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💛 Life Happens After Hours — We’re Here for That.

Happy’s Vet now offers extended hours for urgent care & emergencies.  Call (904) 770-5326!
Because pets don’t always wait for business hours.
Now Open:  9 am – 8 pm Monday – Friday and Saturday 12 pm – 8 am

Trachea

The trachea (or windpipe) forms the upper portion of the respiratory tract; the lungs form the lower portion. The trachea provides a conduit for airflow into the lungs. Blockage of this pathway (e.g.: from a foreign object) disrupts airflow and requires emergency attention. Within the tracheal tube, there are microscopic hairs within a layer of mucus that trap inhaled particles before they can enter the lungs and cause damage. Particulate matter trapped in the mucus is moved by these hairs back up to the mouth to be swallowed. This clearing mechanism is important in disease prevention. Cats unable to clear the debris trapped in the trachea risk developing infections within the lungs.