Surgical technique for a permanent tracheostomy in Beagle dogs.

A surgical procedure to produce a permanent tracheostomy in dogs was developed. The procedure consisted of dissecting portions of the cartilaginous rings free from the underlying tracheal mucosa, cutting through the mucosa and suturing the mucosa to the skin. The procedure was performed in approximately 30 minutes and resulted in a permanent, maintenance-free, mucocutaneous stoma that also permitted breathing through the upper respiratory airways.