If surgery isn’t an option, no medical cure exists for GOLPP. Dogs can be managed with anti-inflammatory medications, antihistamines, antacids, gastric motility enhancers, and measures to limit activity and assist swallowing. But without surgery, dogs with laryngeal paralysis have a greater chance of experiencing severe breathing problems. So continue to focus on home care and monitoring your dog’s quality of life. Pay special attention to preventing aspiration and to keeping your dog calm and on steady footing. With or without surgery, veterinary rehabilitation therapy and exercises to help your dog maintain her balance and strength are recommended.

 

See our rehabilitation videos for some things you can do with your dog to slow the progression of polyneuropathy! 

 

In a study of pet Labrador retrievers with laryngeal paralysis who had not had surgery, a drug called doxepin was explored as a potential treatment and compared to placebo (Rishniw 2021). The results showed that doxepin was no better than placebo in improving the dogs’ quality of life, according to their pet parents. This mirrors my experience with doxepin in dogs with laryngeal paralysis—it doesn’t seem to help.