Ada needs your thoughts

[Anna]

Ada was running around being her usual nutty self today at the park and had an accident with a stick.  The hypothesis at the moment is that she inhaled/aspirated some.  She has pulmonary edema and a pocket of air under her skin that suggests a tiny puncture to her trachea.
After it first happened we hadn't any idea there was something wrong, she seemed normal.  Then she started wheezing in the afternoon so we took her to the Hamilton emerge vet.  They said she likely scraped her throat so it was  inflamed and sent us home to give her some of Darwins Metacam.  By nine pm ( when they said the Metacam would take effect) she was in major distress, then suddenly she couldn't breath, was straining, poo'd herself and collapsed - her tongue was white.  I have never been so afraid.  Nick and I scooped and ran, to the nearest clinic ( the one Darwin was at a couple of weeks ago).  A little after midnight we got the diagnosis.  There also appears to be a heart problem.
Pray for our little one.

[dvm2012]

Oh my goodness Anna, I am so sorry to hear this.  I know how stressful this can be and I know this is the last thing you need during the holidays .  Ada will be in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope it isn't a serious heart problem.  Please keep us updated and we will all keep praying.  Sending some good pug vibes from Lady, Pugsley, and me. 

[pugmetender]

Anna, you must have been frantic. I'll keep your little Ada in my thoughts and hope everything will be OK.

[Nancy-Jean]

Oh Ada, you poor sweetie.  Anna, my thoughts and prayers are with you, and Ada.






 

[Kathy]

Poor Ada! and poor Mom and Dad...it would have been terrifying. Sending good thoughts your way

[Sandy and Debbie]

Sending special thought to you and yours; I hope that she is better soon.  I believe they will give her the very best care.  They have good staff.

[Anna]

This morning, so far, she is doing well with the help of some oxygen and supportive care.  Thanks for the thoughts everyone, we really appreciate it.

[Jeanne]

Sending good pug karma.

[blanche]

Good Lord, Anna, the Fates are truly conspiring against your four leggers.  Keep us in the loop.  Lots of hugs to you and healing karma to Ada.

[Candace]

Oh Anna, that must have been terrifying! I'm glad to hear that she is doing okay, under care. Sending lots of healing thoughts for Ada. What a time, you've been having.
I have experienced the non breathing, pooing, white tongued pug. It happened once to Mocha (reaction to vaccination) and once to Mookie (choking). It's extremely scary, watching them so close to death's door.
Keep us posted on Ada's condition. As for you, try to relax and breathe!

[Anna]

Well Ada is continuing to do well.  The latest X-rays show that her heart is fine and the fluidnin her lungs is minimal.  The bad news- they now suspect she has a collapsing trachea.  We are really unsure what to do now.  The emerge vet says she is stable and we can take her home and then rush her back if there's a problem.  Our regular vet isn't open until Wednesday.  Or we could take her over to the Mississauga emerge since they have specialists there who can do the florascope thingy that will determine if her trachea is collapsing.
Any advice from those with collapsing trachea experience would be much appreciated.

[RockysMom]

Ana I'm so sorry to hear about this!
It must have been terrifying!
Keeping her and the rest of your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[Jane aka 71337]

I'm so sorry that I don't have any advice Anna but I'm sending you and Ada loads of positive and healing thoughts.

[blanche]

Anna:
I've not ever had to deal with it......yet.  but it is not uncommon in the toy breeds.  In severe cases, they can operate, but my understanding is that the surgery isn't always helpful and that most cases of CT are managed medically (meds--usually cough suppressants--and limiting lifestyle).

It is riskier as a dog ages, of course, but I've been told that most dogs can live normal, if somewhat restricted, lives.  They should never be in a collar due to pressure on the trachea and I'd assume things like kennel cough pose an increased risk.  Here are some links on it.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2096&aid=410

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1527&S=1&SourceID=42

http://drbarchas.com/collapsing_trachea

[Anna]

Thanks Blanche, I've read some of those this evening already as I try and get a crash course on CT.  Luckily the day shift vet at Burgess today is an internist at OVC and he has experience with Brachycephalic breeds.  He believes there is Brachycephalic syndrome as well as CT going on, how severe CT he isn't sure.  She is home with us now since she had been weened off of oxygen and was stable and doing well, and because the vet wanted to know how she would donat home in her normal setting instead of in a cage.  So far, things aren't going so well.  She won't eat, and she's done some coughing so we were instructed to give her next pill early and let them know if it helps.  So now we wait to see if it does.  I hate seeing her like this, listless, straining to breath.  I feel so helpless and so afraid for her.  I think we'll likely be back at emerg again tonight.  Our vet isn't open until Wednesday.