For Owners Of Small Dogs
Collapsed Trachea In Dogs, Explained Plainly
That honking cough has a name. Learn what a collapsed trachea is, how veterinarians treat it, and how to find practices near you that offer stents or surgery when medicine is not enough.
The Short Version
The trachea, or windpipe, is a tube held open by rings of cartilage. In some dogs those rings soften and flatten, so the airway narrows when the dog breathes, pulls, or gets excited. The classic sign is a dry, honking cough. It is most common in toy and small breeds. In a Korean referral-hospital case series, Yorkshire Terriers made up about 65 percent of cases.
How It Is Usually Treated
Medicine And Home Care
Most dogs are managed this way. Embrace Pet Insurance says medication controls signs in about 70 percent of dogs.
Tracheal Stent
A mesh tube placed inside the windpipe, usually through the mouth with live X-ray guidance.
Ring Surgery
Rings placed around the outside of the windpipe in the neck through an incision.
Read Treatment Options for how vets decide.
When To Look For A Specialist
- The cough keeps getting worse even with medicine
- Your dog has breathing episodes, turns blue, or faints
- Your vet mentions a stent, rings, fluoroscopy, or bronchoscopy
Stents and ring surgery are done at a limited number of hospitals, usually by internal medicine or surgery teams. Our directory lists practices whose own websites say they offer them.
Guides
What Is A Collapsed Trachea?
How the windpipe works, what happens when its cartilage rings weaken, which dogs get it, and what makes it worse.
Collapsed Trachea Treatment Options
An overview of how veterinarians treat collapsed trachea in dogs, from medicine and weight loss to stents and ring surgery.
Collapsed Trachea Life Expectancy
What affects how long dogs live with a collapsed trachea, and the warning signs that need fast care.
Harness Or Collar For A Dog With A Collapsed Trachea
Why most vets suggest a harness for dogs with tracheal collapse, and what to look for in one.
Questions To Ask Your Vet About A Collapsed Trachea
A printable list of questions for your veterinarian after a collapsed trachea diagnosis.
What Happens At A Specialty Consult For Tracheal Collapse
Who you may meet at a specialty visit for tracheal collapse, the tests they may suggest, what to bring, and the questions to ask.
Getting A Second Opinion On Tracheal Collapse
When a second opinion on tracheal collapse makes sense, how to ask for one without awkwardness, and what a fresh look can add.
X-Ray, Fluoroscopy, And Bronchoscopy: What Each Test Shows
What each test for tracheal collapse can and cannot show, why a normal X-ray does not rule it out, and what to ask before your dog has any of them.
Heart Disease And Tracheal Collapse
Why vets check the heart in a coughing small dog, how often heart disease turned up in one study of tracheal collapse, and what it can change.
See Practices Near You That Treat Tracheal Collapse
Enter your ZIP code and a few details about your dog. You will see every listed practice that serves your area and choose which ones, if any, get your information.
Find Practices Near MeCommon Questions
Is a collapsed trachea fatal?
Many dogs live for years with medical management. Severe cases can cause dangerous breathing crises. See Life Expectancy and talk with your vet.
Can a collapsed trachea be cured?
The cartilage does not grow back. Treatment aims to control the cough and keep the airway open. Stents and rings can help dogs that medicine no longer controls.
Should my dog wear a harness?
Most vets suggest a harness instead of a neck collar for dogs with airway problems. See Harness Or Collar.
Do you recommend a vet?
No. We show every listed practice near your ZIP code and you choose. Some practices pay to be listed, and those are marked Sponsored.