Lessons learned to follow at some point. What is brachycephalic airway syndrome? Brachycephalic airway syndrome refers to a particular set of upper airway abnormalities that affects brachycephalic dogs. This syndrome is also called brachycephalic respiratory syndrome, brachycephalic syndrome or congenital obstructive upper airway disease. Hypoplastic trachea is a genetic disease of dogs associated with brachycephalic syndrome and characterized by malformation of the tracheal cartilage rings that leads to narrowing of the airway. The upper airway abnormalities that occur in this syndrome include stenotic nares, an elongated soft palate, a hypoplastic trachea and everted laryngeal saccules. An individual dog with brachycephalic syndrome may be affected with a combination of one or more of these abnormalities. Breeds that are brachycephalic include Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Chinese Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus and Bull Mastiffs. Totan had been admitted to by his old owners two or three times for what MedVet determined to be an elongated soft palate. He was overheating and passing out! What MedVet missed is the Hypoplastic Trachea hiding beyond the elongated soft palate. For us as people it would be like trying to breathe through a milkshake. After Dr. Tod operated to cut his elongated soft palate out he was sent home and ultimately to me. But he didn’t get exactly better. I had to take a half hour to calm him down till he could breathe again every time I came home or someone came to visit. I could see there was something not right. Tonya from Tuff Rescue took him back up to Dr. Tod on Thursday. The place terrified him I know. Even with very strong tranquilizers he still couldn’t breathe. Tonya called at about 6:45PM to give me the news that Totan had a Hypoplastic Trachea and that the choices were either grim (to put a tube in his trachea for the rest of his life) or put him down. She said “It’s your choice Tory. You put the money into him.” Who would have thought a male dog could have captured my heart so deeply in such a short period of time. I asked her to have him cremated where he will be placed on my mantel with the other eleven sets of ashes I have. As it happens in all the years Tonya has been saving dogs she has only lost one other. I am out of the fostering business at this point. I can truly say it was my privilege to have spent Totans last days with him and his big gentle soul will live forever in my heart.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:21:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015