Laryngeal Paralysis & Blood Problems

[Guest AndyUK]

Hi all

 

I wonder if anyone could offer me any advice.

 

Sarah is almost 10 yrs old and we noticed some time ago that she was panting a lot. The vet prescribed Vivitonin to increase the flow of blood to the brain but the panting continued. These have made her more lively but the panting continued. I read through all the posts on this site and concluded it was Laryngeal Paralysis - the vet wasn't so sure but I was convinced (mainly from posts on this site!) and pressed the issue. The diagnosis was confirmed on Friday and she has been referred to a specialist for treatment.

 

This evening the vet rang to say that her blood tests were through and she has low white blood cells (2.75 - normal range 5-18) and low thyroid (11, 13-52).

 

Has anyone been in a similar position? Are the blood and LP linked? What questions should I be asking of the vet and the specialist?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

 

Andy

[Guest KennelMom]

Our boy Champ/Grandpa had LP, though he never had any bloodwork that was "off" because of it.

 

Good luck with your girl...Treatment choices can be tough decisions to make.

[MP_the4pack]

Are those regular dog values or greyhound values? There is a difference.

 

My 11 yr old at the time Onyx had the surgery and did fine. She's still with me at 13.5, going strong. She's like the energizer bunny, she just keeps going and going and going.

 

I don't remember what her blood values were or if they were slightly off and the surgeon knew greyhound values.

 

 

Good luck in whatever you choose.

 

[Guest AndyUK]

Thanks for the replies.

 

The vet never said whether they were greyhound or normal dog. All she said was the counts are a little below normal. They could be a 'one-off' or she could have had a virus we weren't aware of which affected the results. They are going to take more blood tomorrow and do more tests. I just want to make sure I ask the right questions and make sure she gets the treatment she needs. Do you know what the normals are for greyhounds? I'll make sure I ask.

Edited April 6, 2009 by AndyUK

[Bevd]

Have a look at this Andy and maybe print it off for your vet http://www.recycledracers.org/FAQ/greyhoun...ood-values.html

 

Going off what your vet said was normal for WBC, your vet is working off 'normal' dog figures, not greyhound figures.

[Guest AndyUK]

Thank you so much - I can't tell you how relieved I am reading this.

 

I've had dogs all my life but Sarah is my first Greyhound. Since the first day we got her i've said they are like no other dog and I think this just proves it.

 

[Burpdog]

I can also email you a lot of greyhound health docs if you like. Email me at Burpdog@msn.com

[IndyandHollyluv]

Hi Andy - I don't know if I can be of much help but here is my experience: my Holly, who just turned 10 in March, always pooped out easily on walks but loved to sprint around the yard without any ill effects. Holly often looked tired and when 3-4 yrs old-ish (I think), she lost hair bilaterally on both thighs. Holly has dense white fur so the hair loss was quite obvious.

 

Took her to the vet for thyroid panel. Can't recall levels, but she was low (T4?) so we started her on thyroid meds. Definitely helped perk her up. Hair grew back. However, I will say she continues to struggle with fatigue and heavy panting on a walk (but never while sprinting) or if she is in what she perceives as a stressful situation. At home, Holly is a happy, playful girl. Good appetite, sleeps a rock.

 

Her chest and throat x-rays was unremarkable, if I recall correctly. Vet suspected LP but I have not pursued any scoping, treatment, or meds. She was gacking up her food when eating for awhile, so vet prescribed a round of antibiotics which helped clear up the gunk. (Holly also has gingivitis, so some of that could be from bacteria in her mouth).

 

To date, I have been able to manage Holly without more invasive treatment. She gets an annual dental, wellness blood work, etc. By the way, her annual blood work has all been within normal limits so not sure if that is any indicator??

 

So much of these auto-immune problems are mysteriously or not-so-mysteriously linked. I think thyroid and LP fall under that category.

 

Hope you find the right treatment for Sarah. Thyroid meds have served Holly very well.

[brandimom]

I don't have a lot of advice but I can tell you that my very first grey was diagnosed with allergies blah blah (this was 1996). Took her to see a specialist for mange and the specialist diagnosed the LP and told me they could do surgery to correct this and I should have the surgery done right away. She gave me the name of a specialist that would come into my city and do the surgery. I knew then I would do the surgery but it was too late. My advice please do not put off the surgery if that is what they are suggesting. When I say it was too late, Sara died driving back home. She couldn't breath and there wasn't anything I could do. When I got her to the nearest ER, the vet said it was very similar to a heat stroke.

Edited April 6, 2009 by brandimom

[brandimom]

Have a look at this Andy and maybe print it off for your vet http://www.recycledracers.org/FAQ/greyhoun...ood-values.html

 

Going off what your vet said was normal for WBC, your vet is working off 'normal' dog figures, not greyhound figures.

 

Thank you for this information. I will be taking it to my vet!

Edited April 6, 2009 by brandimom

[sweetdogs]

Have you seen this linky? It helped explain LP a little more clearly to me. I went looking for it because you mentioned her thyroid was low (but may be normal for greyhounds) & there was some thought that hypothyroidism & LP were linked. I suspect my 12 yo boy has LP & we've already tested his thyroid prior to any other testing (his is fine).

 

I've started Faolin on doxepin, a human antidepressant thats used in dogs with behavioral problems & allergies. It's also been used to treat LP. He's been on it for a few weeks & I do think it's helping. He has far fewer wheezing episodes & doesn't seem to have any other issues with it. My vet was able to find the scientific literature on it, but I haven't. Maybe worth discussing with your vet too depending on how far things have progressed with Sarah.

 

Best of luck with Sarah!

[IndyandHollyluv]

Holly's mom here again. Addendum to my Post #8. Forgot to mention. Holly's half-brother, Indy, 11, also pants hard particularly during humid and warm temps and/or during a walk. Several years ago, thoracic/chest x-ray revealed some pulmonary fibrosis (thickening, scarring in lungs, "old dog lungs," etc. Indy did race.) but there is no discernible stress or anxiety associated with his panting -- unlike Holly. Just another possible contributing factor.

 

[Guest AndyUK]

Hi

 

Thank you so much for the replies and advice.

 

I took Sarah to the vet this morning so they could take more blood for more tests and I took a printout of

http://www.recycledracers.org/FAQ/greyhoun...ood-values.html

with me. The vet didn't know this and after ringing the pathology lab for confirmation is keeping the sheet for future reference. Much to our relief, this means Sarah's blood results are all within normal limits

 

LP is considered specialist surgery and Sarah has been referred to the Royal Veterinary College for further treatment - we will see them shortly. Fortunately we have caught it at a very early stage and the vet is confident a short delay will not be a problem. I just wish Sarah would realise she has this condition and stop doing laps of the garden and digging holes!

 

Thanks for the link sweetdogs, I think I'll take it with me when we see the specialist so I understand what they are proposing.

[Guest AndyUK]

I've just added a picture to the Introductions thread so you can see who we are talking about.

 

[3DogNite]

My old girlie, Darbee-Do went thru the LG Tie-back surgery at the age of 13! and came thru SO WELL!!! the neck heals fast, and she was eating normally within a couple of days. (soft food at first) and was out for short, easy walks within a week. !!!

 

she only walks with a harness now, and wears beautiful Bling for a necklace/tag "collar".

 

She is 14 now, and going strong. It was the best thing we've ever done for her,, She still will do a lap or two around the back yard just to prove how good she feels!

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Guest AndyUK]

Just a quick update.

 

Sarah is having investigatory work at the Royal Veterinary College tomorrow. They are not convinced she has LP as the presentation is not typical. They are going to have a look at her breathing and throat under mild sedation, do more blood work, do a special throat scan (can't remember the name, sorry) and take more x-rays of her throat and chest. Results will be phoned to us tomorrow and we pick her up on Wednesday.

 

 

[galgrey]

Just a quick update.

 

Sarah is having investigatory work at the Royal Veterinary College tomorrow. They are not convinced she has LP as the presentation is not typical. They are going to have a look at her breathing and throat under mild sedation, do more blood work, do a special throat scan (can't remember the name, sorry) and take more x-rays of her throat and chest. Results will be phoned to us tomorrow and we pick her up on Wednesday.

 

 

Sending good thoughts! Keep us posted.

[tbhounds]

Just wanted to mention that a low wbc, low platelets and a low PCV can be signs of hypothyroidism. GH's generally do have a lower wbc and a lower platelet count but a high PCV---how was her PCV%? You might want to have a full thyroid panel run.

[Guest AndyUK]

Well, Sarah is home again.

 

The good news is there is nothing wrong with her throat or lungs - no LP, no tumour, no thyroid problem. There's nothing wrong with her blood and everything appears normal with her heart. In fact they could not find anything physical which could cause her excessive panting.

 

The bad news is she definitely pants excessively on occasion.

 

The vet has 4 possible causes.

1) anxiety - which makes sense when we are out on walks but not when she is having a run around the garden.

2) pain - she as a little arthritis which causes discomfort every now and again. The vet wonders whether she is in pain most of the time but not showing it and this is causing her anxiety. He also noticed her abdomen is a little tender.

3) cataracts - he is not an eye specialist but thinks she is getting cataracts and so could be either anxious that she can't see properly or that things 'surprise' her. It was thought she had cataracts before we rehomed her but investigations revealed her eyes were fine - their normal condition is 'glassy'.

4) she's getting old.

 

So, I'm hugely relieved she does not have LP or a tumour of some kind but worried that we haven't found what is wrong.

 

I think i'm going to let her settle down and recover from all the prodding, poking and anaesthesia and keep a close eye on what causes the panting and her eyesight (she is due her jabs next month so I'll ask her regular vet to check them out).

 

Thanks for all the advice and support. I'll keep you posted.

 

Andy