🩺 Vet Guide 2025: Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs – Breathing Trouble, Surgery, and Neurologic Links Explained 🐶💨

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

🗣️ What Is Laryngeal Paralysis?

The larynx, commonly known as the voice box, sits at the top of the trachea (windpipe). It controls airflow into the lungs and protects the airway when eating or drinking. The larynx acts like a gate—opening wide when we breathe and closing tightly when we swallow.

With laryngeal paralysis, the muscles that open the larynx no longer function properly. The result? A partially or fully closed airway. Dogs with this condition struggle to breathe, especially when excited or overheated. This can quickly escalate into a life-threatening emergency.

😰 Signs of Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs

Laryngeal paralysis typically develops gradually. Common symptoms include:

• 🐶 Excessive panting, especially in warm weather
• 🏃‍♂️ Exercise intolerance or tiring easily
• 🗣️ Change in bark—hoarser or quieter
• 😤 Raspy breathing or loud inhalation sounds
• 😵 Gasping or signs of respiratory distress

Breed & Age Risk Factors

The condition is most common in older, large-breed dogs. Labrador Retrievers are most frequently diagnosed. Other breeds with hereditary forms include:

• 🐕 Bouvier des Flandres
• 🐺 Siberian Husky
• 🐾 Great Pyrenees
• 🐶 Bull Terrier
• 🐕 Dalmatian

🧠 Not Just the Throat – A Neurological Syndrome

We now know that laryngeal paralysis is often the first sign of a broader condition called Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (GOLPP). Over time, this degenerative nerve disease may affect:

• 🐾 The legs – leading to muscle weakness or ataxia (unsteady gait)
• 🧪 The esophagus – impairing food movement and increasing the risk of megaesophagus (a flaccid, enlarged esophagus)

Dogs with laryngeal paralysis are 21x more likely to develop megaesophagus, a condition that dramatically increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia.

🔍 Diagnosing Laryngeal Paralysis

To confirm the diagnosis, a vet will need to visualize the larynx under sedation. A normal larynx opens and closes during breathing. In a paralyzed larynx, the arytenoid cartilages don’t move—resulting in a partially or fully closed airway.

If the pet is in crisis, intubation (placing a breathing tube) may be required immediately to restore oxygen flow. This may be followed by sedation until breathing stabilizes.

Additional Diagnostics:

• 📸 Chest and throat X-rays – rule out aspiration pneumonia or tumors
• 🧪 Blood tests – including thyroid function to identify related neuropathies

🧘 Conservative Management Tips

If surgery is not immediately possible or desirable, conservative care can help:

• 🎽 Switch from collar to no-pull harness to avoid throat pressure
• 🌡️ Avoid heat and stressful environments
• 🚶‍♂️ Limit intense activity to reduce panting
• 💊 Consider anti-anxiety or sedative medications during stressful events

These steps may reduce symptoms temporarily but will not stop disease progression.

🚨 What Happens in a Respiratory Crisis?

A dog with laryngeal paralysis may suddenly experience:

• 😫 Desperate attempts to breathe
• 💙 Bluish gums (cyanosis)
• 🌡️ Overheating from the inability to pant
• 🌊 Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)

Immediate emergency intervention is essential. This includes:

• 💉 Sedation
• 🫁 Intubation and oxygen therapy
• 💦 Cooling to lower body temperature
• 💊 Corticosteroids to reduce airway swelling

🔧 Surgical Treatment Options

The goal of surgery is to widen the airway while preserving some airway protection. Techniques include:

1. Laryngeal Tieback (Lateralization Surgery)

👨‍⚕️ This is the most common approach. Sutures are placed to pull one side of the larynx open, allowing air to pass. Complications include:

• 🌊 Risk of aspiration pneumonia
• 🗣️ Hoarse or reduced bark
• 🦴 Persistent coughing after eating

Mortality rate: ~14%

2. Partial Arytenoidectomy

This method removes part of a vocal fold and one arytenoid cartilage. It involves more bleeding and typically requires a temporary tracheostomy.

Mortality rate: ~30%

3. Ventriculocordectomy (De-Barking Surgery)

This removes the vocal folds to create a larger airway opening. It significantly reduces vocalization but is effective in relieving airway obstruction.

4. Castellation Surgery

Involves cutting and repositioning part of the thyroid cartilage to open the airway. It often requires a temporary tracheostomy during recovery.

5. Stenting (Experimental)

Some clinics offer metallic or silicone laryngeal stents. While promising, these approaches are experimental and lack long-term data. They may be used temporarily prior to surgery in some cases.

🛠️ Post-Surgical Care & Considerations

• 🔇 No barking for 2–3 weeks post-surgery; tranquilizers may help
• 🍖 Feed soft “meatball” meals to reduce coughing
• 🏊‍♂️ No swimming—ever! Due to aspiration risk
• 🩺 Monitor closely for signs of aspiration pneumonia

🌬️ Understanding Aspiration Pneumonia

Nearly 25% of dogs treated for laryngeal paralysis will develop this serious complication at some point. Treatment includes:

• 💊 Broad-spectrum antibiotics
• 💧 IV fluids
• 🚿 Chest physiotherapy

Because food and bacteria enter the lungs, clearing the infection is more difficult, and recurrence is common.

🩺 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Laryngeal paralysis is more than a breathing disorder—it’s a complex condition linked to age-related nerve degeneration. With the right diagnosis, surgical intervention, and proactive care, many dogs live full, happy lives despite this challenge.

If your dog shows signs like raspy breathing, panting, or voice changes, don’t wait. Early diagnosis can prevent a crisis and improve quality of life. Surgery, while not without risks, remains the gold standard for long-term relief.

📲 Questions About Surgery or Symptoms? Ask A Vet Today

Need expert advice or second opinions? Download the Ask A Vet app to connect 24/7 with trusted veterinarians like Dr Duncan Houston. 🐶 Learn about laryngeal exams, recovery options, and ways to improve your dog’s breathing comfort—right from your phone!