Should small dogs wear a harness to prevent windpipe injury?

I generally recommend using harnesses rather than collars for walking. If a dog pulls excessively on a collar, they can cause irritation to the trachea (windpipe) or develop neck pain or injury. Some harnesses, such as an EasyWalk harness or Gentle Leader, are designed to minimize pulling and can be quite helpful for training. Teaching Jasper a "look" command where he learns to watch you closely while on a leash is quite helpful. All of that said, I still like dogs to wear collars so that their identification tags are readily accessible in the off chance that they would run off. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

That's the first thing to try, a harness is usually solving this type of problem in dogs that are pulling to hard, the collar presses on the trachea and it causes breathing problems and coughing. if this is not the reason for this symptom then the harness will not help and you can see it pretty much immediately, in that case my advise would be to take her to the vet in order to get that checked ASAP.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is rare that this can actually affect her longterm. This is just typical behavior for a dog that is wanting to pull on the leash. I would encourage you to try to avoid this behavior as much as possible. You can try to use a dog trainer who can help you with this. Best of luck!

It sounds like your dog may have a collapsing trachea causing the cough. It would be a good idea to use a harness instead of a collar. Your vet can also prescribe medications to help if the condition persists or becomes more frequent. A bronchodilator and cough suppressant may help.

I bet Hugo is just adorable!! You are correct that Dachshunds are prone to spinal issues. I would recommend finding a well-fitting harness for Hugo so that he can continue to enjoy walks-this will take pressure off his neck and reduce the likelihood of cervical/neck problems. I would also recommend enrolling Hugo and yourself in an obedience class so that he learns how to walk correctly on a leash-this will prevent him from pulling and can also help reduce the chances of problems. Monitor Hugo carefully-if you notice weakness or pain during movement, if he seems to have have problems with bowel or bladder function, or he is not interested in running and playing as usual these can all be indications of a spinal problem and you should contact your regular veterinarian immediately. Consider getting Hugo some little stairs so he doesn’t have to jump onto the couch (if you let him on the furniture), or train him to wait for someone to lift him up and down. I hope these suggestions have been helpful-good luck!

Poor girl. Unfortunately there are no home remedies for an undetermined underlying cause for a cough. Coughing in itself can be caused by tracheal collapse, underlying heart condition, respiratory infection (kennel cough), etc. In order for you to treat her, we will need to find out the underlying cause. It sounds like she likely may have a kennel cough condition. Tracheal trauma is possible since you mentioned she was fine before trying out a new harness on her; however, most harnesses fit lower on the chest, which don't rub on the throat at all. Give her the rest of the day to see if things improve. You can also offer her a small amount of honey mixed with water, which can help reduce some inflammation in her throat. Continue to give her free access of water and keep her activity level to a minimum. If she is still coughing by tomorrow, then its best to take her in to your vet for a complete physical exam to hopefully narrow down some causes for this cough, so that it can be treated appropriately. I hope that Coco feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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!