Is there any medicine or therapy to minimize a collapsing trachea in a lhasa. It is where the trachea splits into each lung and is not operable.
Thanks.
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Is there any medicine or therapy to minimize a collapsing trachea in a lhasa. It is where the trachea splits into each lung and is not operable.
Thanks.
Stents similar to those use in coronary artery disease, are now being inserted into the trachea.. I have one dog who is going on 2 years with the stent in place… The dog does cough a little from the irritation of the stent, but can breathe freely and has enjoyed his new lease on life…. The stents are not cheap…They are placed by boarded radiologists under fluorscopy..(image amplified of course)…
Richard Rossman, DVM
Glen Oak Dog & Cat Hospital
Glenview, IL
Many of these patients will have underlying disease e.g. Tracheal malacia, bacterial bronchitis, etc. Bronchoscopic examinantion with biopsy of the tracheal mucosa and submission of samples for bacterial culture are indicated.
Pending these results, warm air vaporizer therapy where they sleep and “steam therapy” by taking the pet into the bathroom whenever anyone showers in an effort to keep the airways moist in conjunction with cough suppressants and possibly anti-inflammatory doses of glucocorticoids (many of these patients airways are quite inflamed) is indicated.
T. L. Medinger, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
VCA Aurora Animal Hospital
Aurora, IL