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My senior pug has a collapsed trachea and enlarged heart. What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pug | Male | unneutered | 10 years and 6 months old

I have a pug 10years old. Suffering from coughing with a sound. Also has a enlarged heard . Today did radiology, vet says his trachea is collapsed. What can be done. For enlarged heart he is having enapril 5, gardinal 30 and lasix everyday . Image of radiology attached

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on April 18th, 2019

I agree that Scotch's trachea is severely narrowed on this x-ray, which is likely associated with his coughing. Without seeing another x-ray view (preferably with Scotch on his back), I can't comment about his heart size or shape. There appears to be additional soft tissue opacity around his heart on this x-ray view, which could certainly be partially due to heart enlargement, but could also be associated with pneumonia or a heart base tumor. Scotch has significant dilation of his esophagus as well. It is important to determine the underlying cause of Scotch's cough and chest abnormalities in order to determine the best course of action. A different x-ray view is the next diagnostic step, potentially followed by an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Based on those results, Scotch may need a course of antibiotics to treat pneumonia, different medications if heart failure is suspected or chemotherapy if a heart base tumor is present. I imagine that your vet suspects congestive heart failure given that he is giving Enalapril and Lasix. I don't understand the need for Gardinal (phenobarbital) in this situation unless Scotch has epilepsy. I hope that all goes well for Scotch!

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