Lar Par Crash Course:
Symptoms, Causes & Progression
What You Need To Know About Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs
If your dog is making a raspy, wheezing sound, then he or she might have laryngeal paralysis (LarPar).
What does laryngeal paralysis in dogs sound like?
Overview
Laryngeal paralysis is a common condition of the larynx that afflicts older dogs mostly in large and giant breeds.
Which breeds does laryngeal paralysis affect?
In LarPar, muscles of the larynx become paralyzed and the laryngeal cartilages become flaccid, cutting off airflow to the lungs.
How does the larynx get paralyzed?
Laryngeal paralysis can be caused by a genetic trait or it can be a result of trauma or neurological degeneration.
- Congenital laryngeal paralysis in dogs is inherited and symptoms often appear earlier in life.
Which breeds does congenital larygneal paralysis affect?
- Acquired laryngeal paralysis in dogs can appear as a result of trauma or age-related neuromuscular degeneration.
What can cause acquired laryngeal paralysis in dogs?
Laryngeal paralysis in dogs generally starts with failure of the cartilage on one side of the larynx. This is called unilateral laryngeal paralysis, and it only partially restricts air passage, so symptoms are mild to moderate.
As the condition progresses, both cartilages become paralyzed. This is called bilateral laryngeal paralysis. At this stage, the airway is mostly blocked and the dog is can’t get enough air to fuel the body. If the dog gets overexcited or overheated, a dangerous situation can result.
How long does it take?
A dog can have unilateral laryngeal paralysis for many months before it becomes bilateral. But the transition from unilateral to bilateral is inevitable and it can come seemingly overnight. Once the bilateral stage is reached, quality of life deteriorates quickly and you should be prepared in advance either for a veterinary procedure, i.e. surgery or stent, or end-of-life care.
Case Study: Laryngeal Paralysis Progression in Miss B
It took just over two years from the time we noticed symptoms until her laryngeal paralysis reached the end-of-life stage.
More about Miss B’s LarPar
Aspiration Pneumonia Risk
With LarPar, the paralyzed laryngeal cartilages leave a narrow opening through which contaminants can pass and get into the lungs. When that happens, the lungs can become infected.
What is aspiration pneumonia?
There is no known pharmaceutical or naturopathic treatment that can repair the function of a paralyzed larynx. There are only two veterinary-medical procedures that can restore breathing through the paralyzed larynx so the dog can live out its natural life — surgery and laryngeal stent. These procedures will be discussed in detail in the Treatment details section.
There are also a number of pharmaceuticals and naturopathic treatments that are reported to be effective in managing some of the effects of laryngeal paralysis for some dogs. However, there is no scientific evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. You can learn about these approaches in the Managing Laryngeal Paralysis page of the Treatment Options section.