COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP I NEED SOME ADVICE, I HAVE A SEVEN MONTH OLD MALTESE BITCH, WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LARANGEAL PARALASYS BY MY VET. THEY HAVE TOLD ME OF AN OPERATION THAT CAN CURE THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO ME WHETHER I LEFT HER TO SEE IF IT WENT ANY WORSE BEFORE DECIDING ON THE OPERATION. I AM NOW VERY WORRIED THAT SHE COULD CHOKE WHEN I AM NOT THERE AS SHE HAS A BROTHER AND THEY BOTH GET VERY EXCITED, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE WHEN THE PROBLEM IS WORSENED. I FEEL THAT IF SHE HAS THE OPERATION NOW WHILST SHE IS YOUNG SHE WILL RECOVER BETTER AND I WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY. HOWEVER ON THE OTHER HAND SHE COULD LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE WITHOUT THE OPERATION AND I WILL THEREFORE BE PUTTING HER THROUGHT UNESSESERY PAIN. UNFORTUNATLY MY VET IS NOT VERY USEFULL. I WOULD BE HAPPY OF ANY ADVICE. THANK YOU LOUISE.

Hi Louise.
Sounds very young to have Larangeal Paralasys to me, seems only to happen to dogs of 7yrs+ (in my experience) and have not heard of it in small dogs. However a lot of toy breed do get "Tracheal Collapse" this is VERY common and I have known it in all age dogs. The symptoms are very similar and if I were you, I would get a specialist opinion. If it is LP, then an op is successful, however your dog will not be able to bark again (:D !!) if it is TC, then an op is also successful by way of inserting a ring inside the trachea to keep it open. Keep us informed.
Dawn.

HI DAWN
YES YOUR RIGHT IT IS TRACHEAL COLLAPSE I HAD GOT THE TWO MIXED UP, I HAVE HAD A SECOUND OPION FROM MY VET, AND BOTH DO NOT HAVE AN OPION ON WHETHER MY PUPPY SHOULD HAVE THE OPERATION OR NOT, THEY HAVE SPOKE ABOUT PUTTING A SMALL RING IN TO KEEP HER TRACHEA OPEN, HOWEVER AS I SAID ABOVE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THE BEST.
LOUISE.

Hi Louise.
well I had a Jack Russell with it, diagnosed at 3yrs, lived until 15yrs, NEVER had a collar on, only a harness or run loose. My sisters Pomeranian had it at 11, it really was bad in her and coupled with a heart complaint it ultimatley killed her. I didn't have my Jack operated on and she really wasn't too bad at all, if your dog is as bad as you say she is, then if she were mine I would go for it, the prospect of finding her suffercated is not nice. Hope she gets well.
Dawn.