Reverse Sneezing and Collapsing Trachea in Toy Breed Dogs

I have a small Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) who occasionally makes odd hacking, wheezing and snorting sounds that I was concerned about. This frequently happened after drinking water or when she was particularly excited. Her vet explained that the condition she had was called Reverse Sneezing or Pharyngeal Gag Reflex, and was not really a health problem at all, but a common occurrence in toy breeds dogs.

I did some research on reverse sneezing and learned that in small breed dogs such as mine, the hacking sound that she frequently makes is caused by the dramatic, rapid inhalation and exhalation of air through the nasal passage. This can happen when a dog has a mild irritation in the back of his throat, or when the little dog first goes out into the cold air. Reverse sneezing is usually a harmless event, but many people think the dog is suffering and having a seizure or gasping for air.

Reverse sneezing can happen when the dog is excited or after eating, drinking, running around or while pulling on his leash. He makes a hacking or snorting sound while extending his neck and gasping inwards. During a regular sneeze, air is pushed out through the nose. During reverse sneezing, air is rapidly inhaled in through the nose. During a reverse sneeze, the dog makes rapid and long inspirations and stands still with his elbows spread apart, his head extended, and his eyes may bulge or open wide.

The loud snorting noise is alarming and may sound like something is caught in his throat. The reverse sneeze episode generally lasts for only a minute or two and then the dog appears totally normal again. Gently rubbing the dog's throat to make him swallow helps the spasm stop. Sometimes taking the dog outside for some fresh air will stop the attack. Another way to stop the spasm is to block the nose holes forcing the dog to breathe through his mouth. Reverse sneezing tends to start at an early age and is a persistent problem.

Some dogs have reverse sneezing episodes so frequently that medications may be needed to reduce the number of attacks.

While researching my dog's condition, I learned about another problem that can mimic many of the symptoms of reverse sneezing, but is this is entirely different and much more serious. It is collapsing trachea.

Collapsing Trachea:

A more serious condition of small breed dogs is Collapsing Trachea. The trachea is the windpipe, the important structure that connects the throat to the lungs and carries the air into the respiratory tract. The trachea ia a tubular structure with a series of cartilage rings encircling and supporting the rather flimsy tube to help keep it rigid and open. In a small breed dog, the trachea is very tiny. The cartilage rings do not completely encircle the trachea and sometimes rapid inhalation of air can cause the trachea to flatten (collapse), making it difficult for air to enter the lungs. In certain dogs, for some reason, the rings are not stiff enough to keep the trachea open against the negative pressure created during breathing.

It is not completely known what causes this condition to develop, but it is especially seen in breeds such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Maltese, Yorkies, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, pugs and toy poodles. It's thought that some toy breed dogs may have a genetic factor involved that causes the tracheal cartilage to be weak. Also, it is partially the result of breeding for small sizes.

Dogs with this condition most commonly have the clinical sign of a chronic cough. It's described as a harsh cough
that sounds like a goose honking. It is often worse in the daytime and much better at night. The cough can begin from being excited, from pressure on the trachea from a leash or from eating or drinking water.

In collapsed trachea, the "goose honk" cough is a distinguishing characteristic. Also, putting very light pressure on the trachea during a veterinarian examination usually causes coughing. Some other symptoms of tracheal collapse include difficulty breathing and tiring easily.

In tracheal collapse, coughing increases over time and may reach a point in which there are coughing episodes that last for several minutes. While some of the symptoms can start at an early age, severe symptoms are more common in older dogs. In tracheal collapse, obesity, irritants, allergies, concurrent heart failure, bacteria, viruses and smoking (by the pet owner) seem to be factors.

Since these two conditions have similar symptoms, only a veterinarian can make a definite diagnosis.