![]() A vet should see the patient ASAP, listen to the lungs and take chest X-rays to confirm the diagnosis. If you ever suspect AP, time is of the essence. We look for 4 criteria: coughing, lethargy, poor appetite and a fever. It's crucial that aspiration pneumonia is caught early. What if my pet gets aspiration pneumonia? Then what? Thankfully it, like suture failure, is an uncommon complication. This is a type of pneumonia due to aspiration, or inhalation, of food, water, saliva or vomit into the lungs. Another serious complication is aspiration pneumonia (also known as AP). However, failure of the sutures and a disease in the cartilage of the larynx is a rare but severe complication, which is why we insist on confinement, peace, and quiet after surgery. That’s a good thing, as it will hopefully prevent the dog from “swallowing the wrong way.” The voice will change, and barking disappears. It’s a bump along the road, which shouldn’t significantly affect the patient’s life expectancy as long as they don’t get aspiration pneumonia.Ĭoughing is expected after surgery, typically after eating and mostly after drinking. Then, of course, the pet needs to recover and heal after surgery.Ĭlients routinely worry about doing this surgery in their older dog. Theoretically, surgery provides instant relief: with an open larynx, the patient can finally breathe. In experienced hands, the outcome is typically good. Only one side is opened up to minimize the risk of aspiration pneumonia. permanent) to open up the left side of the larynx. Typically, surgery involves placing two heavy nylon sutures (i.e. These days, most surgeons will do a “tie-back” procedure. The goal of surgery is to permanently open up the larynx to allow more air to get in. What happens in surgery, what is the prognosis, and are there any complications? Once the patient is stable, surgery is the best treatment. If the patient’s temperature is really high from overheating, emergency measures are taken to lower it. This is usually done by placing the dog in an “oxygen cage.” When a patient presents on an emergency basis, it's crucial to calm the patient and provide them with an ample supply of oxygen. Before this can be done safely, we perform full blood work and chest X-rays. With Lar Par, the folds of the larynx will not open and close as the patient breathes in and out. Under sedation, the mouth is opened and the larynx is observed. To confirm the suspicion, an exam of the larynx under sedation is necessary. How does a vet know my dog has Laryngeal Paralysis?Īn experienced vet or surgeon will suspect Lar Par the second they walk into the exam room. Only when the condition affects both sides of the larynx (“bilateral” paralysis) will most pet owners realize that there is a problem. Typically, the condition starts on one side (“unilateral” paralysis or hemiparesis). Lar Par occurs because the nerves that control the muscles which act on the cartilage of the larynx are diseased. At worst, Lar Par can become life-threatening. This commonly happens as the weather becomes hot and humid, and obesity can exacerbate the condition. ![]() Therefore, Lar Par patients are often presented to a vet when they are in real trouble, usually when they can barely breathe. Unfortunately, because Lar Par most often occurs in older dogs, the signs are often mistaken for old age and arthritis, which delays treatment. Guardians may notice that their dog’s voice changes and sounds hoarse. The dog pants without exercising, has noisy and labored breathing, and gets tired quickly during regular walks. Lar Par is a very stressful condition to the patient – who obviously doesn’t understand what is going on. What are the signs of Laryngeal Paralysis? The poster child is the Labrador, and other common breeds include Golden Retrievers and Setters. The typical patient is an older, large breed dog. Taking a deep breath becomes impossible, and the pet basically suffocates. The larynx’s job is to close off after we inhale, open up when we inhale, and again shut off when we eat and drink so we don't “swallow the wrong way.” But in pets (especially dogs), when laryngeal paralysis occurs, none of these things happen. If you've ever had a sore throat or laryngitis, then your very own larynx was irritated. Please note, it is larynx and not “lar-nynx” as many people call it. The larynx is the medical name for the voice box. In the veterinary world, we tend to call it “Lar Par." Laryngeal paralysis is a condition that severely affects a pet’s breathing. ![]() Chris Longenecker, a Certified Veterinary Technician in Reading, PA, contributed to this article.
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