Questions about laryngeal paralysis (Frisby PI)

 ((( Kate)))  Jessie was diagnosed with LP in April of 2009 at the age of 10. She had the same cough as Sinbad. At the time, her LP was very mild, with her right aryteniod cartilage opening normally and the left side just slightly paralyzed. A year ago when she had her dental my vet examined her larynx and the right side still opened normally but the left side only opened about a third of what it should. She has not needed surgery yet because it hasn't impacted her quality of life; she is usually walked an hour or more daily and does everything she did when diagnosed. Since it's associated with a neuropathy, the acupuncture treatments may help. Make sure Sinbad gets regular exercise to keep his rear legs strong because rear leg weakness is often associated with LP. You will find that he will tire more easily when it's warm because he won't be able to cool himself as well. In the summer, I walk Jessie very early while it's still cool. It's also recommended to use a harness for walking to avoid restricting the airway. You may want to ask your vet about supplements for the neuropathy. Carly Abramson, a veterinary neurologist at Ohio State, recommends L-carnitine, C0Q10, and B vitamins. In addition to those supplements, I also make sure Jessie gets fish oil daily and 200 IU of vitamin E a week. L-carnitine can make symptoms of hypothyroidism worse, so you may want to avoid giving it to Sinbad.

   Watch out for aspiration pneumonia; Jessie had a mild case about 18 months ago. I took her to my vet because she had six long coughing spells during the night; her appetite and energy level was normal but x-rays showed early pneumonia .A 2 week course of antibiotics cleared it up. My vet also starts her on an antibiotic four days before her dental to prevent aspiration pneumonia. If Sinbad coughs after drinking, raising the water dish can help. Having a shallow, wide water dish has helped Jessie because it makes her drink slower. There is a yahoo group for owners of dogs with LP;     LP : for owners of dogs who have laryngeal paralysis

   One thing I learned on that forum is that when your dog needs the surgery, make sure that the surgeon is very experienced in this type of surgery. Let me know if I can be of more help. Give that handsome boy some kisses for me.

Janice, thank you so much!  This is just what I needed to get a start on my list of questions and things to watch for. The vets today gave me very similar advice in terms of watching the drinking/coughing (he doesn't do that yet, but I like the elevated bowl idea.), early am walks in summer (which we already do because I melt), etc. We try to walk a couple miles every day now to keep him in good shape, so we'll keep that up! He gets salmon oil daily now. I'll ask about the others. We've got Tufts vet hospital and Angell Memorial near here, so I'm hopeful that when/if he does need surgery, we'll have good people available. While I'm sad Jessie has this, too, I'm thankful to have someone here who is "in the know"! I'll check out the yahoo site, too. Thank you again.

.

jessies_mom

Make sure Sinbad gets regular exercise to keep his rear legs strong because rear leg weakness is often associated with LP. You will find that he will tire more easily when it's warm because he won't be able to cool himself as well. In the summer, I walk Jessie very early while it's still cool.

I just learned more about this from you than from my vetThis explains alot.My lab is 13 and has had LP since she was 8.I have found elevating her food dish prevents her aspirating kibble.Also she seems to be more comfortable sleeping where she can elevate her head such as a bolster type dog bed.

                                                                                         Tena

Mick was diagnoised with lp at a little over 11 years.  He lived another 4 1/2 years without having surgery, only these life style changes.  About 3 months before we lost him, my vet told me they didn't expect him to live more than maynbe 18 months after the diagnosis. 

I typed up this document a coupld of years ago when I started hearing from more owners asking for advice/help with LPSome of this has already been covered here.

No advice here either  . . . but sending him some of my best smoochies !!

Deb W.

micksmom

Anyway, we're thinking the ArthriSoothe was one of the reasons Mick's LP didn't progress as fast as the vet thought it would. Little by little, other supplements were added- MSM, Biotin, Cholodin and Vitamin B Complex.   

    I think that's why Jessie's has been progressing so slowly too. I learned about the supplements on the LP forum. micksmom's post is excellent and shows that they can do well with LP for much longer than the vet's prognosis if given the right care. Jessie was diagnosed very early and my vet didn't give a prognosis because she was the earliest case he had seen.

   Kate; this won't be something you need to know until his condition becomes more advanced, and I truly hope it doesn't. But, you can tell if he's getting enough oxygen by checking capillary refill time. Firmly press on his gums and quickly remove your finger. There will be a white spot where your thumb or finger was. If it takes more than 2 seconds for that spot to become pink again, then he may need to be checked by your vet.

Wow--thank you everyone for all this really helpful info. A lot we did for Frisby's IMHA is so similar, but that makes sense because both deal with oxygen issues.

jessies_mom

Kate; this won't be something you need to know until his condition becomes more advanced, and I truly hope it doesn't. But, you can tell if he's getting enough oxygen by checking capillary refill time.

This was one I had to do with Frisby.

What's funny (well, not really, but you get it-coincidental maybe??)...we have an oxygen condenser (machine) and a dozen or so oxygen tanks, because my Mom is on O2 full time for her medical stuff.  Sinbad will just have to borrow one of her small tanks if needed.

We have a new harness for walks. I need to get the dishes raised. They "only" have 5 water dishes around the house. I don't think I have that many old phone books!

Sinbad takes glucosamine and condroitin, and I used to have him on Nutrajoint. I can add the Nutrajoint back in. Is ArthraSooth a similar? I'll look that up today. And, I'll stop by the yahoo group.

Again, thanks all.

FrisbyPI

...I need to get the dishes raised. They "only" have 5 water dishes around the house. I don't think I have that many old phone books!

Sinbad takes glucosamine and condroitin, and I used to have him on Nutrajoint. I can add the Nutrajoint back in. Is ArthraSooth a similar? I'll look that up today. And, I'll stop by the yahoo group.

Again, thanks all.

I only raised the water dish in the kitchen.  ArthriSoothe is an anti-inflammatory.  The reason I went with the equine formula was cost- the small container cost me as much as one bottle of the dog formula, but lasted me over a year.  The dog one (tablets) would have only lasted a few weeks.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16354

 Hi

my dog Afrika has a begin of LP; i found this product on-line 

http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/store/trachea_laryngeal_oesophagus_disorders.html

somebody knwos about  it?

I have even vitamin b complex but i am not sure about the dose, they are vitamins for human been, how many she needs to have?e

Thanks for your@s time

Ilaria

ilaria

 Hi

my dog Afrika has a begin of LP; i found this product on-line 

http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/store/trachea_laryngeal_oesophagus_disorders.html

somebody knwos about  it?

I have even vitamin b complex but i am not sure about the dose, they are vitamins for human been, how many she needs to have?e

Thanks for your@s time

Ilaria

I gave Mick 1 Vitamin B Complex a day (he was 75 pounds).  I haven't heard of the product in the link.  Mick has been gone for almost 6 years now, so that could be why I haven't heard of it.  It appears that company is in Australia, so that could be the reason, too.

It doesn't look like anything Sinbad's holistic vet or Western vet has discussed with me. Right now, we're using acupuncture as the main treatment and it does seem to be making a difference.