Question:

I have a friend with an 8 and 1/2 yr. old Lasa Apso that is coughing alot and choking and wheezing. She’s getting frustrated because after many vet trips and meds they can tell her nothing. Now they want her to see a specialist for the camera in the lungs but the cost will run $900-1200 dollars and they can’t guarantee anything! Has anyone had this problem with their dog? It only happened this year and only in the Spring and this summer. He seems almost asthmatic. Any help would be appreciated! Bonnie

Response:

Has the vet suggested a collapsing trachea? That’s the diagnosis with my 16 year old sheltie mix. Does pressing on the dog’s throat cause her to cough? Mine shows no symptoms other than the coughing. We’re treating her with butorphanol which seems to help a lot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a friend with an 8 and 1/2 yr. old Lasa Apso that is coughing alot and choking and wheezing. She’s getting frustrated because after many vet trips and meds they can tell her nothing. Now they want her to see a specialist for the camera in the lungs but the cost will run $900-1200 dollars and they can’t guarantee anything! Has anyone had this problem with their dog? It only happened this year and only in the Spring and this summer. He seems almost asthmatic. Any help would be appreciated! Bonnie

Response:

Certainly treating the symtoms is a beginning. If it is seasonal then it sounds like allergies but it could be collapsing trachea or indication of heart disease too. Some basic bloodwork can tell your friend a lot. It can be really hard to identify a cause of an intermittent cough. It is possible to spend a great deal of money on various tests to find out that your dog does not have an identifiable problem — or that he or she is "normal".  On the other hand, the only way to figure out what is going on is to start eliminating possible causes, which means that the palate, larynx, trachea, lungs and heart all have to be examined carefully and that tests such as occult heartworm exams, X-rays, ECGs, endoscopy, bacterial cultures and examination under anesthesia may have to be done. some dogs cough because of intestinal parasite migration, so fecal examination will sometimes reveal a clue. The bottom line is even after lots of money is spent on tests, like you said there is no guarantee. Personally, I’d have a complete blood work-up done and then a urine test and then I’d treat the symptoms IF the heart looks okay. Also, I hope nobody in that house smokes because that alone can cause coughing, wheezing etc.

Response:

 The dog was checked ,as far as his heart ,that was strong, and his stool was checked for parasites,not sure if he had blood and urine checked,but what puzzled me was the vet never looked down his throat at all! Even on his initial visit.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Certainly treating the symtoms is a beginning. If it is seasonal then it sounds like allergies but it could be collapsing trachea or indication of heart disease too. Some basic bloodwork can tell your friend a lot. It can be really hard to identify a cause of an intermittent cough. It is possible to spend a great deal of money on various tests to find out that your dog does not have an identifiable problem — or that he or she is "normal".  On the other hand, the only way to figure out what is going on is to start eliminating possible causes, which means that the palate, larynx, trachea, lungs and heart all have to be examined carefully and that tests such as occult heartworm exams, X-rays, ECGs, endoscopy, bacterial cultures and examination under anesthesia may have to be done. some dogs cough because of intestinal parasite migration, so fecal examination will sometimes reveal a clue. The bottom line is even after lots of money is spent on tests, like you said there is no guarantee. Personally, I’d have a complete blood work-up done and then a urine test and then I’d treat the symptoms IF the heart looks okay. Also, I hope nobody in that house smokes because that alone can cause coughing, wheezing etc.

Response:

 Cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan, butorphenol (Torbutrol Rx), and hydrocodone (Hycodan and other, Rx) are the most useful medications to use in controlling the symptoms of collapsing trach. Controlling the coughing often will allow resolution of the other problems associated with this condition and slow the self-destructive cycle that occurs with tracheal collapse. Personally I would try and treat this condition as if it were already established (without spending the big bucks on high-tech testing). Ask the vet for something to control the cough (which the dog clearly has and if that isn’t treated it alone can cause damage to the heart and lungs over time). Also, if the dog is overweight THAT needs to be addressed. The smoking in the house thing…also a HUGE problem IF that is part of this equation. Sometimes humidity and heat trigger the wheezing. I know I had a Yorki with this problem and I had to keep my house MUCH colder than I wanted it because ONLY then would he keep from wheezing. Sometimes it sounds like the dog is getting NO air or even has something stuck in his throat. This is because the dog is actually being deprived of so much oxygen (like you said it sounds like an asthma attack). These wheezing/coughing fits can deprive the dog of essential oxygen and that is NO good. So, treating the symptoms (like treating the symptoms of asthma) ‘can’ work for a very long time. That is a first step and surgery would only be suggested ‘if’ medication no longer works.

Response:

Bonnie from my past experience it sounds like an allergic reaction to something, maybe food borne or airborne, you  really can’t tell. If she has been meds her immune system is probably weak. Try this website www.caninemedicinechest.com they have really helped my dogs.  Tom

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a friend with an 8 and 1/2 yr. old Lasa Apso that is coughing alot and choking and wheezing. She’s getting frustrated because after many vet trips and meds they can tell her nothing. Now they want her to see a specialist for the camera in the lungs but the cost will run $900-1200 dollars and they can’t guarantee anything! Has anyone had this problem with their dog? It only happened this year and only in the Spring and this summer. He seems almost asthmatic. Any help would be appreciated! Bonnie

Response:

Bonnie: Of course the poster "dink_51" tailors EVERY post around the fact that first and foremost he is pimping his WEBSITE. The symptoms you posted in no way pointed towards his silly misdiagnosis  Bonnie from my past experience it sounds like an allergic reaction to – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -something, maybe food borne or airborne, you  really can’t tell.

Response:

I forgot to add this: weight control also helps. Humidity and heat can trigger the attacks and air-conditioning and a de-humidifyer and/or room air-filters can also be a big help.

Response:

She also coughs and sneezes around smokers.

Dogs who have such breathing problems should NEVER be around smokers. Other things that can trigger these breathing attacks include perfumes, candle scents, incense, dust. Keeping the dog from having the attacks can help prevent the damage to heart and lungs down the road. If it gets really bad ask the vet for medication.

Response:

My dog coughs and wheezes a lot, and that has been attributed to her size (5 pounds).  My vet explained to me that when they (some smaller breeds) get excited it is very common for their trachea to temporarily collapse, and that it’s not really a serious problem.  She also coughs and sneezes around smokers. I have also read that in some cases it is attributed to heart disease.  So, that  possibility should be ruled out by your friend’s vet ASAP.    

Response:

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