Finding out that your dog may have Laryngeal Paralysis can be a shock. It's not a condition that we hear about very much, and there is good reason to believe that many cases go undiagnosed.
Let's start by defining what Laryngeal Paralysis is. A dog's larynx is comprised of cartilage. This cartilage forms a box, within the throat.
The box is maintained by the laryngeal muscles. When the nerves of these muscles become weak - or paralysed - the muscles relax,
and the larynx stops functioning.
Virtually all dogs start with unilateral paralysis - one side of the larynx ceases to work properly. The real problems start when the other side of the larynx becomes compromised, for now there is no way for oxygen to get through properly and the dog's breathing is at risk.
What are the signs that a dog may have Laryngeal Paralysis?
There are a number of symptoms. Some dogs experience many of them while others, just one or two.
They are:
- heavy panting both when walking and when at rest
- coughing and retching
- exercise intolerance
- heat intolerance
- a change in bark or even loss of bark
In addition, many dogs with LP also suffer with acid reflux. This can involve gagging and retching after eating and drinking, and restlessness at night, also known as 'silent reflux'. Another sign of reflux is licking - licking of paws, of surfaces, and frequent gulping and swallowing.
Which breeds are prone to Laryngeal Paralysis?
The most commonly affected breed is the Labrador. However, any large or medium-sized dog can develop the condition. More rarely, small dogs show signs.
The condition mostly affects senior dogs - aged seven and over.
What can help a dog with Laryngeal Paralysis?
Many owners of dogs with LP find that regular vets are not experienced with this condition.
The presenting symptoms - such as panting and coughing - are often dismissed as being either down to the older age of the dog, or attributed to anxiety.
Of course other issues such as heart problems must be ruled out, but if all other tests come back clear, and you recognise the symptoms of LP, the best thing you can do is get a referral to a soft tissue surgeon.
Soft tissue surgeons are the ones best placed to assess how far the LP has progressed with a particular dog. They are the ones with the most experience.
For some dogs, the condition progresses slowly, and medications such as Doxepin (America) and Vitofyllin (UK) are often prescribed. These seem to help calm the panting.
Often drugs to fight the acid reflux can also help - these include Metoclopramide, Cimetidine, Pepcid, Omeprazole, and Ranitidine.
The problem is that once both sides of the larynx are paralysed, the dog is being deprived of oxygen. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to a dog suffocating.
It's vital to have your dog assessed before the condition becomes this serious. The soft tissue surgeon will examine your dog and observe their breathing.
If they feel the condition has progressed beyond 'mild', they will recommend scoping so they can see the larynx. This is done under sedation.
If at this point the surgeon sees that both sides of the larynx are frozen, they will recommend moving straight to surgery. This is to avoid having to do another anaesthetic - it is risky for any dog with LP to have anaesthetic.
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