Does anyone have experience with Laryngeal Paralysis?

Hi, I'm new to group and a mom of 4 furbabies. I am not asking for advice, but am asking if anyone has experience with this issue.

I have a sweet little girl that will be needing surgery for bilateral laryngeal paralysis. She's is currently being treated medically, but I fear that the time is coming that we will need to proceed with this surgery soon. The only information so far that I have been able to get is what the surgery is and how it's performed by my vet. I was also given information about statistics on it and such, but they are old and go back like 10 years. I've also done online searches and come up with pretty much the same clincal information.

My husband and I have been apprehensive about doing the surgery only because of the problems that may arrive after the surgery. After the surgery there can be issues with (2 of my biggest fears) aspiration pneumonia and choking resulting in death and of course the normal complications with surgery.

I've known one person who had the procedure done on a black lab, but no one who has had it performed on a cat. I would just like to find out if there is someone out there who has had this done that would be able to give me some after the surgery "what to expect" kind of information.

I didn't know cats could be 'roarers', but it is common in horses. I would hazard a guess that the problems of tie-back surgery would be similar - added risk of choking, food/water coming back through the nose?? Curiosity as to symptoms of 'roaring' in cats compelled me to take a bad stab at an answer - what symptoms present?

It's common in certain dog breeds and horses and rare in cats. She wheezes and squeeks when she breathes (quiet when she sleeps), coughing, gasps for air while eating, which up until now have only been mild. She also sounds like a pigeon when she purrs, which I will miss after the surgery. She may have obtained this problem from a trauma of some kind as she has an abnormal gait with her 2 front legs and shoulders.

She was a stray that showed up emaciated and near death on our doorstep a little over 2 years. She was originally thought to have URI, or a virus and just general lack of nutrition. After many months of tests, treatments and a second opinion, she underwent a endoscopy and was found to have bilateral laryngeal paralysis. She is on a small amount of prednisone which did quiet her symptoms. Unfortunately it seems like that that is no longer working and we are meeting with the vet tomorrow night to re-discuss the surgery. I would just like to gather as much information as I can.

The surgery is expensive and we are not quite sure how old she is (the vet estimates 8 - 10 years old), but she is one of the sweetest little things I have ever known and even with all of the money I have already spent on her, we feel she deserves a chance. We just want to make sure we are choosing the right one.

WOW!!! I didn't know that...learn something new every day. I have one that makes some rather odd noises too, but never had him scoped. He is otherwise normal, just noisy breathing and that sorta pigeon noise when he purrs. He DID have a URI as an 'old' kitten (probably 8 mo) but he made odd sounds before...all the treating for the URI did was make him into a pest who follows me around the yard . If the symptoms get worse, I will take him in to be scoped.

Well, let me tell you....it wasn't the way I wanted to find out about it...lol!

also after the surgery, supposidly they don't purr or meow anymore either.

Actually, right now she has a loud, deep meow kinda mixed in with a smoker's cough. Never heard anything like it and it's cute because it's coming out of this tiny little petite thing.

FWIW, horses that have had the surgery don't whinney either, and the few that do, well, it is a strange sound.

All Streak is is LOUD, he talks all the time and it is mixed with this strange cooing sound, and a few gurgles and wheezes. He was vet checked and the sound is not coming from lungs or head, but somewhere between...as per vet, but he hadn't a clue what it was.

Gee...almost sounds the same, except much more mild. My Shrimp has bilateral laryngeal paralysis. They are also known to have unilateral and most cats that have that can be treated medically. I guess what happens is the same with dogs and it gets worse over time and eventually they have a lot of trouble breathing and taking deep breaths, which is where we seem to be.

I see that this is an old post, but my cat just went through the tie back surgery 6 weeks ago and I would like to know if you ended up going through with the surgery for your baby.

Her breathing was getting more and more difficult so I did go through with the surgery, unfortunately she didn't survive it. Her laryngeal paralysis turned out to be more involved and the doctor thought maybe from being hit by a car or shaken by a dog and her trachea was actually fused to the side of her neck. They really tried, and tried, and went in 2 different ways, but the damage was just too much. They said they could save her with a tracheostomy, but the surgeon advised against it, because of the possibility of choking, especially if someone wasn't around to help. She showed up on our doorstep, emaciated, anemic, and flea ridden, and ended up having three good years with us.

Sorry, forgot to ask how is your baby doing following the surgery. Is it working....just fyi....in case I ever come across it again.

Unfortunately, she passed away on NEw Years Eve, a few weeks later. I found a couple hard lumps growing rapidly on the opposite side of her neck (non surgery side) on the same day of my last post, put her through another surgery to remove the lumps and they were cancerous. She revoveres okay from the surgery, but her appetite was poor and I was getting her fluids a couple times a week. I saw an oncologist about a week before NYE, he said she was looking good, and I was taking some time to review chemo options. Radiation was out of the question, as it would have required sedation 4-5 times a week and with her open airway, there was just way too much risk for aspiration causing pneumonia. She had already been through too much. On NYE, I decided To get her more fluids amd bring her with me to my boyfriend's house for he night. Well, the vet who I viewed as her angel for identifying her condition originally was there and saw her. At checkout, she told me I should feed Kitty dry food again, if that's what she preferred, since she was not eating much. However, she had just told me that Kitty ate over 3/4 a can of wet food that they gave her. I immediately reminded her that she said NOT to feed dry food ever again because of her open airway. I was extremely reluctant, but she kept insisting. And after a while, I gave in, thinking this is Kitty's angel vet so she knows best. So, I swing by my hose to pick up some dry food before we headed over to my boyfriend's house. Just before leaving, I figured I would give her a couple kibbles and watch her enjoy being avle to eat dry food again. She went right for it and srarted choking on the first piece she ate. She couldn't breath and I was jumping around he car with her smacking her back trying to get the food out. That worked two times. I rushed back to the vet, told them she was choking on the food and all they did was put her in an oxygen tank. About 20-30 minutes later, she went into respiratory arrest, then cardiac arrest. They did CPR and brought her back, but she was gone, brain dead. After spending a few moments with her, I had to let her go.This was the most devastating moment in my life. I had spent months trying to protect my baby from not being able to breath and she suffered and died from that very thing. Then they tell me they found the kibble lodged in her throat during the CPR.

I raised hell for them not checking her throat and just throwing her in an oxygen tank when I told them she was choking. It took about a month, but I got all the money back that I had given to the vet clinic the last few months of her life - 10K. It didn't bring my baby back, but It was all I could fight for in honor of her life. I prayed for a sign my baby was okay and she answered. I felt it the moment they called me and said we are so sorry.

It's been over a year now since I lost her and I still struggle because of the way she went. Nothing will ever be more devastating or painful. I know she wasn't doing well and was on her way out, but to die from choking? And in that moment, I wasn't there to protect her.

Kitty, My Baby Girl

We found each other in a special place 14 years ago
I opened my car door and there you were, talking up a storm

You jumped into my lap so trustingly, putting a huge smile on my face
The brightest light to shine in my life, the light I soon called Kitty

From day one what you loved the most was kneading in my hair
I'd hold you till you'd fall asleep, sometimes on top of my head
I knew, for whatever reason, that this would comfort you
I want you to know, my baby girl, it comforted me too

The connection we had was so deep, beyond what anyone could understand
Your precious blinks said everything, I was there at your command
In your final days and final hours, our bond was stronger than ever
I felt your pain, and you felt mine, we tried everything to save each other

I knew the moment you had left, I was begging God to save you
A wave of silence came over me, bright light filled the room
As I looked up all I could think of was how much you've been through
For you to go suffering the way you did and there was nothing I could do

Now I stare at your empty bed and the window that you loved
Hoping soon I will wake from this dream, and hold you in my arms

Oh, baby girl... I call out while tears run down my face
Finding it hard to catch my breath, I'm so sorry it happened this way

I hope more than anything that as time passes on you will show us some signs
That you are here with us, no longer in pain, blinking those beautiful green eyes

Baby girl, the amount of love I have for you is impossible to explain
I know though that you felt it, I loved you so much
I loved you more than anything

Loving you always,

Mommy

P.S.
Your little brother is mourning too
Sleeping in your bed and searching for you around the house
I hear his cries and comfort him
Holding him now, as I once held you, when you were around