An older dog starts slowing down.
Their back legs aren’t quite as strong as they used to be. They struggle with longer walks and occasionally stumble. Their bark sounds different and their breathing has become noticeably noisier, particularly when they’re excited.
It would be easy to assume these are simply unrelated signs of ageing.
But sometimes they are all part of the same disease.
Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy, thankfully shortened to GOLPP, is increasingly recognised as an important neurological condition affecting older dogs.
Understanding GOLPP in dogs has changed the way veterinarians think about a condition that was once considered primarily a problem of the throat.
What Is GOLPP?
For many years veterinarians recognised laryngeal paralysis as a condition in which the structures surrounding a dog’s voice box stopped opening normally.
When a dog breathes in, the larynx should open widely to allow air into the lungs.
In dogs with laryngeal paralysis, the nerves controlling these structures stop functioning properly. Instead of opening, the tissues remain partially closed and obstruct airflow.
Over time, researchers recognised something important: many of these dogs subsequently developed weakness elsewhere in the body.
Laryngeal paralysis wasn’t necessarily an isolated condition after all.
It was often an early sign of a more widespread nerve disorder.
This is why we now use the term Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy, or GOLPP.
What Does GOLPP Look Like?
The earliest signs can be subtle.
One of the first things owners often notice is a change in their dog’s bark. It may become hoarse, quieter or simply sound different.
As the condition progresses, you may notice:
- Noisy breathing
- Excessive panting
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Difficulty coping with hot weather
- Coughing or gagging, particularly while eating or drinking
- A change in bark
- Weakness in the hind legs
- Difficulty getting up
- Unsteadiness
- Muscle loss
The combination of noisy breathing and progressive hind-leg weakness in an older dog should make us consider GOLPP.
Why Do the Back Legs Become Weak?
This is the part of GOLPP that surprises many owners.
The disease affects peripheral nerves throughout the body.
The nerves supplying the larynx are often affected early, which is why breathing changes may appear first.
As the polyneuropathy progresses, nerves controlling the hind limbs can also become affected. Dogs may start scuffing their paws, losing muscle and becoming progressively weaker.
This weakness may develop slowly over months or years.
Importantly, treating the laryngeal paralysis improves airflow but does not cure the underlying neurological disease.
Why Can GOLPP Become an Emergency?
Dogs rely heavily on panting to regulate their body temperature.
A dog with GOLPP cannot move air through their larynx efficiently.
Hot weather, strenuous exercise, excitement and stress can dramatically increase their breathing effort.
In severe cases, the tissues around the throat become swollen, making the airway even narrower.
The result can be a frightening respiratory emergency.
Dogs experiencing severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey gums, collapse or extreme distress require immediate veterinary attention.
This is particularly important during our hot South African summers.
How Is GOLPP Diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with the history and clinical examination.
The combination of an older dog, characteristic noisy breathing, a change in bark and progressive neurological signs can be highly suggestive.
To confirm laryngeal paralysis, the veterinarian needs to examine the movement of the larynx while the dog is under light anaesthesia or carefully controlled sedation.
We watch the structures surrounding the airway as the dog breathes.
If they fail to open normally during inspiration, laryngeal paralysis can be diagnosed.
Additional investigations may include blood tests, chest X-rays and neurological assessment.
How Is GOLPP Treated?
Management depends on how severely the condition affects the dog’s breathing.
Dogs with mild signs may initially be managed conservatively.
This can include:
- Maintaining a lean body weight
- Avoiding strenuous exercise
- Exercising during cooler parts of the day
- Avoiding overheating
- Using a harness rather than a collar
- Managing excitement and stress
Dogs with significant airway obstruction often benefit from surgery.
What Is Tie-Back Surgery?
The most commonly performed procedure for severe laryngeal paralysis is a laryngeal tie-back, technically known as unilateral arytenoid lateralisation.
During surgery, one side of the larynx is permanently held open.
This dramatically improves airflow and can transform a dog’s ability to breathe and exercise comfortably.
However, surgery does not cure GOLPP itself.
Because part of the airway remains permanently open, food and water can more easily enter the respiratory tract. This means aspiration pneumonia is an important potential complication following surgery.
Owners need to understand both the significant benefits and the potential risks before proceeding.
What Happens Long Term?
GOLPP is generally a slowly progressive disease.
After successful tie-back surgery, many dogs experience a dramatic improvement in breathing and quality of life.
However, the neurological component can continue progressing.
Over time, some dogs develop increasing hind-limb weakness and mobility difficulties.
This is where maintaining muscle strength, controlling weight, appropriate exercise, physiotherapy and supportive care become increasingly important.
Don’t Assume It’s Simply Old Age
Perhaps the most important message about GOLPP in dogs is that changes associated with ageing deserve investigation.
A different bark isn’t necessarily insignificant.
Noisy breathing isn’t always because your dog is unfit.
And weak back legs aren’t automatically arthritis.
When several subtle changes occur together, they can tell us something much more important about your dog’s health.
At Cottage Vet Clinic, we believe senior pets deserve proactive healthcare rather than having symptoms dismissed as “just getting old.”
If your older dog has developed noisy breathing, a change in bark, reduced exercise tolerance or progressive weakness, contact Cottage Vet Clinic for an assessment. Recognising GOLPP early allows us to manage the condition proactively and help your dog remain comfortable, mobile and breathing easily for as long as possible.
