ISBN 3-8055-3616-X - 1983 Bibliographisches
Institut Leipzig - Published 1983 in the former DDR
Author: Prof. Dr. sc. Vet. med. Ekkehard Wiesner,
Berlin and Dozent Dr. med. vet. Habil. Siegfried Willer, Berlin
translated by E. Steffen 02/2000
Page 188 ff. Larynxstenosis, Larynxparalysis (with vocal chord paralysis)
Findings: Larynxstenosis and too small Larynx is found in small breed sporadic and in some families more often.
The Larynxparalysis is mostly found in bigger breeds such as Bouvier des Flandres and Leonberger.
Lengnick, 1975, Sobol, 1982, Velden 1979, Venker-Van Hagen, 1980/1982).
Clinical picture: Minimization of larynx and disturbed breathing (inspiratoric and exspiratoric).
This disorder is said to be letal and the few which survived showed a continual Dyspnoe and in chronical cases there is changement of the pulmo and secundaer heart-disease (Cor pulmonale).
For the big/giant breeds it is said to be a bilateral neurogene degeneration of the larynxmusculature (larynxparalysis and atrophic vocal chord).
The affected dogs show the signs of respiratory obstraction, Cyanosis, lose energy/power, and apnoic and wisthling/snoring breathing, look like they "try to pump air into nose", asphyxia-like moments and collaps.
Genetics: Due to familiar increase of the disease ther is said to be a inherit. disposition at polygene basis.
For the big/giant breeds it is to see as a neuromusculare degeneration which appears in Bouvier and Leonberger (familiar/breedinglines) more often. Autosomal dominant trait was found 1982 by Venker-Van Hagen.
Conc. the Leonberger in the DDR it was spread by the import of affected or carrier- dogs (immigration of defect genes) - differential-diagnos. see for Larynxhemiplegie due to trauma and distemper.
The disease is said to be incurable.
Something about operations (fixation of Arytenoid cartilage) is mentioned - and as well that carriers must not be breed (this is logical of course!!! as the disease is a letal one).
The earliest sources on this I could found, leads back to 1935; the author Venker Van-Hagen wrote something at Univ. Utrecht/Netherlands, and as well Animal Vet. Assoc. Amsterdam/NL.