Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed
Why has my 14 month old Staffordshire bull terrier started making a goose honking sound at night this only usually happens once
1 Answer
Published on August 13th, 2021
Hi and thanks for your request. Goose honking cough/respiratory sound usually is due to a tracheal cough, often due to a tracheal collapse, even if uncommon in Staffies. These signs must be strictly monitored and if occur again they should be checked by your local veterinarian. Usually episodes of tracheal collapse are not fatal but if the anxiety and continued collapse or flattening of the trachea associated with an acute event of struggling to breath seems to increase the swelling around the trachea, and yes, these dogs can occasionally have their entire airway swell shut and be unable to breath. The important thing to remember if you have a dog with tracheal collapse is that you should take them in for treatment as soon as you notice distress - the longer the distress persists, the more difficult it is to reverse.
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