Does Anyone Have Experience Of Laryngeal Dysfunction In A Cat ?

[CW1]

Otherwise healthy 15 year cat has proven laryngeal dysfunction tho' surprisingly doesn't seem to be causing any distress at the moment. Vet has suggested couple of blood tests to rule out underactive thyroid & toxoplasmosis. Only symptom other than some noise breathing is some weight loss (few 100g in 6 months or so). Appetite is fine tho' she's always been a fussy eater. Once both those conditions are ruled out, she'd be prescribed steroids that may - or may not - help. Ultimately an operation may become necessary, to tie back one side of the larynx permanently tho' from what I understand, that could potentially cause more issues than it solves !
Does anyone have any experience in this situation they could share ?

[Patsy33]

I personally would leave her be, if she's coping OK.

[lankeela]

At that age I think your vet has seen you coming. Why put an elderly cat through such treatment when with the best will in the world she probably only has another year or two left at best.

[CW1]

Patsy33, that did cross my mind too (she's not my cat tho') but vet is flummoxed by how well she is coping. Won't improve by itself, who knows if or how long that continues to be the case.
lankeela, 15 is not "old". My own cat's 17 & is as fit as one half her age. No reason she won't have another 10yrs with me. Hope that's not your dog in your profile pic but if it is, let's hope you don't have a similar scenario to deal with in it's later life.

[Sqad]

Sounds like laryngeal cancer as underactive thyroid is extremely rare in cats.
Monitor the situation....leave well alone at the moment.

[CW1]

Thanks Sqad. That's one thing that hasn't been mentioned.
The cat was anaesthetised last week & her larynx "inspected". Vet showed us some video that shows larynx just isn't opening properly, she's basically breathing thru' a "pin hole", but there's no obvious cause which is why the vet is thinking there could be a blockage along the vagus nerve. An ultrasound & xray showed no obvious mass in her abdomen, just that her oesophagus is dilated (which may have been more pronounced as she was under sedation).
Everything's so inconclusive, why it's so difficult to know whether to just go on running blood tests with a view to starting on steroid anti-inflammatories, or leave alone where, sooner or later, she will become distressed.

[Sqad]

CW1 thanks for the added information which make cancer more unlikely. I would still watch and wait and if push comes to shove then would opt for the steroids.

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread".........;-)