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Chihuahuas/collapsed trachea
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Question
Our little girl Pequita, is almost 3 years old.
)
She was my Christmas gift to my life partner.
She is the most happy and loving dog I have ever known.
She is friendly to every body she meets.
She was a healthy 8.5 pound Deer Head Chihuahua.
Pequita is always alert, and very intelligent.
She is very fit and athletic, chasing her tiny tennis balls around the back yard witch is completely protected by an 8 foot tall brick wall isolating her from any other domestic animals. We both love her very much and she returns that love back ten fold.
Its amazing that one can love a pet, as much as a human child.
On 3/7/11 Pequita developed a sever cough and fever, so we took her to an animal hospital. She was waged in @ 8.2 lbs. The Dr. diagnosed her with kennel cough, even though we told the Dr. she could not have gotten it from any other animal as our back yard is completely enclosed by an 8 foot tall brick wall.
The Dr. prescribed Hydroquinone 5mg/1.5 Homatropine tablets to give 1/2 tablet by mouth every 6-12 hours as needed to suppress her cough. And Doxycycline 100mg (Antibiotic) tablets to give 1/4 tablet by mouth every 12 hours with food, and
5 Termari-P tablets.
She did stop coughing and got better within one week.
Pequita was back to her young and athletic self again.
On 6/8/11 Pequita developed the cough again, and in just 2 days was worse than before. She also stopped eating, and drinking water.
We returned her to the Dr. who took blood and chest X-Rays. The Dr showed us the X-Rays, telling us her left lung showed a massive cloud that covered both upper and lower segments of her left lung only, and that it looks like pneumonia, or valley fever, or both. The Dr suggested Pequita stay the night to be re hydrated and Ampicil/Subl 150mg/ml antibiotics by IV and reduce her 104.5 fever.
The next day the labs confirmed Pequita did have valley fever, and pneumonia, and tic fever. The Dr prescribed all the above meds with the addition of 20 Clavamox 62.5mg tablets, 4 Mirtazapine 15mg tablets, 10 Baytril 22.7mg tablets, And 10 Prednisone 5mg tablets to increase her thirst and hunger.
She did get better and was back to her friendly vibrant self.
8/26/11 she developed the cough and fever again so we returned her to the animal hospital. The Dr kept her over night again to re hydrate and get her 104 fever back to normal. The next day the Dr told us that Pequita suffers from tracheal sensitivity and cough, possibly related to collapsing trachea and explained that collapsing trachea is a defect of the trachea that allows the trachea to narrow during breathing and is often exacerbated by excitement or tracheal manipulation. Although fluoroscopy is required for a definitive diagnosis, Chihuahuas are more prone to this disease than most. Dogs with collapsing trachea are likely to have recurrent secondary respiratory infections.
Witch would explain her fever due to said recurrent respiratory infections.
The Dr re proscribed hydrocone and doxycycline again.
Pequita is only 3 years old and loved very much by my entire family. It hurts to know she is suffering and we want her well.
We can not just give up on her and let her go! We also cannot afford the pet Dr’s continued diagnostics. Radiograph and Fluoroscopy are VERY expansive procedures.
I read here other posted questions regarding collapsing trachea.
Were you suggested possibly using glucosamine to help strengthen the cartilage in the trachea. But most manufactures do not grind the herbs fine enough to be absorbed effectively by the digestive system. PLEASE help us?!
Tom...
I read your note to me with much concern today and wanted to respond to you as soon as I possibly could. My heart goes out to you and I have questions and concerns that I wanted to discuss with you, but it appears that the only question that you have for me is in regard to glucosamine and manufacturers who grind the herbs fine enough to be absorbed effectively by the digestive system. It's often advised that you use glucosamine in a capsule or use the liquid glucosamine for faster and more effective absorption. I think the liquid may be more in line with what you're looking for as it is felt to be more quickly and effectively absorbed than the capsules and some say that the capsules have fillers, etc. I think that you should consider using a Glucosamine Chondroitin product as Chondroitin amplifies the effects of Glucosamine. Both come in a liquid form. Here is a website for you to look at that discusses both: http://www.glucosamine.com/eu/glucosamine-7 I have effectively used a Glucosamine/Chondroitin product for one of my dogs for years with very good results.
The Valley Fever and Tick Fever are very serious and recovery can be guarded. To my knowledge, for her to have contracted both so badly, she must have had a compromised immune system (the immune system is mentioned over and over in connection with these diseases) and I'm concerned about Pequita's diet...especially since she's been on steroids which suppress the immune system. I'm also wondering which came first...the chicken or the egg? Meaning have the other two diseases caused an irritation of the trachea or did a defect of the trachea cause the other things? Did you see any signs at all of trachea problems before? It doesn't sound like a VERY athletic, active dog had a problem with her trachea. However, a dog that is exposed to and contracts Valley Fever and Tick Fever can be VERY ill and may appear to have a trachea problem due to tracheal sensitivity caused by symptoms of the confirmed diseases (in my opinion). In any regard, I would most definitely continue treating her for the Valley Fever and Tick Fever and I would get a second opinion if you can. I would also want to have my dog properly diagnosed insofar as the trachea problem goes. Have you checked out CareCredit to help you financially? http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/ Have you considered a teaching university to have any further treatment/testing done? Costs are much less at teaching universities.
If I can be of any further help during this very difficult time, please contact me again and mark the correspondence as private so that we can talk often and so that I can offer you any and all support that I possibly can.
I will be thinking of you and Pequita and hoping that I hear from you soon.
Jo Ann
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Jo Ann
Expertise
I can answer most questions as they relate to health, behavior, new home adjustment, litter box training, new puppy care, fear aggression, separation anxiety, new vaccination protocols, medications to avoid, the latest developments in veterinary medicine, the most common medical problems seen in this breed and the effects of bad and irresponsible breeding. I can also speak to common personality traits of this breed due to vast experience with a great number of Chihuahuas and Chihuahua owners. I am not, however, a breeder of Chihuahuas and claim no experience in that area and DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH BREEDING -you need to check with a qualified veterinarian if you plan to breed your Chihuahua or if your Chihuahua is having problems with a pregnancy or you're having problems with pups that you bred - this is not the proper forum to address those issues and a delay in seeking proper medical treatment can have grave consequences for your dog.
Experience
Owner/Moderator for Chihuahua_Health_Behavior (since 8/04), Owner/Moderator for Chihuahualovers (since 4/04), Owner/Moderator for Chis-and-ToyDogs (since 2/07), Chihuahua owner for 10 years, current owner of three Chihuahuas, have done Chihuahua rescue and transport and have a deep love & respect for the breed. I also have dealt with allergies, broken legs, liver problems and other medical problems with this breed and have researched and consulted with some of the top experts in these areas. Additionally, I have done dog and cat rescue for 20 years which has exposed me to a variety of health and behavioral conditions which have become a part of my extensive knowledge.
Organizations
I ran the local Chihuahua Meetup group locally for a number of years.
I run Chihuahua_Health_Behavior@yahoogroups.com
Education/Credentials
Just my combined experience and research. I don't pretend to be something I'm not and will be honest and recommend veterinary care and proper diagnosis for medical conditions as needed and aid in the research for good, qualified veterinarians or holistic practioners who are familiar with this breed and the medical problems that are common to Chihuahuas.
Past/Present Clients
Too numerous to mention - all members of my Yahoo groups over the past five years
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