Mommy Bear Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 My darling old brown girl Coco has today been diagnosed with L-P. After blood tests and x-rays my vet pronounced her exceedingly healthy for her age but with left side L-P. We've changed from collar to harness and have some antibiotics (in case of underlying inflamation) and mucus buster "stuff". The Vet is very optimistic and does not expect any rapid deterioration. We have discounted (for now) the tie-back operation because of her age (10) and post operative prognosis. Does anyone have experience of L-P and any helpful tips that would make her life easier and more comfortable. Thanks. Sandy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 First off, big 's for you. My Gdog had LP and due to his age, I decided against the tie back operation. To help him be more comfortable he ate his food from a raised feeder and his water bowl was also elevated. I soaked his food to make it nice and mushy and easier to digest and would feed him smaller meals more frequently. Like you've already done, he wore a harness for walks. We would have shorter walks and when I wasn't home I kept the gate on the stairs shut so he couldn't go up on his own, in case he got so far and ran out of puff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Henry, one of Phoenyx's dogs, has LP. Might be worth PM-ing her to see if she has any other suggestions too Sending good thoughts for Coco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Molly, my old greyhound girl, was diagnosed with LP at 10. She had paralysis on both sides and was really struggling, so after a lot of heart-searching we opted for the tie-back operation. It was extremely successful, the improvement in her quality of life was dramatic and immediate, and she went on to have another four and a half years of healthy active life. If Coco has paralysis only on one side then she may manage quite well without the operation. If it comes to the point where you think she needs it, though, I'd say don't get scared off by some of the stuff you might read on the web about poor prognosis and difficult aftercare - most of that is either non-UK or very out of date. The specialist we saw was able to give us a huge amount of reassurance about the operation and recovery process, and Molly absolutely sailed through it all. Sending lots of good wishes to Coco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Forgot to say, Gdog was diagnosed when he was 13 and went on to be with me for another 2 and a bit years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted October 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Thanks Guys, for the support and the advice. Have to admit I found the net a bit depressing! I had visions of Coco falling at my feet and writhing around trying to breathe. But the Vet was very reassuring and is obviously going to monitor the situation on a regular basis. Feeding time at the House of Bear is getting quite complicated what with all the medications - Duke currently on antibiotics and special food 'cos of a bad colitis attack. The big problem is making sure that each gets the right stuff cos Mungo is a dish surfer and I don't want him getting two sorts of antibiotic, mucus buster and metacam Oh, and then there is the Skullcap and Valerian Duke is getting in preparation for Fecking Fireworks. They started this week - Festival of Lights or somesuch! Hey Ho. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClazUK Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 If it comes to the point where you think she needs it, though, I'd say don't get scared off by some of the stuff you might read on the web about poor prognosis and difficult aftercare I've had (or Gary & I) 2 greyhounds in my care, and one we rehomed, that all had the tie-back. It bought Shadow about 3.5 years, Jimmy about 2 and Mark about 4. I'd not hesitate to have it done again should a dog of mine need it. The short recovery period is far less distressing than a dog struggling to breathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanvan Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 My Belgian Shepherd had a tie-back when she was about six, and she lasted until she was nine. She would not have survived without it, so I didn't have a choice. The most difficult part was that she wasn't allowed long walks or to chase after a stick anymore, and felt the heat a lot so we had to be aware of that, and allow her to lie on the cold floor in the garage when she became distressed. On one occasion she collapsed and had to have an icy enema to cool her core temperature fast. Despite this I would make the same choice again as we did have three more years with our gorgeous girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 My big worry about the op is Coco's age. She is 10 1/2 and has slowed up considerably in the last six months. Does a lot of staring at the wall and is really creaky in the hips, (on Metacam for that). Even before her diagnosis we were thinking that she was doing OK for her age (10 is a good age for a Newfie) but obviously going, slowly, downhill. I don't know if she could take the trauma of an operation and the time gained would not be of great quality. I want my girl to be comfortable as possible and while her symptoms are minimal I feel status quo is best for her. The vet says she is not in pain from the LP, but obiously there is some discomfort with the mucus, hence the "coughing". I realise this can change but we just have to take each day as it comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carol bolton Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 When we got our first greyhound from a shelter he had Laryngeal Paralysis but he'd had the operation, he was about 12 when we got him & we were not told about the condition they just said mind the wound near his ear .We had him two years he couldn't run without a choking gollum noise after a couple of mins ,if he barked he also started choking ..which was no good when seeing other dogs ..he also collapsed a couple of times ,but the worst was in 2006 the very hot weather litterally killed him, one day we had taken him back to see the shelters vet because he was an oldie we would have help & he started to choke & go blue ..he was put to sleep at the side of the road that day ..he was a lovely old boy & they all remember him from the shelter ..if we'd known about the condition we could have been more careful....i hope your dog Cocoa has a long & happy life it helps when you know things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Oh Carol, how sad. As you say, forewarned is forearmed. We know what to look for and what precautions to take. Have to admit, she's getting a bit spoiled but the boys don't mind Mungo looks on her a his (grand)mum, sleeping beside her and letting her tell him off if he's too boisterous. Duke has been with her since he was 14 months so he knows its Ladies First in this house. (Must convince DB of that!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gog Magog Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 My old Saluki Meg was diagnosed with LP several years ago. I picked her up as a stray and she ended up coming home She was in very poor condition and had obviously been treated badly. She was also quite old althought we didn't find out until later that she was probably as old as 15 when we got her. After we had her for about 10 months they vet diagnosed LP. She had it quite badly and we decided on the op. She did develop pneumonia twice in the next 2.5 yrs (a possible side-effect of the op) but made a full recovery both times. As said by others - we used raised food bowls, wet food, a harness and watched her exercise. she had a fan and an air-con unit in the summer and in the winter wore a jumper by equafleece Due to her pneumonia bouts she developed mucus in her lungs so we had to do "coupage" on a daily basis which she actually seemed to enjoy. As said before I would see how Coco does but don't be afraid to consider the op if you have to. It sounds as though she is getting on well though. Meg had to be PTS in the end but it wasn't her LP - she was probably at least 17/18 yrs old and everything just failed as you would expect at that age. The op was the right thing for her but I've met many other dogs who are coping well without it. It is a serious condition but can be managed - and you get used to the "roaring", the heavy rasping pant they have, although she did wake me up every night without fail with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 We must have been extremely lucky with Molly, hearing some of these other stories. We were told when she was 10 she wouldn't survive long without the op, so it wasn't really a choice, but after the op she was able to tolerate normal exercise, had no problems with heat and eventually went back to her usual dried food (though I soaked it so there was no dust or small particles she might inhale). She did rasp a little bit if she did mad running, but nothing like the wheezing and coughing she was doing before the op. She really led a completely normal life with no complications at all - the only difference was that she was walked on a harness instead of a collar. We lost her at 14.5 to a sudden heart failure, so not connected to the LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Coco seems to be doing well. She has had no overt symptoms since the mucus buster medication and is not grunting and groaning as much when she lies down. Her dire-rear was fixed with the anti biotics and withdrawl of metacam. However........ her xrays revealed cardiomyopathy and she is now on two heart pills twice a day. All very well in theory but I'm finding the odd one on the floor or in her fur a couple of hours after administering although she does swear she's swallowed them. She must be getting most of them 'cos they are working like magic. She is much more alert and wants to go walks (albeit at about minus ten feet an hour) and is becoming the bossy bitch she was before (beware Mungo, she's watching you). She does not seem much affected by Duke's loss even though they had been together for nearly eight years but theirs was a tolerant affection rather than a love affair. She is being monitored by the Vet and watched like a hawk by me so we just take each day as it comes and hope for a little more time with her. Thanks again for all your input and support, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lots of lurchers Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I've had (or Gary & I) 2 greyhounds in my care, and one we rehomed, that all had the tie-back. It bought Shadow about 3.5 years, Jimmy about 2 and Mark about 4. I'd not hesitate to have it done again should a dog of mine need it. The short recovery period is far less distressing than a dog struggling to breathe. I would agree. One of our lurchers, Blossom had problems for two years at a low level, that was manageable. However then she started to have more severe problems. She had a severe attack in the evening after going out for her last wee one night. We thought the op would be the next step. However the next morning when she went to the vets to be checked over she collapsed and had to be given an emergency trachaotomy. Then taken to the University of Liverpool for the Laryngeal tie back. I too had read all the scary things on the web and was extremely worried. However, after posting on a couple of sites to get feedback from people whose dogs had had the op, and a chat with ClazUK (hi) was much relieved to hear otherwise. At this point Blossom was probably about 12ish years of age. Blossom recovered very well from both operations and survived another 3 years with a good quality of life. Pneumonia is a possible complication afterwards because they can inhale food or water into the lungs, but Blossom did not suffer with this. I would not hesitate to have it done again either Sending good thoughts for you and Coco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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