Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Yorkshire Terrier with voice changes from laryngeal web
By Louie, Nicole et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Laryngeal web in a Yorkshire Terrier.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Yorkshire Terrier was brought in with unusual symptoms, including a change in bark (dysphonia), excessive gas (flatulence), and bad breath (halitosis). After ruling out a more serious condition like throat cancer, the vet diagnosed the dog with a laryngeal web, a rare issue where a membrane forms in the throat. The owners chose not to have surgery, and for over four years, the dog's symptoms did not worsen, and no new breathing problems developed. This case shows that while laryngeal webs are uncommon, they can be a cause of vocal changes in dogs.
People also search for: Yorkshire Terrier breathing problems · dog voice change · laryngeal web treatment · dog bad breath causes · flatulence in dogs
Abstract
The laryngeal web is a congenital or acquired, abnormal transverse membrane, most commonly between the free edges of the vocal cords. Ensuing glottic stenosis may be asymptomatic or, in some cases, can lead to vocal and respiratory signs, such as dysphonia, stridor, and dyspnoea. Here, we describe a rare case of a laryngeal web in a Yorkshire Terrier presented with atypical clinical signs, including dysphonia, flatulence, and halitosis. Following a reasonable exclusion of an initial concern of laryngeal neoplasia and given the diagnosis of a congenital laryngeal web, the owners elected not to pursue surgical treatment. The dog's clinical signs remained unchanged with no development of new respiratory signs for over 4 years post-diagnosis. The findings presented herein highlight the importance of considering the laryngeal web as a rare but possible differential diagnosis for dysphonia and emphasise the need to establish specific individual selection criteria for surgical and medical treatments for dogs affected with this laryngeal anomaly.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40761841/