If your older dog has started breathing loudly, especially when panting, or their bark sounds hoarse, they may have laryngeal paralysis. This condition affects the voice box (larynx) and makes it harder for air to get into the lungs. It often starts slowly, but it can quickly become a breathing emergency, especially in hot weather or during excitement.
The larynx sits at the top of the windpipe. It has two flaps (the arytenoid cartilages) that open when a dog breathes in and close when they swallow. In laryngeal paralysis, the nerves and muscles that open these flaps stop working properly. The flaps stay partly closed, narrowing the airway.
It’s most common in older, large-breed dogs, such as:
In many older dogs, it’s part of a slowly progressive nerve condition called GOLPP (geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy), which can also cause back leg weakness over time. Some breeds can have an inherited form that appears at a young age.
Dogs cool down by panting. When the airway is narrowed, panting doesn’t work well, so dogs can overheat quickly. Overheating and stress cause more panting and swelling in the throat, which narrows the airway further. This can spiral into a crisis. Our article on summer pet safety and heatstroke explains how to spot and handle overheating.
Your vet will examine the larynx under light sedation to watch how the flaps move as your dog breathes. They may also take chest X-rays to check for pneumonia and look for an enlarged esophagus, and run blood tests, including thyroid testing.
For dogs with moderate to severe breathing problems, the most common surgery is a “tie-back” (unilateral arytenoid lateralization). The surgeon permanently opens one side of the larynx. Many dogs breathe much better afterward. The main risk after surgery is aspiration pneumonia, because the airway doesn’t close as well during swallowing. Your vet will explain how to lower that risk.
Our article on post-surgery pet care has general tips for recovery.
It can be if a breathing crisis isn’t treated quickly, but many dogs do well with management or surgery.
Often, yes. Signs tend to progress slowly.
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