Help with my British miniature bull terrier 3 years old and possible laryngeal paralysis
My miniature bull terrier has a problem. he has been in hospital now for five days with what appears to be laryngeal paralysis. He had Kennel cough when he was 2, caught from a visiting dog and since then he has not been able to take the amount of exercise that he used to......much less than our 9 year old miniature bull terrier bitch who usually accompanies him. About a month ago he started wheezing sometimes especially when he exerted himself. Finally about two weeks ago, he suddenly stopped on a walk and a whole load of white mucus came out of his mouth. There was no other reaction from him of pain, so I didn't think he had been stung by a wasp (for instance). However, as his tongue turnng blue, I rushed him to the vet who intubated him with oxygen and he was taken to a local hospital. Apparently they had big difficulty inserting the tube. According to the vet he had had an anaphylactic shock At the hospital they continued to feed him oxygen and turned him throughout the night but he developed water on the lungs. ....very life-threatening but with excellent care,in a few days they thought him well enough to come home. There seemed to be no other effects. No damage to the kidneys or liver.
However ten days later in the night he was making terrible loud wheezing sounds. So we took him back to the hosptial However, the dog appeared to be fine, running round the room! And the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him. He gave him a shot of steroids. A few days later the same thing happened so we took him to our own vet, who gave him an antibiotic ,painkiller and a steroid injection and sent us to probably the best hospital in the UK.
The next day we were rung by the hospital to ask if we would allow him to have a temporary tracheotomy so he could breathe....... This was five days ago.They also gave him mild anaesthesia and looked down his throat where they found a his airway was completely blocked. At first he was given steroids. Yesterday they started with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Apparently there are what appears to be red raw edges to the aneroidal cartilages. These are firmly shut as in laryngeal paralysis The specialist has never seen anything like this and can't understand why the red raw swelling is not going down.The choice at the moment seems to be a laryngeal tie-back if the swelling remains and they are not capable of opening. But for an active male bull terrier this would I think be a very difficult life.
Sorry I am just a layman, so my description may not be concise or accurate. If anyone has further advice or recognises these symptoms I would be grateful for a reply. There is nothing showing in his blood....he is a fit and healthy little boy.....with just this swelling between having laryngeal tie-back surgery or a normal life!
However ten days later in the night he was making terrible loud wheezing sounds. So we took him back to the hosptial However, the dog appeared to be fine, running round the room! And the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him. He gave him a shot of steroids. A few days later the same thing happened so we took him to our own vet, who gave him an antibiotic ,painkiller and a steroid injection and sent us to probably the best hospital in the UK.
The next day we were rung by the hospital to ask if we would allow him to have a temporary tracheotomy so he could breathe....... This was five days ago.They also gave him mild anaesthesia and looked down his throat where they found a his airway was completely blocked. At first he was given steroids. Yesterday they started with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Apparently there are what appears to be red raw edges to the aneroidal cartilages. These are firmly shut as in laryngeal paralysis The specialist has never seen anything like this and can't understand why the red raw swelling is not going down.The choice at the moment seems to be a laryngeal tie-back if the swelling remains and they are not capable of opening. But for an active male bull terrier this would I think be a very difficult life.
Sorry I am just a layman, so my description may not be concise or accurate. If anyone has further advice or recognises these symptoms I would be grateful for a reply. There is nothing showing in his blood....he is a fit and healthy little boy.....with just this swelling between having laryngeal tie-back surgery or a normal life!
Comments
My advice to you would be to seek another opinion from a better Veterinarian that may have the knowledge and capabilities to conduct appropriate tests to pin point the actual issue and treat it with proper medications.
Please keep me up to date on your Bullies condition.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
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