Laryngeal Paralysis??

[Georgie]

A friend's lab had LP quite bad and it was heartbreaking to watch the dog trying to breathe. He pasted away not long after diagnosis but was 15 years old.


I know it is not a cause of laryngeal paralysis but it does make one think about converting to harness just to minimize potential weakening and problems when they get older. Even just the casual random correcting with collar when walking on a lead every day for 10 years must have some effect, even if minor.

[holly10]

Definitely switching before our next walk!

[Trudy]

Interesting. A vet specialist told us the flat collars can cause the LP. But there may be differing opinions about how it starts.
But the good news for us that or dog's breathing sounds much better now that we are months into using the harness.

[Georgie]

I think I might start removing her collar when she is inside the house and at night. I used to remove it but lately have just left it on 24hours. I wonder whether there are any studies about triggers or causes. I have read that it is hereditary in labs so I wonder whether there is an innate weakness of the laryngeal structure? If so, it would be good proactive behavior to recommend labs wear harnesses especially when young and at their wild pulling stage.

[Tilly]

I don't have any experience in this area at all, just wanted to send good thoughts

[JenC]

I don't think there is any correlation between collars and LP. Hudler was NEVER a puller, easily trained to walk nice, spent most of his life without a collar, and he has LP with the associated leg wasting. It's just an old, big dog disease.

[ChippieDog]

LP is now considered to be one symptom of a progressive neurological disorder referred to as Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy (GOLPP) that affects older large breed dogs. Research is ongoing, but it's suspected that there is a genetic component to it. Purina has a very informative article posted on their website about the disease at https://purinaproclub.com/resource-l...ical-paralysis.

I had one lab with GOLPP. I was fearful of the tie-back surgery, mostly from what I had read on this board and some other forums. I tried the sedatives, cooling vests, acupuncture and most of the other things everyone recommends as alternatives to UTB surgery over the course of a year. During that time, his LP symptoms grew progressively worse, so that even short (100 yd) leash walks were difficult for him. After one of many episodes when he went down for several minutes gasping for air on the verge of suffocation (on a slow leash walk!) I realized that I had to either consider the surgery or put him down. He was a big, gregarious hunting dog with a huge heart and a zest for life. I was narrowing his world down to the point that he couldn't be a dog anymore. It wasn't fair to him.

My vet said he was an excellent candidate for the surgery. She had an experienced LP surgeon perform the surgery at her clinic, and the results were spectacular! There was an immediate change in Teddy's energy levels and endurance. Yes, we did have one minor bout with aspiration pneumonia about 3 weeks after the surgery, but I caught it almost immediately. The surgery was in January. Teddy had a wonderful summer and even went pheasant hunting that fall. The only activity I restricted him from was swimming.

About 3 months after the surgery we discovered he was showing symptoms of an enlarged esophagus and its associated loss of muscle control. This is also a symptom of GOLPP and another risk agent for aspiration pneumonia. We were able to control it through meds for a little over a year. (He also was put on two different antacids to mitigate damage from reflux.) The esophagus issues progressed beyond our ability to control them and we started having recurring episodes of pneumonia.

All told, Teddy lived a year and a half after having the UTB surgery. It was a great year for him. He was able to run, retrieve, hunt and just enjoy life without any more fear of suffocation. In fact, the last thing he did before jumping into the car for his final ride to the vet was to retrieve a few bumpers.

My only regret is that I waited a year before scheduling his surgery.

PS...That's Teddy in my avatar.

[lovemylabby]

I know this thread is older...but if the OP is still active on the board. I am in tears reading your post about your beloved Teddy.

He sounded like such a special boy...it is wonderful that he had a year and a half of quality life after the surgery.

it makes it all worth it...doesn't it?

A beautiful boy.

[twoblacklabs]

My 12 year old Emma was diagnosed with LP a few months ago. She had blood work and x rays to confirm. This is such a scary diagnosis. She is doing very well, but does have heavy breathing, excessive dripping of saliva(not drooling, but dripping), coughing/gagging/choking. Our vet actually advised against the surgery because it usually ends with pneumonia and then death caused by it. That was enough for me! No surgery for her!
She seems happy and otherwise healthy. I just get scared when she seems to lose her breath and coughs/gags/chokes. Good luck with your lab friend!