Collapsed trachea in dogs is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible collapse of the trachea, the passageway through which air passes to get to the lungs.
The trachea is also called the windpipe, and it connects the throat to the lungs. The trachea is held open by rings made of cartilage, similar to those inside a vacuum cleaner hose. These rings are U-shaped instead of a full circle, and they help maintain the shape of the trachea, making up most of its circumference.
A collapsed trachea in dogs results from the trachea’s weakening structural rings. The soft tissues they once supported sag and block the airway, eventually preventing air from flowing freely.
Most dogs with collapsed tracheas are middle-aged or older dogs, but it can also happen in young dogs. The disease is most common in small breed dogs, especially Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Poodles. Obesity can exacerbate and magnify the condition.
Treatment involves relieving anxiety and panic in the dog and reducing swelling and tissue irritation. You can also use cough suppressants to relieve their discomfort. Your dog’s airways need to be kept open to prevent secondary infections.
Many vets will recommend multiple drugs to treat all the issues caused by a collapsed trachea. However, these drugs can interact with each other and have side effects.
Thankfully, pet owners can use CBD oil for collapsed trachea to reduce anxiety and fear in your dog without drug interactions, harmful side effects, drowsiness, and sedation from drugs such as Trazodone. But how do you know if your dog is suffering from tracheal collapse?
Signs of a Collapsed Trachea in Dogs
The first sign you may notice in your dog is their development of a loud, honking cough or a dry, hoarse cough.
Other signs of tracheal collapse in dogs are:
- Coughing when you pick up your dog or gently press against their neck
- Coughing triggered by excitement, exercise, or extreme temperatures
- Coughing without phlegm that causes your dog to vomit, gag, or make retching sounds
- Cyanotic episodes, or bluish mucous membranes
- Difficulty in breathing and respiratory distress caused by activities such as drinking water, exercising, and excitement
- Lethargy, loss of appetite, and seizures
The Stages of Tracheal Collapse
There are four stages of tracheal collapse in dogs, from mild to severe:
- Stage 1: The cells forming the tracheal lumen, the structure that supports a dog’s trachea, experience a 25% reduction. The cartilage of the trachea remains normal-shaped.
- Stage 2: The tracheal lumen has been reduced by approximately half, and the cartilage is slightly flatter.
- Stage 3: The tracheal lumen has been reduced by approximately 75%, and the cartilage is almost completely flat.
- Stage 4: The tracheal lumen has collapsed completely, and the cartilage is flat. A dog in stage 4 is often in discomfort or respiratory distress.
CBD for Collapsed Trachea
Early treatment for a collapsed trachea speeds up your dog’s recovery, leading to a long life expectancy for your furry friend. If left treated, it could cause serious complications and even death.
Take your dog to the vet and discuss your dog’s symptoms. Go over possible treatments like expanding their airways and reducing stress, anxiety, inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain. Weight reduction also helps reduce the severity of symptoms related to tracheal collapse in dogs.
CBD oil is another way to give your dog collapsed trachea relief without all the side effects of traditional medicines.
CBD oil for collapsed trachea can:
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Fear, stress, and anxiety can all contribute to the honking cough that you hear from a dog with a collapsed trachea. CBD is a natural and effective way to reduce anxiety and fear. Many use CBD to help manage anxiety and panic disorders and eliminate emotion triggers. This makes pet CBD oil ideal for treating anxiety associated with tracheal collapse.
Expand Airways
You’ll want to make sure the air passageways do not become constricted for your dog’s comfort and health. CBD oil for collapsed trachea can also be used to increase airway capacity. CBD has a bronchodilator effect by acting on the airway’s smooth muscle. It can activate the CB1 receptor at the bronchial nerve ends, causing airways to expand and allow more air in.
Reducing Inflammation
There are many compounds in cannabis that can reduce inflammation. THC and CBD are the most prevalent phytocannabinoids found in cannabis. CBC, CBG, and THCV also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Using CBD oil for collapsed trachea can reduce inflammation in your dog’s system. Inflammation can lead to scarring and narrowing of the trachea and more pain and discomfort. CBD oil works directly with the CB1 & CB2 receptors, which help to reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.
Ease Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms can occur locally or throughout the body as secondary effects of a collapsed trachea. Coughing fits can happen when your dog tries to breathe in, causing involuntary muscle spasms or convulsions.
Anti-spasmodics and muscle relaxers are highly sedative and can interact with your dog’s other medications. On the other hand, CBD oil for collapsed trachea is very safe and has no adverse effects on your pet.
Reduce Pain
CBD is wonderful for pain relief. For thousands of years, cannabis has been the go-to pain remedy for its analgesic effects. One of the ways it affects the nervous system is by altering how it transmits pain.
For example, when a dog injures its paw, the tissues send signals to inflammatory and immune cells that they need to repair the damage. These cells, in turn, release proteins and chemicals that activate nerve receptors, which then communicate to the brain through the spine, causing the painful sensation our dogs feel. Using CBD oil for collapsed trachea can reduce pain by weakening the pain signals.
If your dog is in need of relief, CBD oil for tracheal collapse may help. However, don’t forget to first consult your veterinarian before trying it out.
Make sure to only buy pet CBD products in Dillon, CO, from trusted shops with knowledgeable staff who can guide you to the right product and dosage for your furry best friend.
