Airway for Lucky

Hello, my name is Maki Sowash. I am fundraising for our dog Lucky, who, simply put, needs surgery to help him breathe better. He has been living with Laryngeal Paralysis for two years but now the condition has progressed to a point his breathing is extremely labored and at times such a panicked struggle for him catch his breath. A relatively simple surgery, however, could secure a better airway and help him breathe!

 

First though, please meet Lucky; he is a 12 year-old Australian Shepherd, he became a member of our big four-pawed family four years ago. When he came to live with us, his bond with our then one year-old Bernese puppy Yuzoh was instant. Lucky looked after him, played with him, they became the "bestest" friends. When our oldest Bernese passed away just a few months after Lucky joined the family, his presence helped us all get through our loss. Since then, a rambunctious female puppy and a kitten has joined us, and Lucky, as always, has been the greatest babysitter and teacher, he looks after everyone in our family, certainly including the humans!

 

We had been managing his laryngeal paralysis for the last couple of years by reducing stress, keeping him cool, taking him to regular acupuncture treatments, but now his symptoms have become so severe and acute, he is having great difficulty literally trying to catch his breath. Our trusted veterinarian/surgeon told us that he could collapse and die any moment the way he is now.... He could, however, benefit from a surgery called "laryngeal tieback," where one of the arytenoid cartilages of the larynx is sutured to keep it permanently open, allowing him to breathe better.

 

Knock on wood, Lucky, at 12 years old, is otherwise a very healthy boy, and with this surgery he could enjoy a few more years of quality life. To let him die from the stress/struggle to grasp air is a horrible way to go - dying from suffocation.

Please help Lucky breathe better and give him more time here on earth with us.

 

 

Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs: the nerves that control the muscles that open and close the larynx are paralyzed, leading to inadequate ventilation and insufficient airway protection.