Chihuahua puppy coughs when running. Is an X-ray safe for small dogs?

A collapsing trachea would be high on the list of possible causes for this, especially since this is only happening during extrenuous activity. Have your vet take a look at him if it gets any worse for an x-ray to confirm and then medications to help treat it. Here is more information on this condition in dogs. --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951968 Thanks for visiting Petcoach. Take care.

I would certainly request x-rays before euthanasia. A second opinion is also reasonable in this case. There are certainly some dogs born with congenital issues that could cause this to happen. Some of the congenital defects may improve with surgery or special diets. If you seek a second opinion, have the vet send over the complete medical record.

This could be an upper respiratory infection such as kennel cough , but could also be a sign of heart disease, especially if Chico is an older dog. Another very likely possibility is that Chico has a collapsed trachea. You will need to take Chico to your vet for an exam and x-rays (which will rule out collapsed trachea and lung edema caused by congestive heart failure). Your vet;s exam will also detect any problems with the heart, that may be causing the cough. Please cschedule an appointment with your vet soon.

Chronic coughing in small dog can have many reasons. The most common cause is a collapsing trachea. This would be a weakness in the windpipe and whenever the dog gets excited, does exercise, and in some cases even when resting , the trachea collapses and keeps the air from getting to the lungs. This will cause coughing, wheezing and even trouble breathing. This can be easily diagnosed with an xray and a throough exam. Another common cause, especially in old dogs, would be congestive heart failure where the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently and a pulmonary edema develops and causes coughing, wheezing and breathing troubles. Again a thorough clinical exam and xrays/ultrasound exam can rule this out. I suggest you schedule an appointment for an exam with your vet soon.

Poor Charlie. There are a lot of different causes for coughing. He could have a severe upper respiratory infection/kennel cough, heart disease or even pneumonia. The yelping when being picked up is likely unrelated but could be due to him hurting somewhere in his back or abdomen. Both of these problems call for an exam by your vet in order to listen to his heart and lungs and also palpating his back, abdomen and other joints to find out why exactly he is helping. I would try to video the cough to help the vet make a proper diagnosis. Your vet will be able to take X-rays if needed and also get him started on the proper meds to help him feel better. They will also be able to prescribe something for the cough to help everyone rest a little better at night. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better really soon !

It sounds like Ace might need medication at this point, but it can be really difficult sometimes to determine whether a cough is related to heart disease or respiratory problems like collapsing trachea or chronic bronchitis which can also be very common in senior small dogs. I would contact your vet and let them know that Ace is now coughing so much that he can't rest. They might recommend an echocardiogram to completely rule out heart disease and heart failure as a cause, or they might recommend trying some other medications for cough. If Ace has not had chest x-rays recently they would probably recommend x-rays as well.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Brachycephalic syndrome refers to a combination of conditions including smaller than normal nostrils, a longer than normal soft palate, and some other malformations of the back of the throat. It is unlikely that a chihuahua will have this condition. Conditions that can cause chronic coughs in dogs include a collapsing trachea, heart enlargement, or issues with the lungs. These conditions can be identified with an x-ray or CT scan and may require life-long treatment. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!