Sorry, this isn’t the typical case I post here, but it’s interesting and I’m fishing for some help…
15 Week old puppy presents in acute, severe respiratory distress w/ marked inspiratory distress and a “squeak” in the layrnx on inspiration. Started w/in 15 minutes of coming in from outside, although the owners noted a day or two of mild wheezing that didn’t really affect the puppy. Also no Hx of this puppy having problems prior to this.
Sorry, this isn’t the typical case I post here, but it’s interesting and I’m fishing for some help…
15 Week old puppy presents in acute, severe respiratory distress w/ marked inspiratory distress and a “squeak” in the layrnx on inspiration. Started w/in 15 minutes of coming in from outside, although the owners noted a day or two of mild wheezing that didn’t really affect the puppy. Also no Hx of this puppy having problems prior to this.
Initally treated for Acute Anaphylaxis w/ Epi, Dexamethasone and Oxygen. He did respond well…but anytime he exerts himself he’s back the the distress.
Sedated and took these video clips…Look awful suspicious of LP to me; I’ve just not seen it in a puppy before. I’m assuming congenital and very possibly associated w/ a polyneurpathy???
Just wondering if anyone has seen these present acutely or if I’m missing something. Radiographs don’t show FB but there is a heavy Caudal/Dorsal alveolar pattern worse on the Left.
Sam
Comments
No doubt that there is
No doubt that there is bilateral laryngeal paralysis – what breed of dog? Acute deterioration may have been from a bout of acute excitment, excessive barking, heat stress. The alveolar lung pattern is most likely non-cardiogenic post-obstructive edema.
Thanks,
The dog is a Rottie
Thanks,
The dog is a Rottie or a Rottie X. Is this pup likely to have progressive problems down the road if this associated w/ polyneuropathy? I trying to determine if the onwer should consider the cost of a tie back or if the long term Px is too poor?
Sam
Prognosis is usually poor.
Prognosis is usually poor. Here are two abstracts:
Five Rottweiler puppies from 3 unrelated litters developed inspiratory stridor at 11-13 weeks of age. Physical examination disclosed tetraparesis in all dogs, and bilateral lenticular cataracts in 4 dogs. Laryngeal examination under light anesthesia showed laryngeal paralysis in all dogs. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed denervation potentials in the distal appendicular muscles of 4 dogs tested and in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles of 2 dogs tested. Motor nerve conduction velocity was slightly low in 1 dog. Neurogenic muscular atrophy was found in distal appendicular muscles (n = 3) and intrinsic laryngeal muscles (n = 2), and degenerative changes were found in peripheral nerves (n = 3) and recurrent laryngeal nerves (n = 2). No abnormalities were detected in the spinal cord, spinal nerve roots, or ganglia of 3 dogs autopsied. The clinical, electrophysiologic, and histopathologic findings support a diagnosis of polyneuropathy and resemble the finding reported in young Dalmatians. Young dogs with laryngeal paralysis should be evaluated neurologically to rule out a more generalized polyneuropathy. The condition is suspected to be hereditary in nature and the prognosis is poor.
Objectives: To characterise clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological findings. To analyse pedigree information in six young related Pyrenean mountain dogs with laryngeal paralysis-polyneuropathy complex (LP-PNC).
Methods: A retrospective study of clinical records and pedigrees of six young related Pyrenean mountain dogs with LP-PNC was carried out.
Results: All dogs were presented with laryngeal paralysis and concurrent megaoesophagus. Electrodiagnostic testing was performed in three dogs and showed electrophysiological abnormalities in the distal appendicular muscles. Histopathological findings of peripheral nerve samples were dominated by distal axonal degeneration. Clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological findings were supportive of a diagnosis of degenerative, sensorimotor LP-PNC, similar to that reported in young dalmatians and rottweilers. All dogs died or were euthanased by two years of age. An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was suspected based on pedigree analysis.
Clinical significance: Congenital LP-PNC should be suspected in any young dog presenting with laryngeal dysfunction and other concurrent neurological abnormalities. The prognosis is usually poor.