Yorkie Terrier Dog Coughing: A Trachea Collapse 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 trouble could be on the horizon. If it’s a hacking sound, maybe there’s something stuck in your dog’s throat. If it is a nonproductive, squawking type of cough and your dog is a Yorkshire Terrier, then it could be the early onset of a collapsing trachea. Tracheal collapse can affect other breeds as well, but it appears to be a health issue for Yorkies. Sometimes it’s genetic and breeders have to work very hard to get this out of Yorkies. It can be caused by wearing collars or leashes that are tight and then when the dog pulls on the leash they choke. The constant pulling and suffocation will eventually damage the trachea. This applies to all races, too.

My Yorkie started coughing slightly during the summer of 2007. At the time, we were renovating our house and I thought his throat was dry from drywall dust and sawdust in the air. The cough didn’t happen every day, so I didn’t worry about progression. I did my best to keep the dust down by vacuuming and dusting every day.

In the fall, he had a vet checkup and I mentioned the cough. Our vet said his trachea was probably collapsing. He prescribed Torbutrol as a cough suppressant and, after the first dose, he was so drugged that he couldn’t stand up, eat or reach his water bowl. She had said that she would probably have to keep this up for the rest of her life, taking 2 pills a day. After this reaction, I called the vet and it was decided that she could not tolerate this medication. She only weighed 4 pounds 6 ounces. After that, I tried herbal cough medicine. She 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. She had a good appetite, there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. At no point was I told about the warning signs of a collapsing trachea that could take her life. His cough went from that dry, dry sound to a sound much like a person makes when trying to clear their throat. Many days he didn’t cough at all, but many nights he would start to cough and he couldn’t seem to stop. I tried to give him honey to coat his throat, because I’m sure his throat must have been very raw from all the coughing. There are herbal cough medicines on the market that contain honey. Sometimes they helped, but not always. Some days he paced around the house, coughing, trying to breathe. As the trachea 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.

Tracheal collapse claimed another victim, as my Yorkie suffocated in his sleep on October 1, 2008. So if your dog makes coughing sounds, 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, too. 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 together constantly and he is greatly missed. I sincerely hope that if you are dealing with this health issue with your Yorkie, you find something that will help. Now please go hug your dog!