laryngeal paralysis (lar par)

[ergodic]

My rabbit Snickerdoodle has been diagnosed with Lar par via endoscopy. He has had numerous choking episode when waking up. We are trying doxepin. Has anyone had any similar issues?

[jerseygirl]

Oh that would have been scary to see the choking, im sorry. Was there anything you could do when he had those episodes?  Is the medication helping him do you think?   His lungs are sounding clear?  I assume vet checked. They always listen to heart & lungs first whenever mine are at the vet.

Im quite interested in looking into this further.  Is this like older dogs can get?

I do have an older rabbit that has had some gag/coughing issue when he drinks water. We where trying antibiotics as he was sneezing a little and had smell coming from nose but no discharge. The vet had said about doing a endoscopy if antibiotics hadnt helped.  Currently, the nose smell had returned but he hasnt had the gagging episodes.

[jerseygirl]

The doxepin is to work on the nerve responses?

[ergodic]

We are trying to figure out a treatment plan for him. The vet thinks he is eating before he sleep and he still has food in his mouth when he sleeps and when he wakes up it goes down the airpipe. He will choke when waking up from sleeping. When the vet did an endoscopy his larynx was inflamed and would not open and close properly.

He has been on meloxicam and the inflammation has decreased. However still having choking issues. He had similar problems about 2 years ago we assumed it was because it of hard food getting caught in his mouth.  I wondering if the inflammation might be nerves or allergies.

Tricyclic antidepressant are used in both dogs and people. Doxepin in particular for dogs to treat lar par. Other Tricyclic antidepressant used in people for vocal cord disorders. Since lar par treatment like tie back will not work I asked to try Doxepin since it was tested in rabbits. I think it is making the situation worse since side effects include increased appetite and drowsiness. It might be working but might make him eat before sleeping and then the swallowing issues. Maybe I will ask the vet for a different tricyclic antidepressant that does not have the sedation affect.

It is scary because he passed out a couple of times.

[jerseygirl]

I’m sorry it isn’t helping. 😕 That is worrisome that it occurs when he’s asleep.

Has Snickerdoodle had a history or digestive issues at all?

I did read a story about a rabbit was put on motility meds (metclopramide, cisapride) and this actually helped. The theory being the normal mechanisms that prevent food coming back up from stomach was faulty and causing choking/gagging. The motility meds helped moved food out of the stomach more quickly and it resolved the issue.

Both metaclop & cisapride can assist with oesophageal problems in humans so perhaps that is part why it helped that rabbit?

Regarding the anti anxiety meds, I did find a study using Buspirone to treat oesophageal motility disorder in people. I believe to act on the muscles in oesophagus but I wonder if can aid larynx function also? Or perhaps larynx became inflamed because food not passing through quickly enough, or acid content from stomach caused inflammation??

Buspirone is a medication used in veterinary field also, for anxiety related issues.

Do you think giving his pellets softened & broken down could help at all?

My other thought that always comes up with mysterious nerve-related disorders is possibility of E.C. Has Snickerdoodle ever had any other symptoms usually attributed to EC in the past?

 

[ergodic]

Unfortunately the vet does not think he is regurgitating the food. She thinks that the food is left over after eating that remains his mouth. She told me that rabbit typically will have some food in there mouth and they have to be careful when doing molar trims. They have to clean out their mouths before the trim. He had similar experience before and he has been eating wet food for a while. I wonder if it is stress, like vocal cord disorder.

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