Romans Mom
02-03-2004, 04:23 PM
Here's some information on a subject that comes up alot here. I have more article, but have to dig them up. :/
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Paroxysmal respiration, or reverse sneezing, and collapsing trachea syndrome
Question: Dr. Mike,
Can you tell me if there is a relationship between
reverse sneezing and tracheal collapse? Most of the
articles I've read say that the causes of reverse
sneezing may include allergies, post-nasal drip,
viruses, or infections. However, I've come across a
few articles that equate reverse sneezing with tracheal
collapse or obstruction.
Are the authors confusing the conditions because they
both produce a honking-type sound, or is there a
correlation? I wrote you recently about my dog's
cough (possibly due to tracheal irritation), and now
he has begun reverse sneezing once or twice a day.
Naturally, I am concerned.
Thank you so much for the time you put into answering
our questions. You are appreciated.
Amy (Scout's Mom)
Answer: Amy-
I am certain that the condition referred to as inspiratory paroxysmal
respiration, or reverse sneezing, and collapsing trachea syndrome are
totally different conditions.
However, I think that the symptoms of these conditions are very similar in
some cases, though. Especially in dogs with severe coughing episodes
associated with the tracheal collapse, which can look a lot like the
extreme inspiratory effort that is typical of reverse sneezing.
There are other reasons for confusion between these conditions. They both
occur most commonly in small breed dogs and it is likely that there are a
number of dogs who have both conditions. Tracheal collapse can be
aggravated by any other condition affecting the respiratory tract, making
it possible for a dog with reverse sneezing to develop tracheal collapse
symptoms over time.
I think that there are probably a number of causes of reverse sneezing and
that many cases occur for no discernible reason. According to the "Textbook
of Veterinary Internal Medicine" by Ettinger and Feldman, swallowing stops
attacks of reverse sneezing. This source says that reverse sneezing may be
controlled by massaging the pharyngeal area or briefly closing the dog's
nostrils. Several of my clients have mentioned that their dogs respond to
rubbing of the upper neck region, so this advice may be useful. Reverse
sneezing is a problem of the pharyngeal region.
Tracheal collapse is a problem that occurs because of improper formation of
the tracheal rings. Weakness in the tracheal rings leads to a condition in
which the trachea collapses, either during inspiration or expiration,
depending on the location of the problem in the trachea. This is highly
irritating to the dog and couging results.
Reverse sneezing tends to start at an early age and to be a persistant
problem. Tracheal collapse may cause some symptoms at an early age but in
most patients there is a gradual increase in coughing over time and it may
reach a point in which there are coughing episodes that last for several
minutes and do resemble reverse sneezing. Severe tracheal collapse symptoms
are more common in older dogs.
Mike Richards, DVM
10/26/2000
Tracheal irritation from trying to leash train
Question: Dr. Richards,
First of all, I want you know how very much I
appreciate VetInfo! It is by far THE best source of
pet information I have found on the internet. I
was happy to subscribe.
I am beside myself about my Chihuahua mix,
Scout, and I hope you can help. Two days ago,
I took him for a walk with a choke chain for the
first time. We were working on the "heel"
command, and though I don't believe I was
unusually harsh, I did jerk on his chain many times
in order to correct him (with a "pop and release"
action). I don't remember him choking, coughing,
or making any noises at all during the walk or
later that day. However, when I brought out his
dinner that night (approximately 9 hours later),
he was, as usual, very excited, spinning in circles
and jumping, and he began to make a honking
noise like a goose. He did it about 4 times in
rapid succession and then settled down to eat.
My husband and I took him to an animal clinic that
night. The vet pressed up and down his trachea
and could not get him to "honk" again, although
Scout did cough slightly when he pressed hard.
The vet's opinion was that I had irritated his
trachea and that a tracheal collapse was unlikely.
The next day, I had Scout on a regular collar and
leash on a walk. He went after a bird and pulled
very hard against his collar. He then retched
once, like a cat trying to cough up a hairball. When
we came in, he had a drink and retched once
again.
This morning, he may have had a very slight
muffled cough a few times, but I am not positive
that he wasn't just "wuffing" at someone outside.
I took him to our regular vet, who also palpitated
his trachea (and listened to his lungs and heart,
etc.). Her diagnosis was also tracheal irritation,
but she also gave me some Clavamox, because
I noticed a little bit of mucus on one of his chew
toys on Monday (the day I first used the choke
in) and a little bit after he sneezed on me
on Tuesday.
Some other information that may or may not be
related: About a month ago, we changed his
food, and about two weeks ago, we started giving
him Metamucil to try to keep his anal glands
empty. He was allergic to either the food or the
Metamucil, and he began chewing his paws
constantly. His fur also began to shed much more
than usual. He is now on a plain lamb and rice
diet and is doing much better, but last week and
this week he has still been somewhat stuffy in
his nose.
Scout is about a year old. We have had him for
about three months. During that time, he has
occasionally (several times per week) coughed
as if he was trying to cough up a hairball. These
episodes don't seem to occur at any particular
time. Scout has been eating and playing just as
much as ever. He is not overweight, but just
right at 14 pounds. (We believe he is a Chi/Terrier
mix.)
I still can't help but be worried that I collapsed
his trachea with the choke chain, knowing that
1. Chihuahuas have delicate tracheas and are
prone to trachea problems, 2. choke chains can
damage airways, and 3. he coughed when he
was excited, when he drank water, and when he
pulled against the leash.
Am I just being paranoid, or could I have in fact
collapsed it? Would you advise x-rays or
endoscopy? Do you think we should use a
harness from now on?
Also, when Scout was at the vet, he ate a treat
that another dog dropped from its mouth. Could he catch something this
way? (He is current on all
his vaccinations.)
Thank you so much in advance,
Amy
Answer: Amy-
It is possible that Scout could have tracheobronchitis, which is a
contagious disease that causes coughing. If that is the case, the coughing
has probably gotten a lot worse by now. Antibiotics can be helpful if this
disease is present.
Tracheal collapse would be a little unusual in a puppy this age, but not
out of the question. The tendency to develop this disorder is congenital.
It happens because the cartilages that form the trachea are not as strong
as they should be. The trachea sort of resembles a vacuum cleaner hose,
with a series of stiff rings supporting connecting tissue. In dogs, the
rings are actually sort of "C" shaped, with the open ends of the C
overlapping slightly. In dogs prone to collapsing trachea, the ends of the
rings don't overlap and the tissue of the trachea is not fully supported.
Eventually, over time, the tissue weakens enough to cause irritation, as
the trachea collapses during respiratory efforts.
It is unlikely that a choke collar will cause this sort of injury but it
does seem to exacerbate a tendency towards trachea collapse. I tend to
think your vet is right that the symptom is more likely to be from
irritation, due to this.
In this situation, I would favor using a halter collar such as the "Gentle
Leader" collar, rather than a harness. The halter collar gives you the
opportunity to continue to correct Scout for training purposes, without
putting pressure on the trachea. Dogs object to these collars when your
first put them on so it is a good idea to talk to someone who has used them
before or to get your vet to show you how to put it on and adjust it if
your vet is familiar with these halters.
X-rays can help to diagnose collapsing trachea problems but I would not be
in a hurry to take them, as long as Scout is improving. On the other hand,
if he is getting worse, or just not getting better, then it would be more
important to try to determine if this was a contributing problem.
Scout it probably better by now but it might help prevent future problems
to consider using a halter style collar.
Mike Richards, DVM
10/9/2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paroxysmal respiration, or reverse sneezing, and collapsing trachea syndrome
Question: Dr. Mike,
Can you tell me if there is a relationship between
reverse sneezing and tracheal collapse? Most of the
articles I've read say that the causes of reverse
sneezing may include allergies, post-nasal drip,
viruses, or infections. However, I've come across a
few articles that equate reverse sneezing with tracheal
collapse or obstruction.
Are the authors confusing the conditions because they
both produce a honking-type sound, or is there a
correlation? I wrote you recently about my dog's
cough (possibly due to tracheal irritation), and now
he has begun reverse sneezing once or twice a day.
Naturally, I am concerned.
Thank you so much for the time you put into answering
our questions. You are appreciated.
Amy (Scout's Mom)
Answer: Amy-
I am certain that the condition referred to as inspiratory paroxysmal
respiration, or reverse sneezing, and collapsing trachea syndrome are
totally different conditions.
However, I think that the symptoms of these conditions are very similar in
some cases, though. Especially in dogs with severe coughing episodes
associated with the tracheal collapse, which can look a lot like the
extreme inspiratory effort that is typical of reverse sneezing.
There are other reasons for confusion between these conditions. They both
occur most commonly in small breed dogs and it is likely that there are a
number of dogs who have both conditions. Tracheal collapse can be
aggravated by any other condition affecting the respiratory tract, making
it possible for a dog with reverse sneezing to develop tracheal collapse
symptoms over time.
I think that there are probably a number of causes of reverse sneezing and
that many cases occur for no discernible reason. According to the "Textbook
of Veterinary Internal Medicine" by Ettinger and Feldman, swallowing stops
attacks of reverse sneezing. This source says that reverse sneezing may be
controlled by massaging the pharyngeal area or briefly closing the dog's
nostrils. Several of my clients have mentioned that their dogs respond to
rubbing of the upper neck region, so this advice may be useful. Reverse
sneezing is a problem of the pharyngeal region.
Tracheal collapse is a problem that occurs because of improper formation of
the tracheal rings. Weakness in the tracheal rings leads to a condition in
which the trachea collapses, either during inspiration or expiration,
depending on the location of the problem in the trachea. This is highly
irritating to the dog and couging results.
Reverse sneezing tends to start at an early age and to be a persistant
problem. Tracheal collapse may cause some symptoms at an early age but in
most patients there is a gradual increase in coughing over time and it may
reach a point in which there are coughing episodes that last for several
minutes and do resemble reverse sneezing. Severe tracheal collapse symptoms
are more common in older dogs.
Mike Richards, DVM
10/26/2000
Tracheal irritation from trying to leash train
Question: Dr. Richards,
First of all, I want you know how very much I
appreciate VetInfo! It is by far THE best source of
pet information I have found on the internet. I
was happy to subscribe.
I am beside myself about my Chihuahua mix,
Scout, and I hope you can help. Two days ago,
I took him for a walk with a choke chain for the
first time. We were working on the "heel"
command, and though I don't believe I was
unusually harsh, I did jerk on his chain many times
in order to correct him (with a "pop and release"
action). I don't remember him choking, coughing,
or making any noises at all during the walk or
later that day. However, when I brought out his
dinner that night (approximately 9 hours later),
he was, as usual, very excited, spinning in circles
and jumping, and he began to make a honking
noise like a goose. He did it about 4 times in
rapid succession and then settled down to eat.
My husband and I took him to an animal clinic that
night. The vet pressed up and down his trachea
and could not get him to "honk" again, although
Scout did cough slightly when he pressed hard.
The vet's opinion was that I had irritated his
trachea and that a tracheal collapse was unlikely.
The next day, I had Scout on a regular collar and
leash on a walk. He went after a bird and pulled
very hard against his collar. He then retched
once, like a cat trying to cough up a hairball. When
we came in, he had a drink and retched once
again.
This morning, he may have had a very slight
muffled cough a few times, but I am not positive
that he wasn't just "wuffing" at someone outside.
I took him to our regular vet, who also palpitated
his trachea (and listened to his lungs and heart,
etc.). Her diagnosis was also tracheal irritation,
but she also gave me some Clavamox, because
I noticed a little bit of mucus on one of his chew
toys on Monday (the day I first used the choke
in) and a little bit after he sneezed on me
on Tuesday.
Some other information that may or may not be
related: About a month ago, we changed his
food, and about two weeks ago, we started giving
him Metamucil to try to keep his anal glands
empty. He was allergic to either the food or the
Metamucil, and he began chewing his paws
constantly. His fur also began to shed much more
than usual. He is now on a plain lamb and rice
diet and is doing much better, but last week and
this week he has still been somewhat stuffy in
his nose.
Scout is about a year old. We have had him for
about three months. During that time, he has
occasionally (several times per week) coughed
as if he was trying to cough up a hairball. These
episodes don't seem to occur at any particular
time. Scout has been eating and playing just as
much as ever. He is not overweight, but just
right at 14 pounds. (We believe he is a Chi/Terrier
mix.)
I still can't help but be worried that I collapsed
his trachea with the choke chain, knowing that
1. Chihuahuas have delicate tracheas and are
prone to trachea problems, 2. choke chains can
damage airways, and 3. he coughed when he
was excited, when he drank water, and when he
pulled against the leash.
Am I just being paranoid, or could I have in fact
collapsed it? Would you advise x-rays or
endoscopy? Do you think we should use a
harness from now on?
Also, when Scout was at the vet, he ate a treat
that another dog dropped from its mouth. Could he catch something this
way? (He is current on all
his vaccinations.)
Thank you so much in advance,
Amy
Answer: Amy-
It is possible that Scout could have tracheobronchitis, which is a
contagious disease that causes coughing. If that is the case, the coughing
has probably gotten a lot worse by now. Antibiotics can be helpful if this
disease is present.
Tracheal collapse would be a little unusual in a puppy this age, but not
out of the question. The tendency to develop this disorder is congenital.
It happens because the cartilages that form the trachea are not as strong
as they should be. The trachea sort of resembles a vacuum cleaner hose,
with a series of stiff rings supporting connecting tissue. In dogs, the
rings are actually sort of "C" shaped, with the open ends of the C
overlapping slightly. In dogs prone to collapsing trachea, the ends of the
rings don't overlap and the tissue of the trachea is not fully supported.
Eventually, over time, the tissue weakens enough to cause irritation, as
the trachea collapses during respiratory efforts.
It is unlikely that a choke collar will cause this sort of injury but it
does seem to exacerbate a tendency towards trachea collapse. I tend to
think your vet is right that the symptom is more likely to be from
irritation, due to this.
In this situation, I would favor using a halter collar such as the "Gentle
Leader" collar, rather than a harness. The halter collar gives you the
opportunity to continue to correct Scout for training purposes, without
putting pressure on the trachea. Dogs object to these collars when your
first put them on so it is a good idea to talk to someone who has used them
before or to get your vet to show you how to put it on and adjust it if
your vet is familiar with these halters.
X-rays can help to diagnose collapsing trachea problems but I would not be
in a hurry to take them, as long as Scout is improving. On the other hand,
if he is getting worse, or just not getting better, then it would be more
important to try to determine if this was a contributing problem.
Scout it probably better by now but it might help prevent future problems
to consider using a halter style collar.
Mike Richards, DVM
10/9/2000