Tracheitis in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

As mentioned earlier, tracheitis is a condition that involves the trachea. When the trachea is irritated or inflamed in any way, it can lead to health problems such as persistent cough and inflammation. The trachea can become inflamed and damaged for several reasons, mainly being:

• Infectious causes: some bacterial infections can lead to tracheitis. The most common is Bordatella bronchisepitca, also called kennel cough, an infection that can be transmitted from dog to dog. Other common viral infections include mycoplasma and herpes viruses. It is important to vaccinate your dog against these infections to reduce the risk of tracheitis.
  
  
• Non-infectious causes: they correspond to irritations caused by inhalation of gasses or vapors, allergies, constant coughing, pulling on the line, colds, or even the tube passed through the trachea during surgery. Environmental factors, such as exposure to secondhand smoke, can also contribute to trachea irritation.

Some dogs seem to be more prone to developing tracheitis, which may be due to their environment or personality. Dogs that bark a lot are more likely to develop tracheitis or tracheal irritation. Constant barking puts stress on the throat and therefore the trachea.

In other cases, dogs can also get tracheitis if they have small injuries in the trachea from something they ate, such as a bone. Ingestion of foreign objects can cause trauma to the trachea, leading to inflammation.

In older dogs, an incessant cough caused by a heart condition can also be the cause of tracheitis. In addition, the cartilage rings of the trachea can weaken with age and are more susceptible to developing tracheitis. It should be noted that older dogs often require more medical attention to manage these conditions effectively.

Tracheal collapse

Tracheal collapse is a condition of the trachea that often occurs in small breeds of dogs and causes frequent honking and choking symptoms. This condition is caused when the cartilage rings in the trachea lose strength and stiffness, or the membrane becomes slack and sags. Tracheal collapse makes it difficult for air to enter the lungs because the tracheal rings flatten when air is drawn into the airways during inhalation.

Yorkshires and chihuahuas are especially prone to developing this condition. Regular veterinary check-ups can help monitor and manage the risk of tracheal collapse in these breeds.

Canine tracheitis is characterized by an unproductive, sudden, dry cough. Any friction on the trachea, e.g., by the leash during a walk, can trigger it.

Other common clinical signs that may accompany the cough are:

• Watery eyes and nose
• Swollen tonsils
• Wheezing
• Loss of appetite
• Depressed behavior
• Nausea and vomiting

This cough may be triggered at certain times when the dog becomes nervous or exerts itself physically. Stress can exacerbate the symptoms, making management crucial.

Because the cough is similar to the cough associated with heart disease, the veterinarian should perform a careful auscultation to assess heart function. Infectious tracheobronchitis may cause purulent nasal discharge in puppies in addition to the cough. Recognizing these signs early can improve the effectiveness of treatment.

You may also be interested in this article, where we explain what to do if your dog gets something stuck in its throat.

Tracheitis in dogs is curable and, in fact, in most cases, your dog's symptoms will subside on their own. Cough suppressants and anti-inflammatory medications may provide relief in some cases. Your veterinarian will help you determine what methods of treatment are best for your dog.

For dogs that appear to have a persistent infection and show no signs of improvement, treatment options are available, usually involving antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. In some cases, antiviral medications may be prescribed if a viral infection is suspected.

In chronic cough in dogs, it is recommended to perform chest radiographs and intratracheal lavages to obtain cells from the trachea that can be used for cytology and culture. The lavages should be performed under sedation of the dog with a catheter or by taking a sample directly from the trachea with a needle and syringe. This helps in identifying the specific cause of tracheitis and tailoring the treatment accordingly.

Medications to help breathing and reduce anxiety are successful in cases where the tracheitis is caused by excessive barking. Behavioral modifications and training may also be necessary to prevent recurrence.

In this section, we present some home remedies that you can use to treat tracheitis in dogs. However, remember that if you notice that your dog is coughing consistently, you should always consult your veterinarian so that he or she can rule out the possibility of infection. If a bacterium is the cause of the coughing, that would require special treatment with antibiotics.

In case there is no infection, here are some home remedies you can use to speed up your dog's recovery:

• Offer soft or mashed food for a few days. This reduces the strain on the throat and helps in faster healing.
  
  
• Do not offer bones or hard food that may further injure the trachea. Soft diets are crucial during recovery.
  
  
• Use a harness instead of a collar to avoid friction in the area. Harnesses distribute pressure more evenly, preventing irritation.
  
  
• Keep the dog at a warm room temperature. Avoid cold as much as possible as it dries out the mucous membranes and consequently causes coughing. A consistent warm environment aids in recovery.
  
  
• Humidifying the air is ideal. Humidifiers help to moisten your dog's lungs, throat, and nasal passages. This can alleviate coughing and improve comfort.
  
  
• Avoid possible environmental irritants such as tobacco smoke, aerosols, perfume, or dust. Maintaining a clean environment is beneficial for respiratory health.

You may also be interested in this other article, where we explain all the possible reasons for your dog's dry cough and retching.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Tracheitis in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment, we recommend you visit our Breathing diseases category.