Hole in trachea? - Page 1

Did any of you ever have a puppy with a hole in its trachea? The vet said this is a genetical defect which is very seldom and with luck it will close itself. I'm not sure about this. Even the diagnose is not sure. The puppy has normal size (nearly 3 months now) but has sometimes problems with breathing (breathing harder than normal) moreover problems with keeping food in the stomach if it eats too much. When you held it round the neck it got some kind of air filled blisters round it's throat, this got better. These are the symptomes I was told, it's not my dog but I am intersted if anyone has any experiences?

<<When you held it round the neck it got some kind of air filled blisters round it's throat, this got better>>

I don't really understand that-have you done xrays with a barium swallow yet?  The things I would worry about are PRAA and Mega-esophagous (sp?)

Thanks for the answer.

<<When you held it round the neck it got some kind of air filled blisters round it's throat, this got better>> Sorry, I wrote it wrong: When you held it round its CHEST.

All I can tell you are "second hand" information. It's a very happy puppy , it likes to play and run and I really would like to help it. What I forgot is to say that it has problems with breathing after eating a lot. It is eating normal so I don't think it's mega esophagus. What's PRAA?

Had a puppy that was very happy, had problems throwing up food and seemed to have air in the side of his throat. WAS NOT A HOLE IN THE TRACHEA. Was a defect know as megasaphagus, excuse spelling. Was confirmed with a barium swallow test. This was a import I bought for myself some time ago. As he got older he was not able to hold enough food down and got very skinny. He was always a happy guy and I kept him as long as possible till he started slowing down and holding down less food. When I finally put him down as a full grown adult he weighed 47 pounds. He was still very happy but was spending alot more time sleeping and started eating less and throwing up more often. The vet was very suprised he lived as long as he did as he was not expected to live past 6 months and it was advised to put him down when he was 3 months. Putting him down was extremely hard to do, I still come into the house expecting to see him sleeping on the couch, only dog that was alowed to do that.  Sorry got off subject.

You need to have a Barium Swallow test done. Also look up mega sophagus on the internet their is alot of information on the web about it.  The breatheing where the side of the neck goes in and out is exactly what mine did, it is air getting into the esaphugus as it does not close up. Alot of vets don't know much about it as most of these dogs die at weaning time. The esap[ugus is like a snake it constricts and pushes the food down into the stomach. With mega the muscles don't fully develop and the food stops along the way and comes back up.

Hope this helps.

Mike