What Is This PLEASE!?

[KiKiPie]

Every small dog I or someone in my family has had does this....
Where they act like they cant breath/harking/crud in their throat! Do you know what I am talking about? Sounds like they are having an asma attack! But Tiffany has never done this until the day she came home from surgery last week. Why is she just starting this at 1 year old and what on earth is it?? I think it is pretty normal for small dogs but I dont understand why she just started doing it the same day of surgery? Any advise? Thanks, you all are the best!

[LuvtheCooper]

Cooper was neutered last week and the instructions he came home with said he might cough for a couple days after surgery...so I think this is normal.

[chattiesmom]

Sounds like "reverse sneezing" to me.

[KiKiPie]

its not a cough, it sounds just like an asma attack. I know thats not what it is though. Every small dog I have ever had or known has done it....
She does it for atleast a few seconds... maybe 10 sometimes longer. If kinda scares me. But like I said, I know lots of dogs that do it... anyones do this?

[megan_kat22]

what is reverse sneezing? tripp does this but he has a collapsed trachea

[browniesmom622]

when they have surgery they have a tube put down there throat your vet should have told you that they might do that for a while
it should go away soon if not talk to your vet if your worried

[ldenise]

Here I just copied and pasted this for you. Buckeye does this pretty often. I bout freeked when he first started doing it. now he and I both are pretty used to it. I just rub his throat gently or hold my fingers over his nose holes to make him swallow. Hope this helps you.


Reverse Sneezing

This is a misnomer, for it has nothing to do with actual sneezing. However, it is a popular term for something that appears to be worse than it actually is. When this occurs, your dog will appear to be snorting or choking. The posture will be one of the neck extended with the chest expanded, as the dog struggles to take in air. The actual physiology is that the trachea has narrowed and the normal amount of air is not able to enter the lungs. The triggering mechanisms are usually excitement or stress. If this is happening to your dog, do not panic. You can help your dog by soothingly stroking the upper throat area to encourage relaxation and dilation of the trachea. If things do not resolve soon, and the dog is really having a continued hard time, you can try depressing the tongue to open up the oral cavity for the passage of much needed air into the lungs. The predisposition to this is thought to be hereditary, particularly in smaller breeds because of the decreased diameter of their tracheas. If your dog occasionally has this, do not worry that you need to be there to help each time it happens. A dog is able to come out of an attack of reverse sneezing without help and will not suffer permanent damage.

[ldenise]

Collapsing trachea or Reverse sneezing here is a page describing both
http://www.papillonclub.org/Education/trachea.htm

[michiko]

You are so helpful Thanks for sharing the info!!

[BabyFidgette]

Baby's had two reverse sneezing attack. It sounds JUST like an asthma/snorthing attack. It's very scary! I've read on YT that if that happens don't look alarmed b/c that will alarm them. Just place your fingers over their nostrils for a second or two and that will force them to breath through their mouth. It should then stop. It's not dangerous or anything to worry about.

[Marie]

Gucci have don't that also. Very scary. I also learn here to cover her nose and that has help to stop it.
I also agreed that if this started just after surgery it can be due to the tube the vets place on the pups throat.

[SnowWa]

My small dogs have all done this -- of course, it frightened me and my dog the first time - but we are all used to it now.

My Bichon almost always does it when I get home from work (he's excited) - as well as occasionally at other times.

My 10-month-old Yorkie hasn't done it yet - but if he does - I'm not worried about it.....

I just comfort my dogs and tell them they're okay when it happens.


Don't worry-- Carol Jean

[chechinmipo]

I totally know what you are talking about. My girl does this every now and then. I took her to the vet cause I just don't like to take chances and had all kinds of things done $$$$ and the vet said she wasn't sure but that she saw a small narrowing in the trachea. Anyways she gave me steroids to try and open up that slight narrowing. I know for a fact its not tracheal collapse. She still does it out of the blue every now and then.

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by chechinmipo

I totally know what you are talking about. My girl does this every now and then. I took her to the vet cause I just don't like to take chances and had all kinds of things done $$$$ and the vet said she wasn't sure but that she saw a small narrowing in the trachea. Anyways she gave me steroids to try and open up that slight narrowing. I know for a fact its not tracheal collapse. She still does it out of the blue every now and then.

I too took Baby to the vet when it happened. He took xrays, and it cost me a bundle for him to tell me that is wasn't a collapsed trachea! LOL Better to be safe then sorry.

I know YT was a savior for me for all the things I've learned. But, when people hear it for the first time they sure as heck don't think of sneezing. Cuz I know it sounds nothing like sneezing! That's why I took her to the vet. I think Reversed Sneezing isn't a great name for it. It should be like: Snorting Attack that sounds like an Asthma attack but isn't. Is that name too long? LOL

[yorkieusa]

This is older now, but may be of assistance to you:

My Yorkie needs surgery. What should I know about anesthesia and intubating?

There are a couple of different dangers in surgery for toy dogs and they are not insurmountable, but they are VERY SERIOUS.


1) DON'T ever allow the vet technician to intubate your toy dog. Too many small toy breeds have had TRACHEAL INJURY and suffered and DIED because of collapsing tracheas from injury to the trachea during intubation. Make sure that the vet knows that you expect him/her to use the smallest possible tracheal tube to intubate your toy dog. Speak up! It could mean saving the life of your little dog. If the vet treats you like an "overprotective" Mom, find another vet that will understand.

2) Proper use of Ace Promezaine as a pre-anesthetic injection is ok so that the dog can be intubated.

3) Isoflurane is the anesthetic of choice. Don't use Halothane or any of the barbituates (see number 4, below). Some vets will "mask" a tiny dog with Isoflurane rather than use the injectable and some vets will not intubate at all, but this depends on the type of surgery being performed. This is an excellent method whenever possible.

4) Last but not least, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR VET TO USE ANY KIND OF BARBITUATES TO ANESTHESIZE YOUR TOY DOG. MOST PARTICULARLY NOT PENTABARB. Many toy dogs have died needlessly because of UNINFORMED VETS WHO ARE DECADES BEHIND IN USE OF ANESTHETICS FOR TOY DOGS. If your vet thinks Isoflurane is too expensive and refuses to use it, then FIND ANOTHER VET THAT will use it. It could and probably will save your dog's life.

http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm#SURG