My old dog has a collapsed trachea. Is it dangerous? What to do?

Question

Is collapsed trachea dangerous in old dogs ? Can it be managed ? Are there any real dangers or things to keep my dog away from doing. Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Female | 12 years and 4 months old

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Collapsing trachea has no cure. There is a surgery that can be done depending on where the collapse is occurring, but it is not commonly recommended or performed due to risks and complications. It is not usually dangerous, but if the coughing can't get under control, then they may have a hard time breathing, which could be bad. Management of collapsing trachea include weight loss for overweight or obese dogs (the excess fat puts extra pressure on the trachea and makes breathing harder in general), decreasing stressful situation, avoiding the heat, and staying on top of coughing spells and allergies. Cough suppressants and/or steroids can help with episodes of coughing. Here is some more info: https://www.petcoach.co/article/collapsed-trachea-in-dogs/

My old dog has a collapsed trachea. Is it dangerous? What to do?

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