My senior dog has collapsed trachea. What treatments work & can online vets help?

Question

My dog s showing signs of collapsed trachea, she is 15 years old, Lhaso apso mix female, she has not been spayed and has had 1 litter of puppies. I know they can treat it with prednisone, is this available through an online veterinarian? Is it also effective to treat it with A course of antibiotics as well. I'm sure it is not kennel cough, though it may be similar to COPD in humans. She is also expressing these symptoms after exertion and she incessantly licks herself on her area which gets her. Pet's info: Dog | Lhasa Apso | Female | unspayed | 15 years and 8 months old | 12 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

I hate to hear that Bonnie is having a problem with coughing. There are several reasons Bonnie may be coughing. Certainly a collapsing trachea is common in small breed dogs but other issues such as heart disease, allergic bronchitis, enlarged heart, tumors in the lungs, parasites or kennel cough can also cause coughing. Collapsing trachea is treated prednisone if the inflammation is severe but it is generally not the mainstay of treatment as it has systemic side effects on the body. Antibiotics are sometimes used if an infection is suspected but again, it is not the mainstay. Cough suppressants are the main choice to treat a collapsing trachea. Fatty acids and anti-oxidants can also be beneficial. An online veterinarian cannot prescribe any medications due to state and pharmacy laws. Your primary care veterinarian will be the person who can prescribe any needed medications (some of which can be purchased online but must be approved by your vet). I would recommend to make an appointment for Bonnie for an exam and a radiograph. The doctor will listen to her heart and lungs and check her trachea for sensitivity. A radiograph (x-ray) is the primary way to diagnose a collapsing trachea. It will also show the heart and lungs which will be examined for any other abnormalities. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My senior dog has collapsed trachea. What treatments work & can online vets help?

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