Dogs don't cough the way people do, so when you
hear your dog making a coughing sound, that needs to alert you that
there might be a problem on the horizon.
If it's a hacking sound, maybe
there's
something
stuck
in
your
dog's throat.
If it's a non-productive,
honking type of cough and your dog is a Yorkshire Terrier, then it could be
the early beginnings of collapsing
trachea.
Collapsing trachea
can effect other breeds also, but it seems to be a health issue for Yorkies.
Sometimes it is genetic and breeders should try very hard to breed this
out of Yorkies.
It can be caused by wearing collars
or leads that are tight and then when the dog pulls on his
leash, he chokes.
The constant pulling and choking will eventually damage the windpipe.
This applies to all breeds, also.
My Yorkie began
a
slight cough during the summer
of 2007.
At the time, we were having renovations done on our home and I
thought his throat was dry from the plaster dust and sawdust in the
air. The coughing didn't occur daily so I didn't worry about
progression. I made every effort to keep the dust down by vacuuming and
dusting daily.
In the Fall, he had a vet check and I mentioned
the cough. Our vet said it was probably collapsing trachea.
She prescribed Torbutrol as a cough suppressant and after his first
dose he was so drugged that he couldn't stand, eat or get to his water
bowl. She had said that he'd probably have to be on this the rest of
his life, taking 2 pills a day.
After this reaction, I called the vet and it was decided that he
couldn't tolerate this drug. He only weighed 4 pounds 6 ounces.
After that I tried herbal cough medicines. I also gave him vitamin E
and vitamin C.
During the Winter of 2008, he had several vet
visits and it was always the same--his heart checked out good and his
lungs were good. His appetite was good, there didn't seem to be
anything to be concerned over.
At no time was I ever told of warning
signs of collapsing trachea
that might take his life. His coughing went from that dry, hacking
sound to a sound much like a person makes when trying to clear one's
throat. Many days he wouldn't cough at all, but many nights he would
start to cough and couldn't seem to stop. I tried giving him honey to
coat his throat, because I'm sure his throat must have been very raw
from all that coughing.
There are herbal cough medicines
on the market that contain honey.
Sometimes they helped, but not always. Some days he would pace around
all over the house, coughing--trying to breathe.
As the trachea narrows
it becomes like trying to breathe through a straw.
I searched the Internet for answers, looking for
natural cures for him, but really there is not much that can be done.
Sometimes surgery is suggested, but it is not always successful and can
be very expensive. Not to mention the discomfort that your dog will go
through.
Collapsing trachea
claimed another victim, as my Yorkie passed away from suffocation, in
his sleep on October 1, 2008.
So, if your dog is making sounds like coughing, please discuss this with
your vet so you will know what to expect. Gather as much information as
you can and do everything possible to make your dog as comfortable as
you can.
You might try using a cool mist humidifier
at night in the area where your dog sleeps. Keep his weight down, also.
But, most of all, love him and pay as much attention to him as you can.
I was very fortunate to have had my Yorkie for 14 years. We were
together constantly and he is terribly missed. I sincerely hope that if
you are dealing with this health problem with your Yorkie, that you
will find something that will help him.
Now, please, go hug your dog!
