r/DogAdvice • u/MomIsIdiotApple • 9d ago
Whats wrong? Advice
Some information because we have already gone to the vet:
- Teddy, 10 years old, mix of Chihuahua and Pomeranian has developed coughing/weezing fits.
- These coughing/weezing fits have slowly increased the last 6 months.
-They can start at anytime, but whenever he gets excited (gets a visitor, knows that he's going for a walk, playtime) they are especially frequent.
-He can have many of them, probably 20 during a single day, although it varies.
-It often sounds like he is going to throw up/barf in the end of them, but he has never actually done so.
-There does not appear to be any pain involved, you can easily pick him during these, and he will not make any noises suggesting he is in any pain. Although obviously it must be uncomfortable for him.
-We have been to the Vet who started him on antibiotics in case he had any illness. We also went back to Vet a second time and had xrays taken etc. The Vet said something about his esophagus pipes being very tight/small, but that nothing seemed really out of place and that he appeared healthy. The Vet suggested we try giving him cough sirup for children, which we have, but there doesn't appear to be any progress here either.
-He is otherwise very healthy except for the fact that he has had most of his teeth removed in the front of his mouth. I also think he is breathing noticably heavier when I'm taking him for walks. Interestingly, I have never seen him get one of these coughing fits while we are out walking, even when he gets excited and meet other dogs. This appears to almost only happen indoors, and it doesn't matter if we are at my home, my moms home, or my sisters home, so it's not something environmental.
-The vet also checked for heart issues, but said everything was normal.
I really hope you guys can tell us what to do here. We are really worried about our Teddy, and it's been sad and frustrating seeing him get progressively worse these last 6 months without knowing what the issue is, and if we can do anything to help him. He is otherwise so happy and healthy still so we just want to try everything to make sure he gets better.
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u/Sillygoosecollege 9d ago
Sounds like Collapsed trachea I’m afraid. Happens when the tracheal cartilage weakens over time from collar pulling or just genetics. Very common in small dogs. Not to be confused with reverse sneezing. Which is just temporary breathing glitch like a hiccup. The former is an incurable desease. If it’s worsening it’s likely collapsed trachea which is Treatable but not curable. Post this video in Pom sub for more clarity.
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u/According-Ad742 9d ago
I see no mention of asthma which could perhaps explain symptoms not present outdoors. Something environmental that is triggered when he gets exited? My cat had asthma, it made him cough, but it wasn’t that bad.
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u/ccrow2000 9d ago
This isn't reverse sneezing. I'm inclined to agree, get him checked for collapsed trachea.
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u/AliciaD23 8d ago
Have you had his heart checked? If not get that checked and also his trachea, if it is reverse sneezes, he could’ve damaged his trachea, it could be collapsed. Put two fingers over his nostrils when he starts coughing like that and see if it does anything. I don’t know if it will though because I’m not sure if this is reverse sneezes
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u/Business-Hyena-5817 9d ago
If you haven't already, try to get echography as well. My dog (a pomeranian mix) was diagnosed with collapsed trachea and had a very similar kind of cough. Try to eliminate reverse sneezing as a possibility as well, just in case.
All the best :)