damage to larynx

[sallypops]

as some of u kno from my previous posts, the vet has found an anurism in abby's gastric pouch (i think thats what he called it) which has been causing her 2 nose bleeds.

she will probibly need an operation to fix it but the vet warned us this can damaged the larynx ( only on side of it would open and shut) this would reduce her athletic ability

so i was just wondering if anyone has had a horse who has had an operation which has caused this?? and how much less you could do with the horse???

concerned for common riding season, lots of fast hill work, also really wanna do lots of jumping will she be up to this if the damage happens?? (touch would it won't)

 

[Minnies_Mum]

I think you mean her guttural pouch (?) If so, then an aneurysm could cause a fatal haemorrhage if it ruptures, so she probably will need the op. I would imagine your vet is telling you that damage could occur, so that you are warned in the unlikely event that it does. I don't think it says anywhere in my notes (I'm a vet student) that damage to the larynx is a likely outcome of the surgery.

If damage did occur, and one side of the larynx was paralysed (this occurs because of damage to the nerve supplying the structures of the larynx, not the larynx itself) then she may well make a "roaring" noise when doing fast work. This does interrupt the airflow a bit, but I'm not really sure how it will affect how much ridden work she could do, I imagine it would depend on the severity. If damage occurred I guess it might be possible to do a "tie-back" op to correct the larynx problem, like they do in horses that get larygeal paralysis for another reason. I'm not really sure, just speculating.

I would chat to the vet about your concerns and ask him/her what they think the chances of damage are and how it will affect your horse if it occurs.