Has anyone here dealt with canine laryngeal paralysis?

Yeah, it’s Molly. For now it is impeding her breathing when she gets excited. I have to keep her calm. That won’t be easy. She’s very young to have this, so there is not a lot of info in a young dog, life expectancy etc.

Dogs suffering from Canine Laryngeal Paralysis have difficulty breathing and eating. The larynx is a voicebox and acts as a gateway to the airways and lungs. During breathing, the laryngeal cartilages (arytenoids cartilages that act like doors) pull open. This disorder prevents the nerves that control the muscles and cartilage to open and close the larynx. The arytenoids hang loosely. When cartilages fail to open and close properly, the dog has difficulty taking in air.

Laryngeal paralysis can be life threatening for dogs. Excitement or exercise increase the oxygen needs of the animal, and the partial obstruction caused by the lar-par doesn’t allow for adequate air exchange. The dog will easily become overheated at the same time since air moving over the tongue is the method used to cool themselves. We see animals in crisis at the emergency clinic relatively often.

In a normal dog, the layngeal cartilage opens and closes during respiration, and closes during swallowing. There is a surgical procedure called a laryngeal tie-back that fixes the cartilage in an open position. That allows for a freer exchange of air, but it also means increased risk of aspiration pneumonia during eating and drinking since that pathway stays open all of the time.

Not having the surgery means a lifetime of keeping the dog relatively sedate and taking precautions like using a harness rather than a collar and leash, keeping the pet out of the heat, minimal exercise, raised food and water dishes. If the stridor (that noise you hear when she’s having trouble breathing) increases or the dog seems in any distress, get her immediate veterinary care (sedation, cooling, and intubation are often necessary).