Another wwyd (sorry)

[fankino04]

So I still have to go to the vet to get this confirmed but noodle has been "clearing her throat" several times a day recently. You tube videos that show laryngeal paralysis seem very similar to it and upon googling the condition it appears that in older dogs (she's a 12 and a half year old Malamute) it can be due to a degenerative nerve condition which would also explain her muscle wastage and random twitches / tremors that seem like the nerves are misfiring. My issue is that given her age and other issues (muscle wastage, poss liver issues, poss early stage Cushing's) is it right to put her through a tie back operation? Her breathing is currently fine, she doesn't tire out on walks ( but sometimes they get shorter because her legs seem tired), so do I wait and see, knowing that if it deteriorates at the same rate as everything else I would PTS as even with the op her quality of life has become low at that stage?operate if it becomes worse but she is still ok in other ways? operate early so it's one less thing that could effect her? I hate the idea of not fixing something that is fixable but I also don't agree with putting an old dog through invasive surgery and recovery if they won't have much time or quality left after it anyway, also if her liver isn't great (raised ALP and some patches on ultrasound) the surgery itself could finish her off?
Thanks to anyone who has got this far x

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Given everything I wouldn't put her through an op.

If it is indeed degenerative, and adding in all else, then I'd be saying goodbye despite how bloody hard that is.

 

[Equi]

Has she been checked for a heart murmur recently ? My old lad had liver issues and I had taken him to the vet because he too had developed a cough and it was put down to a heart murmur that got progressively worse. They suggested heart meds but very frankly told me that they will possibly kill him but he was very near the end of his life anyway and they may buy him a few months if they work. I would have had him pts but my mum was overly Attached and wanted to try everything. He was pts a week later.
That isn’t to scare you just to share my experience.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Coughs can indicate organ issues.

 

[fankino04]

Has she been checked for a heart murmur recently ? My old lad had liver issues and I had taken him to the vet because he too had developed a cough and it was put down to a heart murmur that got progressively worse. They suggested heart meds but very frankly told me that they will possibly kill him but he was very near the end of his life anyway and they may buy him a few months if they work. I would have had him pts but my mum was overly Attached and wanted to try everything. He was pts a week later.
That isn’t to scare you just to share my experience.

Thanks, the investigation for Cushing's came about after a senior dog mot in January that only showed raised ALP in her liver so I assume as part of the mot they checked heart rate etc, we then changed vets end of August (coughing started just before this) as a new patient they did a full check-up and didn't say there was an issue with her heart and she doesn't get out of breath of tired on her walks so don't think this is the issue but will check when we go to the vet.

 

[fankino04]

Coughs can indicate organ issues.

Thanks, there may well be an issue in her liver but if that's the case it's not something to be treated. It's more of a trying to clear her throat than a persistent cough though.

 

[CorvusCorax]

There's a strain of kennel cough that can present like this.

 

[fankino04]

There's a strain of kennel cough that can present like this.

I did think it's like a very mild kennel cough but she has had it a few months and it hasn't got any worse or better???

 

[meleeka]

My parents dog has similar symptoms. They took him In for the morning to investigate and diagnosed a heart murmur. He’s still clearing his throat despite being on medication. In your circumstances I probably wouldn’t put my dog through an op if they are otherwise happy in themselves. If it deteriorated quicker than the other issues then I may consider it if it’s a relatively simple procedure (I have no idea what the recovery would be), but at 12 you are simply putting off the inevitable with treatments you choose. There’s no prize for getting a dog to a ripe old age, so let her quality of life guide you. She’s happy now, so I think I’d just see how she goes (after a vet check to make sure she’s otherwise ok).

 

[fankino04]

[QUOTE="meleeka, post: 14438387, member: 34626" In your circumstances I probably wouldn’t put my dog through an op if they are otherwise happy in themselves. If it deteriorated quicker than the other issues then I may consider it if it’s a relatively simple procedure (I have no idea what the recovery would be), but at 12 you are simply putting off the inevitable with treatments you choose. There’s no prize for getting a dog to a ripe old age, so let her quality of life guide you. She’s happy now, so I think I’d just see how she goes (after a vet check to make sure she’s otherwise ok).[/QUOTE]
Thanks, that's what my head tells me.

 

[{97702}]

All of those symptoms suggest heart failure to me, based on my own experiences with dogs of other breeds - the dry cough is a classic symptom which I’m very familiar with unfortunately

I’d get a vet to check it, but I agree I wouldn’t do any sort of operation given her age and other health issues - just enjoy her as long as she has quality of life xx

 

[Bellasophia]

I’d have the vet to an assessment..
whenyou get the results...in a nutshell...
If it’s a pill..I’d give it..
if it’s an op..I’d say a slow goodbye and let her go..

 

[fankino04]

She's booked onto vet on Friday afternoon, if it's the larynx thing will continue as we are until either it or the muscle wastage starts effecting her quality of life and PTS then ( hopefully they both progress slowly and we have a while together yet) if heart then she can go on the pills and as above applies again.

 

[Bellasophia]

Good luck.

 

[Moobli]

My 14 year old border collie had Laryngeal Paralysis for the last few months of his life. I decided against the tieback operation and he was pts due to a tumour which was unrelated. I don't think I would ever put an elderly dog with other issues through an invasive operation unless it meant good quality of life could be prolonged for a substantial time.
I would also ask your vet to consider the possibility of heart issues, as another collie of mine had a persistent cough which turned out to be congestive heart failure.
Good luck on Friday.

 

[fankino04]

My 14 year old border collie had Laryngeal Paralysis for the last few months of his life. I decided against the tieback operation and he was pts due to a tumour which was unrelated. I don't think I would ever put an elderly dog with other issues through an invasive operation unless it meant good quality of life could be prolonged for a substantial time.
I would also ask your vet to consider the possibility of heart issues, as another collie of mine had a persistent cough which turned out to be congestive heart failure.
Good luck on Friday.

Thanks, all her other health conditions are quite minor at the moment and she's not seeming bothered by any of them but at her age I don't know how quickly they will progress, I'm 90% certain the throat clearing isn't her heart as it's not a cough so much as a choking (but not seriously) but will defo get her heart checked incase. The cat had degenerative heart condition and he sort of heaved as he coughed coz he was trying to get pressure of his chest and she is nothing like that...

 

[reddie]

Our old lab x had a cough at night, he was diagnosed with heart failure. He was put on medication and had a good quality of life for a couple of years

 

[fankino04]

Ok so vet says there are no heart issues, he doesn't think the nerve issue (twitching and muscle wastage) is anything more sinister than just general old age. Her throat looks good but she is a little tender so he thinks she most likely has a low grade upper respiratory tract infection. She can't have the anti biotics he wants to prescribe as she is on others for a current UTI so have to hold off and monitor for a bit until that is cleared up. I've been recommended by my chiropractor to start on alpha lipoic acid for the nerve problems in my right leg so I asked of there might be any benefit in this supplement for the dog and got told it won't do any harm but he's not convinced that there is any evidence to suggest it has a benefit to dogs so will have a think on whether to add it in for her.
Also will find a harness for her (never been a fan) so while she is tender on her throat she doesn't have any lead pressure on it, anyone any suggestions for which harness?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

If she's well-behaved on the lead, and you don't think it will matter that much to her if her lead is attached to a collar or a harness, I would go for a simple harness that is easy to put on/take off, like this one:

But if you think the switch to harness instead of collar will cause problems with pulling, then it might be worth venturing into the jungle of no pull harness, perhaps something like this:

Or if you want something with more padded front, maybe something like this:

 

[fankino04]

Thanks FL, I don't think the change to a harness will make her pull, the only time she has pressure on her collar is if she's been sniffing too long and we need to get a move on but mostly then she will follow when called, if she finds scraps to eat that's an issue and sometimes she's too eager to say hello to another dog (she doesn't pull to get to them it's just if someone wants or let's their dog come over to say hi she can be a bit excited when they are right up in her face). So definitely thinking comfort over control.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Then it definitely doesn't sound as if you would need something more than an easy, simple harness like the one in the first link I posted. That's the style of harness I have for my 3 bitches, although theirs is of a Swedish brand, they usually walks just as well in them, as in their half-chokes.