Laryngeal paralysis

[TreacherousPissFlap]

We're just back with DDog1 with this diagnosis.

It's not something I've ever heard of and I (now I'm out the consulting room!) have questions. Dr Google is helpful but not hugely optimistic.

Does anyone have any advice or experience they would be happy to share please?

[TreacherousPissFlap]

Hopeful bump

[jinxpixie]

No Medic but personal experience with an elderly lab a while back.

We altered her exercise did not allow her to get hot,did not exercise in the warm at all.

Generally tried to avoid any situation that would involve panting so not getting to excited etc.

She never wore a collar always a harness to avoid pressure on her neck. We had to be careful in dusty areas and made sure her food was wet so there was no dry bits to inhale.

She did not get bad enough to need surgery -I think they said it was one sided?

It did take some adjustments but she was happy.

How old is your dog?

[TreacherousPissFlap]

Thank you jinx
DDog1 is 12 and I'm rudely good health otherwise. DH and I had already spoken about not operating (we imagined it was a tumour initially) and the op has not been mentioned to us.
I'm expecting a call from the vet later to discuss this and also any other changes we should make. We bought him a harness yesterday (he's mystified by it ) so that's one step in the right direction.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Yes, our Labrador boy has this, he’s elderly (13+) but otherwise in good shape. I’d echo everything jinx said. Harness, wet food only, don’t let them overheat, seriously control exercise and any activity or situation that over excites them/ makes them pant, also if over weight at all, get that under control as it does help. No walks last summer in the extreme heat, but we have a huge garden for him to explore and a very old, thick walled, house with cool tiles/stones everywhere so he could get comfy. In a different environment I’d be buying cool mats/fans and any other measures I could to improve conditions inside. Vets are happy that all the measures are keeping it under control. He has the odd day where his deep heavy breathing is bad but at the moment he has more good days than not and we’ll keep him under close observation. Vet doesn’t think it’s anywhere near close to needing surgery and, tbh, if they did we’d be seriously considering how viable that would be as there are significant risks to it. Best wishes to you and your ddog!

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Oh two other things, firstly no more jumping in/out of car (got a ramp) and no more jumping on/off sofa - the effort can trigger an episode. And he’s much much happier sleeping on a harder bed/surface - sinking down in to a soft bed doesn’t work for him anymore, breathing is audibly worse if he gets on one of the other dogs beds. You he seeks out hard floors and the very firm ortho bed we got him.

[TreacherousPissFlap]

Thank you as well judas (not a sentence I ever expected to type I must say!)
Luckily DDog1 cannot jump into the car anymore, a combination of wobbly pins and a high 4x4 so we lift him in and out.
He doesn't sleep on the sofa in any case
Interesting about the beds, we have filthy spaniels so don't really go in for soft fluffy beds, but I'll check if his breathing is compromised on different beds.

[Medievalist]

Our old lab had this for about the last 2-3 years of her life. It did improve when we started using a harness (would never use a collar and lead again). It didn't really progress much so we didn't go for the op.

Our vet also said raising her food bowl would help.