Q-My three small dogs (a Lhasa Apso, a poodle and a Shih Tzu) have the same problem. My vet calls it a collapsed trachea. My Lhasa Apso is very overweight, as is the poodle, /which is also diabetic.
The vet tells me excess weight is hard on the trachea, but my Shih Tzu is very thin. When he`s very excited, he does this collapsed-trachea routine very often. This scares the dog; he breaks out in a sweat and his tongue turns blue, as if he`s taking his last breath.
The vet told me they could operate on the trachea, but scar tissue would develop there and the problem would recur. Can you tell me more about collapsed trachea?
A-A collapsing trachea is a disorder in which the cartilage rings that keep the windpipe an open tube weaken and allow the windpipe to flatten over part of its length. Think of a collapsed trachea as resembling a drinking straw with the middle pinched. The condition causes frequent coughing, which becomes worse when the dog is excited or breathing hard. The severity of the condition depends on how long the collapsed portion of the trachea is and the weight of the dog.
My first suggestion is that you make absolutely certain this problem is, in fact, the cause of the symptoms. Chronic bronchitis or congestive heart failure could generate similar-sounding coughs and would not be treated the same way as a collapsed trachea.
Two methods of diagnosis seem most effective: X-rays of the chest and trachea, or an endoscope. Using the second method, a tube is inserted down the dog`s trachea so the vet can see whether the trachea does collapse as the animal breathes. If these tests have not been done, ask your vet to perform them.
If the diagnosis of collapsing tracheas has been confirmed, try to slim down your poodle and Lhasa Apso so they are at a healthy weight. A group of medications known as bronchodilators can help control some of the symptoms. Prednisone also can help. Also, avoid putting collars on these dogs. Instead, use harnesses to walk them so they never pull at their throat.
In most instances, surgery for this problem is unrewarding.
Collapsing trachea is not common in the Lhasa Apso; however, it is very common in toy poodles, Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians. Shih Tzus have it more commonly that Lhasas but less frequently than poodles. The problem usually doesn`t occur until middle age. It`s not known whether this can be an inherited condition, but it is not thought to be.
Q-I`m having difficulty getting my dog, Charlie, to eat. He weighs 50 pounds, is a mixed-breed German shepherd and is seemingly in good health. We`ve been giving him Purina Dog Chow. However, unless we put the remains of our own dinner on his food, he passes it by. We tried Pedigree (Kal Kan) as a supplement, but he didn`t show much more enthusiasm. If we leave food for two days, the dog eventually eats it, but we feel he should be enthusiastic about his food and look forward to it. We feed him once daily. If there is any meat in sight he, of course, eats that. Do you have any suggestions?
A-You undoubtedly would feel far happier if Charlie ate with the dramatic gusto dogs display in pet food commercials. But your sense of satisfaction is purely psychological; if having Charlie gobble the food you serve him makes you feel you`re pleasing him, you are, in fact, actually pleasing yourself.
From the way you`ve described Charlie, he seems to be in good health. If his weight is correct for his size and he is physically fit, Charlie is simply eating all he wants. As it would seem he only wants to eat every other day, the solution to this could not be more simple. All you should do is serve him less daily food and he then will consume it completely and get back to eating on a day-by-day basis.
What seems to have been occurring is that, despite the best of intentions, you`ve been overfeeding Charlie. As a consequence, he`s responding by not wanting to eat because he`s not hungry. You should be thankful that Charlie is more sensible than most of the pets I see each day; most of them will eat more than they require and end up obese.
So heed Charlie; he seems to know best how much he needs to eat.
Dr. Huntington welcomes questions from readers. She cannot reply individually, but she will answer those of general interest in this column. Write to Dr. Huntington, c/o The Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. If your pet`s problem is urgent, consult your vet.