Small Dogs and Dry Coughs: What You Need to Know

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Tracheal collapse is a serious, chronic, progressive disease that affects breathing and quality of life; the condition is most often seen in small breed dogs
• The condition can be present at birth or can develop over time; dogs with tracheal collapse should not be bred to avoid passing it on to future generations of puppies
• The first sign of tracheal collapse is often a dry cough; as the disease progresses, dogs often develop exercise intolerance and difficulty breathing
• Mild cases of tracheal collapse can often be successfully managed with a multimodal treatment approach; in severe cases that can’t be medically managed, surgery may be the best or only satisfactory option
• Dogs with the condition do best in a very clean, nontoxic environment and also benefit from cartilage-building supplements; they should wear a harness when walking on leash — never a collar