FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Hi All, I believe my 6 year old Pomeranian might be beginning to suffer Tracheal / Throat Collapse. It has become apparent to me that it may be this. It is definitely not reverse sneezing as I have a pug and he occasionally does this. I was wondering if anyone that has been through this with their own dog could give me positive (only) recommendations of a vet that they have dealt with for this as I will be organising to get her diagnosed first but have no idea who to start with. I am in the southern suburbs of Adelaide but will travel anywhere. I want the best for my beautiful girl. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) contact westiemum on here (go to "members" and search ) - she has an oldie who had good and successful treatment .Best of luck with it all,. Edited June 23, 2015 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_PL_ Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Don't panic :) it could be airway disease which is not uncommon in tiny dogs. You can ask for an xray with your regular if you want to make sure, then decide on specialist advice.. One of mine has a kink in his tiny little airway which is not great but not a collapse and hopefully won't be. He is on meds for the cough, you just treat the symptoms as a kind of preventative to things worsening. For example, coughing brings on more coughing. Which brings on more inflammation which brings on worse symptoms etc etc So a trip to the vet is not necessarily going to lead to a critical intervention. Best wishes for you xAnna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_PL_ Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 contact westiemum on here (go to "members" and search ) - she has an oldie who had good and successful treatment .Best of luck with it all,. That too lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Thankyou so much! I will book in for an xray on my day off and contact Westiemum also. I have been doing some google "research" and checking youtube videos, which have led me to having nightmares - As you can imagine! That is good to hear that we may not be in dire straits just yet! I honestly had not heard of it or even imagined such a thing could happen until a few months ago someone I met mentioned that their dear Pom passed away from it and just this week something clicked! And I looked into it! She has always been excitable, but nothing that was really ever alarming, but more recently it has become more noticeable and I have noticed her breathing when she sleeps and so much so I thought I need to get that checked out! Also being a pug mum I am used to snorts and snuffles but not for my pom. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boronia Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 It could also be nasal mites (check my post in the reverse sneezing topic http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/205156-reverse-sneezing-explained/page__st__20) You vet can anaesthetise your dog and take a swab though my vet decided to treat Daisy for nasal mites as the medication is not harmful, it is similar to Ivermectin, it's called Dectomax Heart worm medication is not advisable while (and for a few months after) being treated. It is a series of injections and not expensive. Some dogs sneeze, gasp and generally make a fuss if the mites run around in their nose and irritate the dog. Worth considering anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Awesome Thanks! So what are the primary things I could be expecting the vet to undertake Xray and Swab test? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 The vet will do whatever they think is neccessary for a diagnosis, I guess. Dr Google can often be scary , can many times be correct, and can way too many times cause panic for nothing ;) The vet may also listen to breath travelling thru - sounds can help localise problems .. Xrays may not show up the soft tissue ...and the vet may not suggest them at all , depending. make sure you note when the dog coughs - how exercise is tolerated - and how good /bad is the gum colour - this is all helpful stuff . Walk dog in a harness,if you don't already :) this takes away pressure on the trachea , and helps with the cough .best of luck at the vet visit :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 She has always had a harness so that is good! =) Thanks again everyone appreciate the info she is my first precious baby in our pack of four! Off to the vet we go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) FF two years ago today Mac went into respiratory crisis - he was literally suffocating to death. It was the worst day of my life. The first queried diagnosis was tracheal collapse which I'm sure you know usually has a grim outcome. At 11 pm that night Mac had an emergency endoscopy to at least confirm the diagnosis of tracheal collapse so I could make good decisions - and yes I was expecting to lose him that night. The endoscopy showed it wasn't tracheal collapse. . The phone call came through and it was laryngeal paralysis and the vet surgeon immediately went to tie-back one of the paralysed cords (arytenoid cartilage actually) at 11.30 on a Sunday night to clear Macs airway so he could breathe. He came home two nights later a completely new dog - the difference was incredible. And he's still here two years later to the day - a doddery old fella with good quality of life. Although he needs specific daily management to protect his permanently open airway, particularly from aspiration pneumonia. The trouble with the symptoms you describe is there are a number of things it could be - tracheal collapse or laryngeal paralysis being just two of them. So the most important thing to do is to get an accurate diagnosis and assessment first. And that will most likely be through endoscopy. And you are then in a better position than I was where I was making on-the-run decisions under great pressure at 11 pm on a Sunday night. So I strongly suggest you stay in control and start on the diagnostic road now so you can stay in control of the process and not get backed into an emergency corner like I did. And make sure the specialist vet who does your endoscopy is also experienced in tie-backs in case that's what it is and you decide to go straight to surgery under the same anaesthetic (assuming that's what you and your vet decide). Getting a vet experienced with this surgery is critical so don't be afraid to check that out and move on if they aren't. But getting an accurate diagnosis if the most important next step for you. Hope that helps and once you let us know what the diagnosis is we can help further. Good luck!! ETA: there seems to be a strong school of thought around that surgery is almost always a last resort. But with laryngeal paralysis IMO. it should be a first consideration not the last as its a structural/neuro disorder - and although some people try stuff like acupuncture, Chiro etc first, often to save money this is one time where I think you need to consider surgery early on. It's not cheap but I think it often ends up cheaper than months on end of unsuccessful alternative therapies. It is also less stressful for an LP dog who most end up having surgery anyway, assuming they are good candidates for surgery. I'm a member of a group of owners of LP dogs and the vast majority of new comers end up going the surgical route, sooner or later. And the vast majority who delay surgery almost all come back and say they regret the decision as it becomes obvious the stress the dog was in after the airway is cleared. Anyway just some further late night thoughts. Hope it helps. Edited June 23, 2015 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) Oh yes and as Perse said for safety for the moment avoid anything around the neck and continue to use a harness. And that includes no neck restraints at the groomers if you use them. Edited June 23, 2015 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 FF I've just noticed you are in SA. If you are in Adelaide PM me and I'll give you the name of Macs surgeon who was terrific and experienced with tie-back in case it comes to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 You need a positive diagnosis diagnosis before you panic. A vet told me my dog had this when he was 11. Said it happens sometimes with old dogs, give him some benadryl. It stopped soon after & didn't recur. He is 13 now & has never had a problem since. Some kind of irritation I guess. Good luck. It may not be that at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Oh yes and as Perse said for safety for the moment avoid anything around the neck and continue to use a harness. And that includes no neck restraints at the groomers if you use them. Thankyou so much for sharing your experience! We are booked into the vet early tomorrow morning, just to get her checked out, so will let you know how we go at the that initial visit. I have removed her collar also, just in case. Thanks so much =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FURRYFRIENDS Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 You need a positive diagnosis diagnosis before you panic. A vet told me my dog had this when he was 11. Said it happens sometimes with old dogs, give him some benadryl. It stopped soon after & didn't recur. He is 13 now & has never had a problem since. Some kind of irritation I guess. Good luck. It may not be that at all. Thankyou =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) You need a positive diagnosis diagnosis before you panic. A vet told me my dog had this when he was 11. Said it happens sometimes with old dogs, give him some benadryl. It stopped soon after & didn't recur. He is 13 now & has never had a problem since. Some kind of irritation I guess. Good luck. It may not be that at all. Yep good post Christina - thats my point too - until FF has a definite diagnosis its impossible to tell what it is. They got it wrong with Mac clinically at first - easy to do but important to get the diagnosis right so you don't spend a lot of money punting on treatments. Good luck with the vet in the morning FF. Edited June 24, 2015 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Any news FF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_PL_ Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 :) Popped in looking for an update too WM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Yep I'm hoping for some good news too Powerlegs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Wondering how things went, too . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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