My dog has tracheal collapse. Do collagen supplements actually work?

Typically, medical management of collapsing trachea includes cough suppressants such as hydrocodone, tapering doses of prednisone or inhaled steroids such as fluticasone. If Chaisey has developed an acute worsening of symptoms, thoracic radiographs and an airway wash should be considered to rule out infection. Albuterol is typically not helpful in my experience.

Hello and thank you for your question. I hate it that the medications are not providing cough relief for your dog. In my experience, if these two medications are not stopping the cost of a tracheal collapse patient, then surgery should be considered. there are so many great surgical methods and treatments now for collapsing trachea. One of them being a mesh wire coil that can be placed in the trachea to keep it dilated without the possibility of collapse. These are usually performed by surgical specialists and your general veterinarian may have to refer you to one of them. I urge you to make an appointment with your local veterinarian to discuss possible surgical options for your dogs condition. I hope I have helped.

Some dogs with tracheal collapse need to stay on hydrocodone long term and also a bronchodilator. You should call your vet and give him/her an update and maybe your vet can just prescribe additional medications without having to take him back to the vet.

Poor guy. If the Temaril alone is not helping him I would highly recommend telling your vet so that they can also prescribe additional medications. Tracheal collapse is often treated with several medications in more severe cases. Cough tabs or Torbutrol tabs are given to help reduce the cough. Also a bronchodilator is helpful in some pets to open up the airway just before the thoracic inlet. For now you can mix a small amount of honey mixed with water and offer that to Ferris until you an get him seen again by your vet. Honey has anti-inflammatory proerties that may be somewhat helpful. Also make sure not to place a collar on him, harness only, and try your best to keep him in a quite room with limited stimulus. I hope that Ferris feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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.

Tussigon (hydrocodone bitartrate) is good for collapsing trachea along with using a harness instead of a collar, as well as keeping Kasey as calm as possible. Daily VetriScience Composure chews (available on chewy.com and petco.com) are highly effective in many dogs to ‘take the edge off’ their excitability in a natural way. Tussigon contains a narcotic with potential sedative effects so not exceeding your veterinarian’s prescribed dose is important. In severe cases of tracheal collapse, surgical correction is an option. Good luck!

Poor dog. Benadryl can help with mild allergies but in some pets this isn't enough and other pet formulated antihistamines prescribed by your vet are needed. Unfortunately a collapsed trachea is a mechanical abnormality caused by lax tracheal muscles that fold inward causing a narrowed airway which then leads to reduced oxygen intake and coughing in pets. This condition is typically managed with prescription medication from your vet including anti-inflammatory steroid medication, pet prescribed medicine to help control cough and sometimes bronchodilators if the bronchi are also inflamed and affected. I would discuss these treatment options with your vet so that your pet can get started right away with managing this disease because the constant coughing can cause serious complications with tracheal collapse making things much worse to manage later.