Keeping a LarPar Dog Safe in the Summer

Ness was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis – aka LarPar – last summer. Laryngeal Paralysis commonly occurs in older dogs and is caused by a problem with the nerves controlling the dog’s larynx. The larynx normally opens to allow air to pass through and closes so food & water don’t pass through; when a dog has LarPar, the larynx doesn’t open all the way and can cause breathing difficulties.

Unfortunately, heat and exercise can make breathing difficult for a LarPar dog, so we take special precautions with Ness in the summer. When she’s outside, she wears a cooling collar by CoolerDog and lays on one of their special cooling mats. Both of these have a removable insert you keep in the freezer and then insert in the collar or mat for a cooling effect. We add a small portable fan for extra cooling!