Honey For Collapsed Trachea In Dogs

You can give your dog Manuka honey mixed with a little warm water in a bowl. Give this up to three times a day depending on how often your dog is coughing. Honey, or honey with lemon juice or MCT oil can be soothing as needed. Give 1 tsp per 20 pounds.

Honey for collapsed trachea in dogs

That deep, dry, honking cough that you keep hearing from your canine companion could be a sign of a collapsed trachea. Dogs with a collapsed trachea, or windpipe, have weakened cartilage along the trachea walls that starts to sag, causing them to have difficulty breathing air into their lungs. Middle-aged and senior dogs are most commonly affected as well as toy breeds, like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Yorkshire terriers, and toy poodles

A collapsed trachea will need to be treated by a veterinarian with either medical treatment or surgery, but honey is a helpful home remedy to relieve some of your dogs honking cough. Use 1 teaspoon for every 20 pounds of a dogs weight. Honey can also be mixed with lemon juice.

The trachea or “windpipe” is the semi-rigid tube that connects the nasal passages to the bronchi in the lungs. It is formed of C-shaped cartilage rings with a muscular connective tissue running along the top of the rings. With age, the muscular layer can weaken, causing it to collapse downward into the airway, resulting in difficulty moving air through the trachea.

Symptoms can be seen at any age, although most dogs are commonly diagnosed after age seven. A surprisingly high number of dogs with tracheal collapse also suffer with obesity, heart disease, liver disease, brachycephalic airway disease, and other respiratory conditions. Diagnosis is made using x-rays of the neck and chest, fluoroscopy, or bronchoscopy (which requires sedation).

Calm Your Dog

Coughing due to tracheal collapse can be often triggered by strong emotions such as enthusiasm, fear and excitement. Its therefore important to keep your dog calm. This can be easier said than done with some dogs, but there are many calming aids out there that can help. Thundershirt, pheromone plug-ins and calming supplements are just some choices on the market nowadays. Providing your dog with training and mental stimulation can also help your dog become a calmer, better under control companion.

Some dogs with tracheal collapse may get anxious when they are having a coughing episode which only makes matters worse. If your dog gets anxious and starts gulping big breaths in, this only causes the trachea to remain in a collapsed position.

To calm your dog down and encourage her to breath normally, you can try this. With your dog standing in front of you, lift the front legs up so that your dogs back is resting against your shins and start gently rubbing the belly. This seems to help straighten the trachea and therefore calms the dog down, explains veterinarian Dr. Fiona. Some dog owners find that they can calm their dog down by extending the neck and rubbing the throat area.

Its always a good idea to keep an eye on your dogs gums when he or she is having an episode. If your dog allows you to (dont do this if you fear your dog may bite) lift the lip and look at the gums. They should be a normal bubble gum pink color. If the gums appear pale or blue, please see your vet.

FAQ

How do you treat collapsed trachea naturally?

Strengthen cartilage by feeding bone broth. Supplement with natural sources of glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid to support cartilage. Honey is a great cough suppressant and helps the immune system. A dab of honey given with meals and also when coughing fits occur can be helpful.

How can I calm my dogs collapsed trachea?

Bronchodilators (e.g., theophylline, terbutaline, or albuterol) – these medications can widen small airways within the lungs, which eases the pressure put on the trachea. Sedatives (e.g., butorphanol or acepromazine) – when dogs become anxious or excited their symptoms often get worse. Light sedation can help.

Will honey help my dogs cough?

Honey can be a great home remedy for kennel cough as it can help soothe your dog’s throat and minimize coughing. You can give your dog 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with a little warm water in a bowl. This can be offered up to three times a day depending on how often your dog is coughing.