe to look at the damage. A fluoroscopy may be done as well, which is a real-time moving x-ray, sort of like a live x-ray video. Your pet will be under anesthesia for this procedure so it is less stressful (to you and your dog). To be sure there is no underlying cardiac issue, the veterinarian may want to do an echocardiograph (ECHO) and electrocardiograph (EKG) as well.

The veterinarian will also need to do some laboratory testing, including a complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry analysis, glucose level check, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), packed cell volume (PCV), and liver enzyme panel.

There are different treatments for each stage and it also depends on age and overall health of your dog.

Cortisone, bronchodilators, cough suppressants, and anti-anxiety medications may all be used but should only be given as directed by your veterinarian.

If your dog is overweight, the veterinarian will suggest a low-calorie and low fat diet. It may be difficult but it is well worth it even if the tracheal collapse does not clear up right away.

If the above treatments do not work, or if the collapse is severe, surgery may be the best option. The veterinarian will insert either internal or external stents. Your best choice is the internal stents because the external ones include a very invasive and dangerous condition.

If your veterinarian is able to repair the damage with stents or if you are using one of the other treatments successfully, your dog’s recovery should be excellent. It may take a few months for the condition to dissipate in most of the treatments except for surgery.