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What Is GOLPP? 

GOLPP stands for Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy

What is GOLPP?

GOLPP, or Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy, is a medical condition that primarily affects older dogs. Let's break it down into simpler terms:

 

  • Geriatric Onset: This means the condition usually shows up in older dogs.
     

  • Laryngeal Paralysis: It involves the weakening of nerves that control muscles in the throat, specifically the ones responsible for moving laryngeal cartilages. These cartilages help control the flow of air in and out of the windpipe during breathing. Normally, they also protect the airway while swallowing by closing to prevent food or water from entering the windpipe. In laryngeal paralysis, the cartilages stay in the middle position, causing breathing problems instead of opening up during breathing.

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  • Polyneuropathy: This refers to nerve issues affecting laryngeal movement. These nerves come from the vagus nerve, which is a significant nerve in the body. Studies have found that other nerves can also be affected, leading to problems like difficulty swallowing, gradual hind-end weakness, and muscle loss.

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In dogs with GOLPP, we don't know what causes the condition, which is known as idiopathic. In contrast, some dogs are born with laryngeal paralysis due to congenital issues, where the nerves don't function properly from birth, and symptoms appear at a young age.

When to see your veterinarian: Signs of GOLPP

  • Throat clearing or hacking

  • Coughing

  • Gagging with or without regurgitation

  • Harsh, increased noise when breathing (called stridor) or when panting

  • Panting when the dog is otherwise comfortable and calm

  • Bark changes—voice may sound gruff, croaky, or husky

  • Exercise intolerance—tiring easily and possibly having trouble breathing after normal activity, or after getting mildly excited about something. Pet parents sometimes attribute this to their dog

  • “getting old and slowing down,” when the true cause is lack of air.

  • Difficulty breathing—dogs have a wide-eyed, anxious facial expression, or appear to “smile” when panting because their lips are pulled back in an effort to draw in more air. They may also have more pronounced chest expansion because the abdominal muscles work harder to draw air in.

  • Pale, blue, or dark-red gums or tongue

  • Front or hind end weakness

  • Loss of muscle mass

  • Unsteady or wobbly when walking

  • Dragging rear toes or knuckling

How is GOLPP diagnosed? 

  • Upper Airway Exam: performed using a short-acting anesthetic which allows evaluation of laryngeal movement during breathing. Generally a respiratory stimulant is given to test function.

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  • Chest & Neck X-rays or whole-body CT (optional): to maximally evaluate the internal structures of the chest including the heart, lungs, trachea, and esophagus (foodpipe). CT gives more detailed information than X-rays, and also evaluates the abdomen to screen for other issues, including cancer.

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  • Esophagram (optional): evaluates esophageal function during swallowing using real-time X-ray (fluoroscopy).  Swallowing is observed with liquid, canned food, and kibble. Any signs of reflux from the stomach or hiatal hernia are also noted.

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  • Neurological exam: examines gait, muscle tone, awareness of leg position and many different reflexes.

Could throat trauma be the cause of GOLPP? 

  • Throat trauma can also damage the larynx, trachea, and associated nerves and cause laryngeal paralysis. Neck injury tends to occur in small dogs who are attacked by another dog and grabbed by the throat during a fight. Laryngeal paralysis from bite wounds affects both sides of the larynx. Choke collars, prong collars, or a sudden, hard jerk on a standard collar have been speculated to contribute to injuries that lead to laryngeal paralysis, but collar type is not a contributing factor in this disease. Furthermore, this type of injury would not be expected to cause the nerve degeneration and progressive esophageal or limb mobility problems seen in dogs with GOLPP.

What about any endocrine causes of GOLPP? 

The endocrine (hormonal) disorders hypothyroidism (inadequate thyroid hormone production) and hyperadrenocorticism (excess cortisol production) have been implicated as causes of laryngeal paralysis in dogs, so veterinarians may check for these diseases as well. Tumors of the neck and chest can also cause recurrent laryngeal nerves dysfunction and signs of laryngeal paralysis, so it’s important to check for thyroid gland and other nearby tumors, because they affect the type of treatment needed and a dog’s prognosis.

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