A six-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Mia has made a successful recovery after receiving a tracheal stent at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital.
Mia had been suffering from a severe case of tracheal collapse, which occurs when the trachea (windpipe) becomes flattened, obstructing airflow and leading to symptoms like coughing, cyanosis (blue gums), and syncope (fainting).
“Typically, tracheal collapse is managed with medication, but Mia’s severe condition, which caused cyanosis during car rides, led the team to consider a tracheal stent,” said Dr Adriaan Kitshoff from Onderstepoort’s Small Animal Surgery team, who led the procedure.
He explained that a stent is a spring-like device designed to hold the trachea open, preventing collapse and improving airflow to the lungs.
Mia’s owners first sought help at the hospital’s outpatients…
