Anyone who has any information or experience with a cat who has congenital laryngeal paralysis (CLP) please post a reply! Milagro was diagnosed at 8 months (he was too small prior to get a scope but has been like this since birth-he's a rescue) and had a surgical "tie-back" of his paralyzed vocal cords 2 weeks ago and it was not successful. The other surgery is not one I want to do because what little I can find is basicaly a for sure death sentence within a month. A permanent tracheostomy. I nursed this little one from 4 weeks old, all the while listening to him wheeze adn see him struggle to pull in air. As he grew (slowly-he's jsut now 5 lbs) he learned to compensate alot but he couldn't understand why he got so tired while trying to be a kitten! I am afraid to do anything more and afraid to not do anything...any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated.
Colleen
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Milagro-Congenital Laryngeal Paralysis
Replies (1)
Hi Colleen,
This is really a tough one.
I have never seen a cat with congenital laryngeal paralysis even though I am a vet tech, but I did some research this afternoon. I am so sorry for all you are going through with Milagro.
You said in your post that the surgery wasn't successful. Does this mean that the "tie-back" didn't hold or that it held but didn't help Milagro at all. Do you know if one side was tied-back or if both sides were done? Perhaps if one side was done (which seems to be most common) the other side can be done to create a larger opening. I read about other surgical options for laryngeal paralysis, but you would probably have to take Milagro to a vet school to have them done. I know in dogs that the "debarking" surgery can be helpful with laryngeal paralysis and wonder if the same, or a similar, procedure can be done in cats.
It seems that steroids can be very helpful for cats with Milagro's condition. Has he ever been on steroids? I would think that a long-acting steroid injection (such as Depo Medrol) would work best. Please ask your vet about this. Also, I wonder if a very mild anti-anxiety medication might help at all.
This is such a difficult decision you are facing and I really feel for you. If this were one of my babies I don't know what I would do either. Perhaps I would try steroids first, rather than looking into another surgery. I don't blame you for not wanting a permanent tracheostomy to be done. I wouldn't want this either.
Take care, and I'm sending GLOW to you and Milagro.
Regards,
PHKitkat
