Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Laryngeal paralysis in dogs: an update on recent knowledge.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Kitshoff, Adriaan M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Laryngeal paralysis in dogs happens when the muscles that help open the airway don't work properly, making it hard for them to breathe. This condition can be inherited or develop later in life due to factors like injury, tumors, or other nerve issues. It's most commonly seen in older, large breed dogs and is often linked to a broader nerve problem known as geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy. Diagnosing this condition is usually straightforward based on the dog's symptoms, breed, and medical history, and it can be confirmed by examining the throat. If surgery is performed, the outcome varies: dogs with trauma-related paralysis tend to do well, while those with paralysis caused by tumors or nerve diseases may have a more uncertain future. Dogs with the idiopathic form of this condition generally live for about 3 to 5 years after surgery.
Abstract
Laryngeal paralysis is the effect of an inability to abduct the arytenoid cartilages during inspiration, resulting in respiratory signs consistent with partial airway obstruction. The aetiology of the disease can be congenital (hereditary laryngeal paralysis or congenital polyneuropathy), or acquired (trauma, neoplasia, polyneuropathy, endocrinopathy). The most common form of acquired laryngeal paralysis (LP) is typically seen in old, large breed dogs and is a clinical manifestation of a generalised peripheral polyneuropathy recently referred to as geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy. Diagnosing LP based on clinical signs, breed and history has a very high sensitivity (90%) and can be confirmed bylaryngeal inspection. Prognosis after surgical correction depends on the aetiology: traumatic cases have a good prognosis, whereas tumour-induced or polyneuropathy-induced LP has a guarded prognosis. Acquired idiopathic LP is a slow progressive disease, with dogs reaching median survival times of 3-5 years after surgical correction.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23718178/