Anyone ever have a dog diagnosed with Laryngeal Paralysis, commonly referred to as Lar Par? It's evidently more prone in older, large, sometimes overweight dogs, especially Labs - and my 12 1/2 year old lab was just diagnosed today. The nerves that control the muscles & cartilage that open/close the larynx do not function. He's been breathing hard lately, like he had asthma or similar to when a calf has diphtheria, but not all the time. And he's been harking up more food & water than usual - although he literally inhales his food & "camels up" when he drinks so harking is not uncommon for him. There is a specialized surgery that could possibly be done in Wichita or Kansas City but evidently very expensive & would require meds the rest of his life - my vet was candid & did not recommend it. His suggestions were to keep him cool because heat/humidity exasperate it, limit the amount of water he can drink at one time and not let him over-do it. He's not overweight but losing up to 5 lbs might help.
Soooo, any other suggestions? Or has anyone proceeded with the surgery? Outcomes?
Soooo, any other suggestions? Or has anyone proceeded with the surgery? Outcomes?