Introduction
Tracheal collapse is a common respiratory condition in which progressive dorso-ven- tral flattening of the trachea occurs with consequential collapse of the airway lumen. A part of or the whole trachea may be involved.
The exact cause is unknown, and is most likely multifactorial, but chondromalacia of the tracheal rings has been documented as a mechanism (Herrtage 2009; Maggiore 2013). Bronchomalacia or bronchial collapse may occur concurrently or in isolation and airway collapse in dogs is frequently associated with non-infectious inflammatory airway disease (e.g., eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy). The exact relationship between tracheal and bronchial collapse is unclear. Airway collapse induces and perpetuates secondary changes such as airway inflammation, mucus secretion, and decreased mucociliary clearance, all of which complicates overall management (Sun et al. 2008; Maggiore 2013). In mild cases, tracheal collapse may be asymptomatic. As the condition progresses, or an inciting trigger factor is encountered; it is associated with coughing, loss of airway function, and respiratory distress. Tracheal collapse rarely affects cats, but when present it is typically associated with inflammatory airway disease (Johnson and Vernau 2011).
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