My puppy has a narrowed trachea. Is it congenital and won't get worse?

Usually dogs with collapsed trachea will show signs (honking cough, possible breathing problems, eating, drinking, tracheal irritants (smoke or dust), obesity, and hot and humid weather.) after exercise, or excitement or jumping up and down. Treatment consists of giving cough suppressants, bronchodilators, corticosteroids to control inflammation, and/or antibiotics. In obese patients, weight loss helps decrease respiratory effort. In severe cases surgery is needed.

Based on the symptoms you've provided, it is very possible Mimi has a collapsing trachea. This is when a portion of the trachea (the wind pipe) is too narrow for one reason or another. This is can be due to structural abnormalities, inflammation in or around the trachea, and can also be a secondary result of cardiac disease. As the heart gets bigger, the trachea can get pushed up until it has no place to go. If your dog isn't having any active distress from these episodes, it isn't an emergency. However, since it is something abnormal that is happening with great frequency, I would recommend having your regular vet check your pup from head to toe. Getting a chest xray will confirm or rule out if this is the issue. Hope this makes sense.

A narrow trachea could indeed be the cause of aspiration pneumonia in dogs, because they can have difficulties breathing they may need to take a breath while eating or drinking which causes aspiration pneumonia in some cases.

Hello there! Collapsing trachea is a condition where the cartilaginous rings that surround the trachea and keep it an open tube are weakened, and sometimes, when excited or breathing hard, the trachea will flatten or collapse. This causes a harsh, loud "honking" sound when breathing, and sometimes coughing. This condition is more common in small breeds as a genetic abnormality, but it could also be seen in other dog breeds as a result of respiratory infection, obesity, or damage/disease of the trachea. The treatment for collapsing trachea depends on its cause and severity. Most dogs with collapsing trachea are managed by keeping them calm and in good body condition, and sometimes with the use of cough suppressants and steroids for inflammation caused by coughing. Some dogs do require surgery if their coughing and honking doesn't abate with regularity, or if they have trouble breathing. Surgical implantation of plastic rings around the trachea is currently the surgical treatment of choice. It really is quite uncommon in larger, young dogs, so I highly recommend that Bruno has a full work-up by the vet before considering his symptoms to be caused by collapsing trachea. Kennel cough, for example, can produce very similar symptoms. Good luck, and I hope Bruno gets well soon!

They can happen suddenly. Pets that have a weakened trachea will instantly start coughing. However most pets with this condition will start with symptoms in their early adult years and not when they are of senior age (<7 years) in most cases. In an older dog with sudden coughing we are suspicious of bronchitis, heart disease, neoplasia or infection. I hope that this helps. Best wishes and take care.

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.

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think if she drinks water slowly and has no issue I think that she is just vomiting the water because she drinks it too fast. Just try to slow her down when she is drinking. I do not think she has kennel cough if she's had this hacking cough for months. Kennel cough is self limiting. You didn't indicate what breed Pepper is but I see that she is small. My best guess for the cough is that she has collapsing trachea. Collapsing trachea is a congenital abnormality of the tracheal rings making them weaker. It effects small breed dogs like Yorkies, Pomeranians, etc. Usually they cough when exercising or pulling on the leash. I'd monitor for progression of the cough or issues with her breathing. Keep her thin because dogs that are overweight have a harder time with collapsing tracheas Good luck!