Any Lab owners dealing with Laryngeal Paralysis?

[solitas]

Ray, our 13 y.o. Yellow Lab, is in reasonable health - good heart & lungs, feeds & waters well (everything comes out well too), no arthritic symptoms, some neural degeneration in his rear end but he still moves well, is alert/shiny/interested in things - but suffers from laryngeal paralysis.

During this cold/dry weather currently in CT he's having more & more trouble breathing when his epiglottis flares up - hard to inhale when doing stressed breathing, flares up after barking - but he's recovering in about 20 minutes or so, lying down and comforted.

He's on aminophillyn (broncho-dilator) from our vet to help 'open up his pipes' but there's not much that can be done without bringing him in for an exam - which can't be done now because the cold/dry causes him to close-up almost immediately.

Surgery appears to be the most-used option (some cases do well on cortico-steroids and other pharmaceuticals) and it'll probably be in his future, but we can't do much more at the moment (transport for an exam) because of the weather.

The house is warm and reasonably humidified, he's NOT going outside so we're having to deal with 'pee-pads' and cajoling him to 'do his stuff' (he completely voids and defecates during an attack) even though he'd try to tunnel his way thru a wall rather than do anything in the house (his attacks are the only times he's EVER done anything in the house and it does appear to bother him that he's done it) and he does experience anxiety at not being able to go out. He's always been an outdoor-lover during the days and sleeping inside at nights.

I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has a Buddy with the same problems and how you're dealing with it. Thanks.

[solitas]

Doggie-ping-worthy?

[Cagey]

We have a 12 year old Lab and this is the first time I've heard of the condition you describe.

I hope your dog gets past this and lives his remaining years in comfort.

[cowboyway]

No problems with Gus yet. He was 9 in December and has slowed down a lot but his breathing seems to be OK.

[MacDorcha]

Sounds like a humidifier with a car adapter might be on call...

Hook it up in the family van, turn up the heat and let Buddy in after it warms up. (suffice to say you have a garage and you leave the door open to let fumes out)

He will likely have a spell getting to the van and out of it, but then transport will be possible.

Tell the vets ahead of time that you will be bringing in Buddy and tell them your problem. If the vet is worth it's salt, they will accomodate with a properly warmed/humid operating room.

---

I'm not a vet, just a laymen's ideas on how to circumvent the problem to get to the solution.

If you find a better way, please take it.

Hope Buddy is better. It's sad to see a lab sick. I bet he smiles anyway!

Good luck

and God Bless.

[MacDorcha]

I'm sorry, not Buddy-

Ray.

I got mixed up at the end.

I hope Ray gets better.

[Cagey]

This looks helpful:


http://www.geocities.com/lplist/index.html

[solitas]

A few links - attend to the first paragraph in the godiva link (in hindsight, Ray's been showing those signs for a couple of years):

http://www.petplace.com/article-printer-friendly.aspx?id=205

http://www.godivalabs.com/LP.html

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/120600.htm

[solitas]

Thanks - I'd seen that link too; the three I'd listed are a bit more clinical.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm not familiar with this condition...

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[Ditter]

I think this is the same condition that caused us to have to put down one of our Jack Russel Terriers. She would cough and gasp for breath when she did any physical activity (like walking to the food dish). When her tongue began to turn blue it was the end. If I remember correctly our vet (my brother) said the surgery for this condition was not very successful.

[chicagolady]

YES! My German Shorthair Sparky Pulido had it. I got acupunture for it and he lived to be 15. He did not die from it but a lot of dogs do unless there is intervention. Personally I saw acupunture help both this condition and his bad hips.

While I have to admit at 50 bucks a pop it can be a little expensive, He was the love of my life and I was glad to spend the money because I was seeing results.

Sparky was about 96 lbs.

If you want to see what a good looking good dog he was check this post!....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1447245/posts

I LOVE Sparky-Boo....RIP

[xJones]

Acupuncture helped your dog's hips? That's interesting, my old Maltese could use some help, but where do you find a dog acupuncturist?

[chicagolady]

It worked like a charm!! And mind you Sparky was a big guy.


http://www.4mfg.net/drswanson/contact.htm

I just called her and asked her for you how can someone find an accupunture vet in any state. Go to...

www.ivas.org

she said make sure who ever you get is CERTIFIED!!

[Emmalein]

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I have no words of wisdom so I'm sending good thoughts. Good luck!

[TASMANIANRED]

Sounds like epiglottitis....Inflammation of the epiglottis.

I would run a cool mist vaporizer.

May sound silly but get some chamomile or ginger tea and sweeten it with honey and a little lemon.

Let him lap it warm, not hot.

The honey and ginger are natural humectants and will help keep his pipes moist. The chamomile is sort of a natural mini tranquilizer.
A doggie version of a hot toddie without the whisky.
His age is part of the problem. They just don't recover as quickly when they get mature.

Peppermint oil is something else you can try. If you get the essential oil you need to dilute it in olive oil. About 1-2 drops of the peppermint oil to a tablespoons of the olive oil.

Rub a couple of drops on his chest. The vapor will help his breathing passages stay open. For that matter you can skip that part and put a few drops of the peppermint oil in the vaporizer.

My little Jackie was an orphan rescue. When I first got her she had a problem similar to what you describe. She would stop dead in her tracks and have a breathing attack that sounded like she could drop dead.

She lost her mother when she was tiny and spent the next few weeks crying non stop. Her entire airway and epiglottis was inflamed and any stress would cause just enough swelling to shut off her airway.

Antibiotics and a dose of steroids and rest helped.

[TASMANIANRED]

Sparky was a very handsome lad.

From a fellow dog lover....I'm sorry for your loss. I know he is still deeply missed.

[chicagolady]

Thanks, not a day goes by that I do not think about him! Sparky-boo!

[afraidfortherepublic]

What a beautiful dog. Condolances to Chicago Lady and RIP, Sparky.