Laryngeal paralysis causes progressive respiratory compromise in older large breed dogs. Surgical arytenoid lateralisation resolves the breathing obstruction effectively.
Laryngeal paralysis causes progressive welfare compromise from breathing difficulty that worsens with exercise and heat. Affected dogs cannot cool themselves effectively through panting, creating severe heat stress risk in summer. The anxiety from respiratory distress during exercise further compromises welfare. Surgical tie-back produces immediate dramatic improvement in breathing, resolving the welfare emergency of acute respiratory distress. Post-operative management of aspiration pneumonia risk requires careful feeding management but the welfare outcome from successful surgery is excellent.