I would appreciate some feed from anyone whos dogs has/had paralysis of larynx, how long do had it, did they get op etc any problems would me much appreciate. thanks

One of my old labs had this. We didn't opt for surgery as she developed in when she was about 13 as far as I can remember. She went on to live with it and was PTS just before she reached 15.

It didn't affect her in anyway as she wasnt that active , it just sounded awful.

What did it sound like, LJS?  Saffi makes an awful lot of noise but the vets don't seem interested, I did have someone mention this once though.

the sound is bit like a cough and as though they are trying to have a cough. worse when excited/excersisng.

Yes and a rasping sound as well .

Yes I had an Irish Setter that had layngeal paralysis. I think he probably always had it because he never ever had a deep big dogs bark, more a high pitched hoot.

He was better on damp or rainy days, and worse with the cough and rasp on dry summer days. He came to crisis point  whereby he simply could not get air into his lungs one awful summer, by which time he was turned 11 and had to have an operation to tie back the left side vocal chords to enable him to breathe properly. The op was a success but it was very expensive, £1100 as I remember. His quality of life was dramatically improved and he lived another 2 1/2 years. I lost him last year.

Dawn R.

Nursey, did your dog have one or both sides stiched back? also did he have probs with eating or drinking after op?

No he only had the left side tied back. This achieves the neccessary opening of the airway and minimises the risk of post op complications like aspiration of food and/or water. My boy didn't have any complications. The operation was a complete success. Of course I worried beforehand about causing him to have other problems, but it all went very well.

Dawn R.

thanks Dawn, did you own vet do op?

No Bailey was referred to another vet, but luckily, still in my local area. (Northumberland)

Dawn R.

My LB 13.5 year old Gun dog bitch had this operation about 6 weeks ago. She has 3 legs, 1 removed because of bone cancer 7 years ago, she also has abit of bronchitis but was struggling for breath so our vet xrayed her nothing much came up so he was pretty convinced her larnyx had collapsed. He anaesthatised her and found that her larynx was very floppy on both sides, so he did a laryngeal tie back.

The op site was from under her chin and he went from the outside.  They use nylon to tie it back. 

She came through the op well, and had antibio's and painkillers for a week but she did have to have another weeks supply as the swelling inside did last abit longer, but that was probably down to her age more than anything.

Since then she has been fine and dandy. I've always raised her water and food because of having 3 legs so she doesnt gulp the water and food down anyway. The only pitfall that can happen is aspiration pnuemonia but as long as they dont go mad at food and water, the chances of this occuring lessens as time goes by.

She had the left side tied back too.

Since then she has been fine and you would not know she'd had any surgery now her fur has grown back.  

I think alot of vets wont perform this op but our Vet has done it a few times so I was happy to let him do it. I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again should any of the others ever end up in the same boat :)

My scarlet had a laryngeal tie back nearly two years ago. It was performed by a specialist vet. It was the best thing I ever did for her. She had just one side tied back, it is usually the left side. Diagnosis is performed by a scoping of the throat. Scarlet had great trouble breathing before. Her exercise level was dramatically reduced. Post op she was able to exercise as she did years before. There is a period of recovery which is not easy and I have never fed Scarlet dried food since. There are risks post op, the commonest being aspirational pneumonia but there are measures to minimise the risks. There are some great support groups just on this subject which I can pass on to you.

suerogers, thanks for feedback, support groups would be great thank you.

Go to Groups on Yahoo and if you type in Laryngeal Paralysis there are two groups. One for LP and one for alternative therapys. There are lots of very good iles with pre and post op information.