Atypical lateral tracheal collapse in a Yorkshire terrier

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Canine Respiratory Diseases
• Tracheal Abnormalities

Background:

• Tracheal collapse is a common respiratory condition in toy breed dogs, often leading to progressive dyspnea and coughing.
• Congenital malformations of tracheal rings can predispose dogs to tracheal collapse.
• Conservative management often provides limited long-term efficacy for severe tracheal collapse.

Observation:

• A 10-month-old Yorkshire terrier presented with a 6-month history of inspiratory dyspnea, coughing, and exercise intolerance.
• Tracheoscopy revealed severe lateral-to-lateral fixed collapse of the cervical trachea and mild thoracic tracheal collapse.
• Surgical exploration identified reduced lateral tracheal width and multiple malformed tracheal rings.

Findings:

• Extraluminal ring prostheses were placed around the cervical trachea.
• The surgical intervention resulted in widening of the tracheal diameter.
• Immediate improvement in clinical signs was observed postoperatively.

Implications:

• Extraluminal ring prostheses offer a viable surgical solution for congenital tracheal collapse in dogs.
• This technique can lead to significant and lasting improvement in respiratory function and quality of life.
• Further research into long-term outcomes and optimal prosthesis design for tracheal reconstruction is warranted.