Laryngeal diseases Flashcards
Cartilages of larynx, which is which?
Name these structures.
Differences between the feline and canine larynx.
Cats do not have corniculate and cuneiform processes.
Wheezing upon inhalation is called
stridor
3 most common Laryngeal diseases in small animals
Laryngeal paralysis,
laryngeal collapse,
laryngeal masses
Clinical signs and findings in laryngeal diseases.
▪Respiratory distress, stridor, gagging, coughing, voice change, exercise intolerance
▪Labored, prolonged inspiration (stridor)
Animal can present in acute respiratory crisis with Potentially life-threatening inspiratory dyspnea. Check their temperature! This is also more common in summer months.
Laryngeal paralysis is more common in…
Describe this disease.
dogs than in cats.
Arytenoid cartilage fails to open during inspiration -> Narrowing of laryngeal opening -> Upper airway obstruction.
▪Unilateral or bilateral disease
▪Progressive clinical signs
Acquired disease
▪Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve or laryngeal muscles
▪ Or, due to Polyneuropathy (e.g. GOLPP), polymyopathy, trauma, thoracic masses.
▪Usually, a cause is not found -> idiopathic.
Congenital disease is possible but is very uncommon.
Typical signalment in laryngeal paralysis cases.
Old, large breed dogs such as
labrador, Golder Retriever, St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Irish Setter, Brittany Spaniel
Name these structures.
Congenital etiologies of laryngeal paralysis. (2)
▪Genetic trait
▪ Laryngeal paralysis—polyneuropathy
complex
Acquired etiologies of laryngeal paralysis. (4)
Accidental trauma
▪ Cervical penetrating wounds
▪ Strangulating trauma
Iatrogenic surgical trauma
▪ Cranial thoracic surgery
▪ Thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy
▪ Tracheal surgery
▪ Ventral slot
Cervical/intrathoracic neoplasia
▪ Lymphoma
▪ Thymoma
▪ Thyroid carcinoma/ectopic thyroid carcinoma
Neuromuscular disease
▪ Main: Geriatric-onset laryngeal paralysis
polyneuropathy syndrome (GOLPP) (!)
Also these,
▪ Endocrinopathy (hypothyroidism,
hypoadrenocorticism)
▪ Immune-mediated
▪ Infectious
▪ Myasthenia gravis
▪ Polymyopathy
▪ Systemic lupus erythematosus
▪ Toxins (lead; organophosphates)
30% of dogs with laryngeal paralysis also have
hypothyroidism
The correlation mechanism is not known.