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Glen Lake Animal Hospital | Veterinarians in Minnetonka
14805 Excelsior Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345 Phone: 952-935-1232
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Collapsing Trachea
The trachea is a flexible tube that connects the upper airways (mouth and nose) to the lower airways (lungs).The trachea is composed of incomplete cartilage rings throughout its length. A thin membrane connects the rings to complete the circle. Commonly in small breeds, this membrane may be exuberant and hang into the lumen of the trachea and impede air flow. Other patients with collapsing trachea have a trachea that is too long and folds upon itself. The impaired airflow caused by both of these situations causes inflammation manifested by a loud, honking cough. Diagnosis of collapsing trachea is based on history (cough often occurs after exercise or periods of excitement), physical examination and demonstration of tracheal collapse on radiographs. Specialized x-ray equipment may be necessary for definitive diagnosis. Patients may have different degrees of severity of tracheal collapse. All patients with collapsing trachea must maintain an ideal body weight to minimize the pressure on the weakened trachea. Persistent collapse of the trachea predisposes patients to infections; treatment with antibiotics and cough suppressants may be necessary. Severely affected patients may require surgery for stent placement inside the trachea to prevent its collapse.
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The Glen Lake Animal Hospital doctors and staff are committed to providing quality health care to our patients. It is a pleasure to serve our clients and patients and we enjoy our role in fostering and strengthening the human-animal bond.
Glen Lake Animal Hospital is a full service veterinary hospital offering Wellness Exams, Vaccines and Preventative Medicine as well as services in the areas of Surgery, Internal Medicine, Dentistry, Radiology and more.
Location Hours Monday 7:30am – 6:00pm Tuesday 7:30am – 6:00pm Wednesday 7:30am – 6:00pm Thursday 7:30am – 6:00pm Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm Saturday Closed Sunday ClosedSite Footer: Skip to top of page
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