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Question
I read your postings and picked you out because  my vets around here are only trained in surgery and medicine. I do know alot about herbs and vitamins. I did see you also are a nature sunshine distributor. (So am I)....I have been doing natural treatments for years, but this one has me stumped. My dogs do get their yearly checkups and very limited vaccinations. I do believe my yorkie pooh has a collasped trachea. Just by reading different things. I thought it might have been kennel cough but the sitution is getting no better. A round of antibotics didnt help.He wheezes when excited and has gasps only when he gets excited. I talked to my vet and she will do xrays but I want to get him on some supplements. I dont want to start him on meds. He is 3 years old. Yorkie and poodle mix. Please help.
I was thinking about aloe vera juice. I dont know. This one has me stumped. I dont take meds myself and do very limited doctor care because i try to help myself with my herbs so I want the same for my dogs.

thanks
pat

Answer
NuVET supplements and Silver Shield by Nature's Sunshine:
Yes - Gald to help---  Raise the feeding dishes up to arm pit level -- it also helps.
KEEP me posted -  any of my NuVET clients get FREE telephone consultations :
Call Me at :  1-803-424-2312  ( Make sure you tell me that you are from the AllEXPERTS site)

yorkie with reverse sneezes or gasping for air;  collapsed trachea in yorkiepooh dog;

It's  possible that your dog is having a trachea problem. **  Also  it is possible that your dog is doing some "reverse sneezing".  During a reverse sneeze, air is pulled rapidly in through the nose producing a loud snorting, honking and gasping noise. It actually has nothing to do with sneezing, but is a spasm caused by an irritation of the soft palate.
The soft palate is a soft, fleshy tissue extension off the roof of the mouth.
Small dogs in particular can exhibit this behavior and certain breeds, such as the Shih Tzu are predisposed to it. ( Yorkies and Poodles, too)

During the spasm, the dog will usually turn her elbows outward and extend her neck while gasping in-wards with a distinctive loud snorting sound. Gently massaging the throat area or pinching the dog's nostrils shut so she must breath through her mouth can help shorten the episode. Once the attack ceases, all goes back to normal.

I have Used the "Nostrill" pinching methoid a number of times... Or place your fingers in the nostrills to close off the air passage just for about 5 seconds.

If your dog experiences this behavior fairly frequently and the episodes are severe, a trip to the vet is in order to determine other possible causes, which can include viral infections, polyps, excessive soft palate tissue, and nasal mites.
However, many cases of reverse sneezing appear to have no identifiable cause. Reverse sneezing appears a lot worse than it is, generally it poses no health threats whatsoever. Typically, an episode of reverse sneezing will end soon on its own.

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Use of Harness ***** For Walking your dog:

With little dogs a collar can cause a condition called a collapsed trachea which is when they pull on the collar it collapses the windpipe and they cough.  
~~~~~~~~ That is why a lot of people don't recommend using a collar on a small dog.  
I  recommend at least keeping a collar on a small dog in case they get loose you have something to grab.  You can't really keep harnesses on them as they can get hung up on them.  As far as what to walk them with, try a collar and if he/she has problems, then switch to a harness.  


You may want to try the NuVET supplement -

** please give him NuVET Plus - this is a vitamin and Immune System Booster - A must for this kid.

http://www.nuvet.com/81098

Tell them you want a 90 count of the NuVET Plus Powder - you will mix this into her wet food per day - just a small amount. ( 1/2 teaspoon of nuvet per day)  *They also make a wafer
Tell them Marie sent you - order code 81098
( ask for your 15 % discount when you mention the order code)

Nature's Sunshine Makes - Silver Shield Liquid...  I would give her the children's small dosage daily for 4 weeks.  It sure can't hurt to try the Silver.  


BEST wishes...



Marie Peppers LPN MA