Yorkie Terrier dog cough: a collapsed windpipe battle
Is your Yorkshire Terrier coughing? Dogs don’t cough like people do, so when you hear your dog cough, that should alert you that there could be a problem on the horizon. If it’s a hacking sound, maybe there’s something stuck in your dog’s throat. If it’s a non-productive, honking type of cough and your dog is a Yorkshire Terrier, then it could be the early start of a collapsed trachea. Collapsed trachea can affect other breeds as well, but it appears to be a health concern for Yorkies. Sometimes it is genetic and breeders should try very hard to get it out of Yorkies. It can be caused by wearing tight collars or leashes and then when the dog pulls on his leash he suffocates. The constant pulling and suffocation will eventually damage the windpipe. This also applies to all races.
My Yorkie started coughing slightly during the summer of 2007. At the time, we were doing renovations to our house and I thought her throat was dry from the plaster dust and sawdust in the air. The cough didn’t happen every day so I didn’t worry about the progression. I did my best to keep the dust low by vacuuming and dusting daily.
In the fall, he had a vet checkup and I mentioned the cough to him. Our vet said the windpipe was probably collapsing. He prescribed Torbutrol as a cough suppressant and after his first dose he was so high that he could not stand, eat or reach for his water bowl. She had said that she would probably have to be in this for the rest of her life, taking 2 pills a day. After this reaction, I called the vet and it was decided that he could not tolerate this drug. It only weighed 4 pounds 6 ounces. After that, I tried herbal cough medicine. I also gave him vitamin E and vitamin C.
During the winter of 2008, he had several visits to the vet and it was always the same: his heart was fine and his lungs were fine. He had a good appetite, there seemed to be nothing to worry about. At no point was I informed of the warning signs of a life-ending collapse of the windpipe. His cough went from that dry, cutting sound to a sound much like a person makes when trying to clear their throat. Many days I would not cough at all, but many nights I would start coughing and couldn’t seem to stop. I tried to give him honey to cover his throat, because I’m sure his throat must have been very raw from all that coughing. There are herbal cough medicines on the market that contain honey. Sometimes they helped, but not always. Some days he would walk around the house, coughing, trying to breathe. As the windpipe narrows, it becomes like trying to breathe through a straw.
I searched the internet for answers, looking for natural cures for it, but there really isn’t much that can be done. Surgery is sometimes suggested, but it is not always successful and can be very expensive. Not to mention the inconvenience your dog will go through.
The collapsed trachea claimed another victim as my Yorkie died of suffocation in her sleep on October 1, 2008. So if your dog makes sounds like coughing, discuss this with your vet so you know what to expect. Gather as much information as you can and do your best to make your dog as comfortable as possible. You can try using a cool mist humidifier at night in the area where your dog sleeps. Keep your weight down as well. But above all, love him and give him all the attention you can. I was very lucky to have had my Yorkie for 14 years. We were constantly together and missed him terribly. I sincerely hope that if you are dealing with this health issue with your Yorkie that you find something to help you. Now please go hug your dog!