Collapsed Trachea meds

[fifeandshaffer]

ct isnt always 24/7 my dog had it for 2 years before he needed to be PTS. its just like people with asthma they have attacks when they have them not always a reason but when they are not in an attack they act fine, my dog could be fine for a few hours not fine then fine again all in the same day. I did everything for him I could washes, meds oxygen at home, more meds than any dog should ever have to take, they all seem to work for a time until a stronger one is needed. I wish the breeders would do the proper tests in the dogs they breed, so that this would not be an issue.

[littlewhip]

Originally Posted by fifeandshaffer

ct isnt always 24/7 my dog had it for 2 years before he needed to be PTS. its just like people with asthma they have attacks when they have them not always a reason but when they are not in an attack they act fine, my dog could be fine for a few hours not fine then fine again all in the same day. I did everything for him I could washes, meds oxygen at home, more meds than any dog should ever have to take, they all seem to work for a time until a stronger one is needed. I wish the breeders would do the proper tests in the dogs they breed, so that this would not be an issue.

Im very sorry for your loss mine didnt start with molly untill 6 months ago
and she is 3 yrs old, I asked the vet about this factory and her answer...
they can get this at any age and yorkies are more prone to this then any other dog. its so darn scary, Im to the point of not even leaving her alone.
and about the meds, I agree, when is to many to many ? she is on 5 now

[jrsummersill1]

I took Sunshine back to the vet on Wednesday for a check up to see how the meds were doing. I told him that she was still coughing somewhat and asked him if there was anything stronger than the Tussigon to give her for the cough and said not really. He suggested that we increase the Tussigon to 1/2 tablet twice a day rather than the 1/4 tablet that we had been giving her. I tried this starting Wednesday night and praise God she woke up this morning and did not cough once!!!! She ALWAYS wakes up coughing. The mornings are always worse for her. I am so thrilled and I believe that the extra bit of Tussigon was the key. I can only hope it continues.

[littlewhip]

Originally Posted by jrsummersill1

I took Sunshine back to the vet on Wednesday for a check up to see how the meds were doing. I told him that she was still coughing somewhat and asked him if there was anything stronger than the Tussigon to give her for the cough and said not really. He suggested that we increase the Tussigon to 1/2 tablet twice a day rather than the 1/4 tablet that we had been giving her. I tried this starting Wednesday night and praise God she woke up this morning and did not cough once!!!! She ALWAYS wakes up coughing. The mornings are always worse for her. I am so thrilled and I believe that the extra bit of Tussigon was the key. I can only hope it continues.

Thats great to hear I will continue to pray for her, Molly is about the same,
we have very humid weather here right now so i have limited her out side time
done to just potty and thats it, the cough med is working some, now if i could just get some weight off her best wishes to you ~

[liz n tika]

Originally Posted by beachdog

My dog Paris who is 10 has also just been diagnosed with CT. He is on Torbutrol a narcotic derived from opium for the cough but it is very expensive. $70 for two weeks. After the two weeks I am hoping my vet can find something less costly to use. Paris is still coughing about 3 or 4 times a day but nowhere near as bad as he was without the medication. I'm not really sure that it isn't Kennel cough myself after looking at the videos. But I have to go with what the doc says.
I would be interested to know how expensive the cough meds you are using are if you don't mind telling. I have also looked up Robutussin dm and will ask about using that.

have they done an xray?? if it is severe, ct will show up...

[liz n tika]

Originally Posted by littlewhip

Im very sorry for your loss mine didnt start with molly untill 6 months ago
and she is 3 yrs old, I asked the vet about this factory and her answer...
they can get this at any age and yorkies are more prone to this then any other dog. its so darn scary, Im to the point of not even leaving her alone.
and about the meds, I agree, when is to many to many ? she is on 5 now

My baby yorkie also has ct...Has anyone tried glucosamine??? i heard it could strengthen the cartilage.....

Not sure who was posting about cough medicine... but be careful.. My vet advised me not to use anything with codine, as it could relax the muscules. May help them sleep, but could intensify the collapsing problem..

[beachdog]

Yes they did an xray which I actually posted on this forum. It is not severe so it really doesn't show up well. Paris is still on the torbutrol but I have a call in to the vet for something else, less costly I hope. He is coughing a bit more today but it is very hot and humid here. I am trying to keep him indoors and near the fan. I have to wait for the vets call and I let you know what he says.

[beachdog]

Ok finally heard form the doctor and he wants me to try Hycodan 5mg split into 1/4 tab 2 x's a day. He didn't sound very hopeful and I'm sure wants me to keep using what we know works. But it is too costly right now. Has anyone else ever used hycodan?
Opinions?

[ladyjane]

I have used Hycodan (syrup, not pills). Actually used that and Torbutrol at the same time. Just interchanged them which did seem to help.

Ask your vet about trying Lomotil. If he has never heard of using it for ct, tell him it is in Kirk's Veterinary Therapy. I had great results with that as did a friend of mine with her ct pupster.

Keeping their weight down is very important and keeping them in air conditioning helps. Also, a stress free environment is best.

I personally would never do the surgery on ct. I have yet to see a success story and with my last ct pup I was advised against it by three vets. There are some who will do it.....but, I would ask them for the percentages of their successes!

[beachdog]

Yes he is on a diet and so far has lost 1 lb. He has maybe 1/2 pound to go. It is extremely hot here but I guess it is bad everywhere, I try to keep a fan on in the room he is in.

[lovmyyorkie]

Hi Ladies,

I really do not like to read these threads because they are so hard and brings back a lot of memories of months feeling helpless, totally alone, angry, hurt, depress, scare, and felt so bad for my lil girl for failing her because I did not know what was wrong or how to help her.

Did I take her to the vet? Yes, but No help (long story)

I have a 13 yr old female yorkie name Buffy with a heart murmur, bronchitis , sinus allergies and the least of her problems a bad knee since baby (no problems 4 about 8 yrs now).

I know that her problems are different from yours but I have read that CT is also treated with some meds that bronchitis (also asthma) problem dogs.

Do any of your dogs take meds for bronchitis , asthma or allergies?

The reason I ask this is because I believe that the same things that effect dogs like mine effect dogs with CT, and if I'm right the condition of the air has a lot to do with what triggers the breathing attacks and doubles the triggers if they have allergies.

The First thing that makes me believe it, is that you are all using fans to help minimize or control the attacks. My vet told me to put Buffy in front of the fan also when she would have an attack, that was after having to rush her to the ER at 4am (5 yrs ago) and was put in an oxygen cage she had just started all meds and were not really in her system.

He said the fan pushes in the air (like the oxygen cage or mask would) which helps them not to have to suck in so hard to get air in. Which causes less stress and can make the attack pass sooner, because with dogs like mine but really any dog can panic and have a heart attack.

I hold her in front of the fan but I watch her face for signs that I got her too close and it is bothering her instead of helping her (try it yourself put your face in front of a fan and if your too close you can not breath) them I talk to her calming like trying to put a baby to sleep until its under control.

If I put Buffy in front of the fan dose not work it's because there are other factors in the air like too hot like in the summer and heaters on in the winter the air is dry, fire's anywhere in our county or allergy season.

I have to leave but I will be back later to give more info . from what I have experienced with Buffy.

I hope this is helping someone in anyway.

Can you describe your fur baby's breathing attacks and what you do to bring it under control ?

[beachdog]

Well first thanks for trying to help us.
Paris' attacks, which were worse last night, began in May of this year. At first I didn't know what to think. I sounded like he was hacking up a bone in his throat. Then I thought he may have caught kennel cough from the vets waiting room. That's what it sounded like when I compared the videos.
I took him to the vet because it was getting worse and not stopping. After the xray which is posted on a different thread here, he said it was Ct. I could barely see any size difference in the trachea myself.
Paris will be starting a new med hycodan in three days because the torbutrol is very costly. I hope it works for him.
He does seem to do better when cool, it is very hot and humid right now in Florida so I haven't been taking him for his morning walks.
He usually coughs 4-5 times a day and usually it only lasts for three coughs and a choke at the end.
Thanks again.

[ladyjane]

Again: ask your vet about Lomotil! It is cheap and worked for me and also a friend of mine with a ct pupster!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by beachdog

Well first thanks for trying to help us.
Paris' attacks, which were worse last night, began in May of this year. At first I didn't know what to think. I sounded like he was hacking up a bone in his throat. Then I thought he may have caught kennel cough from the vets waiting room. That's what it sounded like when I compared the videos.
I took him to the vet because it was getting worse and not stopping. After the xray which is posted on a different thread here, he said it was Ct. I could barely see any size difference in the trachea myself.
Paris will be starting a new med hycodan in three days because the torbutrol is very costly. I hope it works for him.
He does seem to do better when cool, it is very hot and humid right now in Florida so I haven't been taking him for his morning walks.
He usually coughs 4-5 times a day and usually it only lasts for three coughs and a choke at the end.
Thanks again.

It is hot and humid here in Houston most of the time as well. My ct pupster always was worse during higher humidity. Definitely a good idea not to walk him!

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by fifeandshaffer

ct isnt always 24/7 my dog had it for 2 years before he needed to be PTS. its just like people with asthma they have attacks when they have them not always a reason but when they are not in an attack they act fine, my dog could be fine for a few hours not fine then fine again all in the same day. I did everything for him I could washes, meds oxygen at home, more meds than any dog should ever have to take, they all seem to work for a time until a stronger one is needed. I wish the breeders would do the proper tests in the dogs they breed, so that this would not be an issue.

CT isn't always genetic. Prince got his after his dental cleaning!!!!!! The vet apparently used an anesthesia tube that was too big for his small trachea. He had xrays and all of the pre-dental cleaning procedures, and had no sign of it, now he does. (His parents, grandparents nor brother have it.)