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Tracheal Collapse in Chihuahuas

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tracheal collapse in chihuahuas

One of the biggest issues we hear from Chihuahua owners is wondering why their dog keeps coughing. Most likely it’s reverse sneezing which is very common in Chihuahuas. It could also be Kennel Cough which is highly contagious. But it may be a more serious issue called Tracheal Collapse.

This condition is common in many small dogs, including Chihuahuas.

Causes of Tracheal Collapse

Dogs with tracheal collapse have tracheas that are not shaped the way they should be. They flatten which causes the dog to struggle to get enough air.

The dog may be born with this defect or they can develop it later on. Some of the things that cause it are:

  • Cushing’s disease
  • Heart disease
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Injury to the throat (which is why you should always use a harness with a leash instead of attaching the leash to your dog’s collar)
  • Bacterial or viral infections
  • Obesity
  • Second-hand cigarette smoke
  • A congenital birth defect

Symptoms of Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal Collapse most often is described as sounding like a “goose honk”. If your dog starts doing this when exercising or excited, while eating or drinking, they may have a collapsed trachea. Their gums may get a bluish tinge to them.

Treatments of Tracheal Collapse

It’s important that your dog get treated if he has this condition because it will get progressively worse without treatment. Treatments for tracheal collapse include:

  • Corticosteroids reduces the inflammation
  • Antibiotics depending on the cause of the disease
  • Cough suppressants
  • A weight loss program (if obesity is the cause)
  • Surgery (in extreme cases)

Reverse Sneezing or Tracheal Collapse

It’s often difficult to know whether your dog’s coughing is caused by tracheal collapse or the less severe reverse sneezing. The symptoms are very similar.

If your dog coughs when excited or after eating or drinking, or turns her elbows outward and extends her neck and gasps inward with a rhythmic snork snork  snork , this is reverse sneezing.

If she breathes with a raspy sound or coughs reflexively when you simply rub her throat, she could have a collapsing trachea.

Also if she coughs with one or two expulsive outward bursts, typically with a gag or empty retch at the end, she could have a collapsing trachea.

Here’s an example of a Chi with reverse sneezing:

and here is a Chi with tracheal collapse:


They sound very similar, don’t they? The best way to know for sure is to get your vet to check your dog.

If you’d like to learn more about this condition, this is the best video I have seen that explains it:

Has your Chihuahua been diagnosed with tracheal collapse? Do you suspect they may have it? I’d love to know about your experience.

Click to find about other chihuahua health problems.

Cathy signature Chi
female vet holding fuzzy dog

Dr. Sara Ochoa

DVM

This article has been fact-checked and approved by Dr. Sara Ochoa DVM. You can read more about her on our About page.

Tom

Tuesday 5th of September 2023

There is an updated video from Dr. Becker on YouTube. Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3N7G2Ti53k

Cathy Bendzunas

Tuesday 5th of September 2023

Thanks Tom, I updated the post.

Shayla Gudino

Monday 19th of June 2023

Sorry,she is 10 years old.

Shayla Gudino

Monday 19th of June 2023

My Chihuahua has gone through so much. The vet just isn’t sure what she has. She has been on two antibiotics twice a day for months, f amotad ine twice a day for month and a cough syrup twice a day as long. Also she had me treating her with benedryl twice a day. She said she has crackles in her lungs and they are not going away. She also has a mild tracheal collapse and now one of her airways looks suspicious. She did blood work and X-ray last week and now says her liver numbers are high. So she put her on a diet of nothing but chicken and rice. The cough syrup is making her very constipated now. I was making her food with chicken breast, rice, chopped spinach, pumpkin and carrots. I have spent thousands of dollars in the last 6 months. Do you have any ideas? She is a 20 year old 9 pound deer head chihuahua. I am desperate and very sad for her

Cathy Bendzunas

Monday 19th of June 2023

Oh wow, poor little fur baby! I'm sorry, I don't have any ideas for you. I do know milk thistle is good for the liver. When my liver numbers were high, my doc told me to take it and it did bring my liver back to normal. I did do a google search to see if milk thistle is okay for dogs and it is but I'd ask your vet about it to be sure.

enid

Friday 24th of February 2023

I AM SEARCHING FOR CHIHUAHUA/jack socks or shoes by BELLA WHO IS JUST STARTING TO GO FOR BABY CARRIAGE RIDES AND THEN MY HUSBAND TRIES TO TAKE HER OUT ON THE LEASE AND SHE DOES NOT LIKE HER FEET ON GROUND ONLY GRASS. ADOPTED AT 8 WEEKS SHE IS ONLY POTTY PAD TRAINED SINCE SHE WAS THE RUNT AND ONLY 1 POUND...ALL THE LOCAL PET STORES ARE OUT OF THEM DUE TO SUPPLY ISSUES... WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET SOCKS OR SHOES SO WE CAN TAKE HERE TO DOG FRIENDLY PLACES

MANY REGARDS...LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR COLUMN MAKES ME SO HAPPY LIKE MY BELLA

Cathy

Saturday 25th of February 2023

Check on Etsy. I have seen them on there in the past.

Laurie Rumer

Monday 30th of May 2022

I loved my beloved chihuahua in August 2022, two weeks after the vet diagnosed her with a collapsed trachea. He gave her a prescription cough suppressant. Knowing what I learned after she passed, I wish he had prescribed steroids to treat the collapsed trachea instead of treating the cough. πŸ˜”πŸ˜”πŸ˜”

Cathy

Tuesday 31st of May 2022

I'm so sorry Laurie! Did the vet know it was tracheal collapse and still only prescribed cough meds?