Has anyone had the tie back surgery on their dog for larngeal paralysis?? Having my golden done and could use some support! And suggestions for recovery.
Hi Kim, and welcome to the forum. Sorry you are having problems with your dog. There was someone a wee while ago mentioning this, but I don't know the outcome. What kind of advice has your vet given?
@SwampDonkey 's Doug I think had laryngeal paralysis (at least, his was the only name coming up on a search)
Our first Lab, Ginger, had Laryngeal paralysis, when she was about 14. We had the surgery done and she recovered pretty quickly. My wife had to pick her up at the surgery and take her to an Emergency care Vet for the first night, so they could watch her at night. We were worried about how she would get Ginger into our van after the surgery, but Ginger just walked out of the vets and jumped into the van on her own. We were cautioned about swimming after the surgery, since they loose the ability to close off the throat, but we decided that if wanted to swim we would let her, and she never had a problem. She lost the ability to bark because of the surgery and sounded sort of pathetic trying, but that was really the only bad result. FWIW, She became diabetic at 12 years had the surgery at 14 and still made it to 16. She was a rescue and was quite active until about 15-1/2.
Thanks for responding. The vet says the first two weeks of recovery are crucial due to asphyxiation pneumonia. I am to make meatball sized food from canned food, and limit water. I am beyond anxious! Murphy has been through a leg amputation due to cancer and already had double pneumonia with a collapsed lung. He bounced back from that slowly two years ago. Now this. He is 10 1/2 but in good health. I cannot put him down, and cannot watch him with breathing problems, so the surgery is a must. Just need to find someone who has been through this for a support system...maybe some tips.
Such a positive story! Thank you for sharing. How bad was the recovery period? Was there a lot of coughing, gagging? Any pneumonia? Can they eat normal food after the recovery and have water dish down to drink as before? I'm sorry. I have so many questions! Just want to do the best possible thing for my baby!
Yep Doug did have LP but I researched the opp and consulted a few vets and decided it was just too risky. Doug had other health problems and the risk of him get food in his lungs was too great. His bark disappeared to a rasp too. He lived until he was 14 1/2 and the lp didn't really cause too many problems. Heat and extreme cold caused him to have difficulties breathing but other than that it was not a big problem but then it was the least of them. He developed it at 8 years old.
Thank you for responding. This has me a nervous wreck! I worry also about the pneumonia, but I have to try. I'm sorry for your loss.
Its what ever works for you and your dog. Doug had other problems so the LP was not the main issue for him. He would get worse then stabilise. It's a horrible thing I spent many nights sitting with him encouraging him to breathe. There was no way he would have coped with an op, at least you have that option. I hope everything goes well and it helps your dog.
I'm sorry you had to experience that...it must have been heartbreaking. Thanks for your support...and responses.
It has been about 14 years, so I may not remember everything but I don't recall the recovery being too long or involved. Because she was diabetic, we had to keep close watch on her blood sugar, since she could not eat her normal diet for a little while. Ginger continued to eat her normal kibble after she recovered, and I don't recall that we did anything special with her dishes. The worst thing for her, was that she lost her huge bark. She always announced visitors by barking, and she sounded like a huge guard dog, until the door was opened. After the surgery she could just make kind of a hoarse cough sound.
Thank you for responding! Recovery must not have been too bad if it's hard to remember...and I like that! I'm reaching out for as much info as I can get, and responses like yours mean so much. I appreciate your taking the time.
