What Causes Voice Loss In Dogs?
Laryngeal paralysis happens when the muscles that hold the cartilage on the dog’s trachea do not retract properly. This condition results from the failure of the nerves that control these muscles.
Now with a compromised airway, the dog will have raspy inspiration. The dog’s bark will be different too.
Obstruction of the airway could be why your dog has lost his voice .it could be his small toy has been lodged on the trachea, which will affect air passage.
Also, food particles can get stuck on your dog’s trachea, thus causing your dog’s voice deterioration.
Canine laryngitis is characterized by the inflammation of the voice box. Moreover, this condition is prevalent in short-muzzled dogs.
Symptoms include hoarse bark and a smelly mouth.
The thyroid produces hormones that help regulate metabolism in the dog’s body. If your dog’s thyroid glands start producing less of these hormones, then he may develop hypothyroidism.
One symptom of the malfunctioning thyroid gland is voice loss.
An injured throat may be causing your dog to have a weakened bark than normal. It could be that your dog’s throat was wedged between two objects, thus ending up injured.
Another dog could have injured your furry friend’s neck when fighting or playing.
If your dog spends much time barking or yelping, there might be an effect on his larynx. Your dog could develop a funny bark that will resolve with time.
A cancerous tumor may be the leading cause of voice loss in your dog. The tumor will affect the passage of the air in your dog’s throat, which compromises sound production.
What does my dog hear when I speak to him?
Before he learns word associations, your dog hears “yadda, yadda, yadda” when you speak to him. It is not what you say, but how you say it that sends him the desired message. If your tone reflects pleasure, love, sadness, disappointment, or worry, your dog will pick up on it. If your volume changes from soft to loud, he will pick up on that, too. Dogs respond to certain intonations and volumes, regardless of what is being said. For example, if you speak at a regular volume, then suddenly shout, your dog will know that something is up and he should pay attention. Similarly, your dog detects tonal changes from happy to demanding, or sad to cheerful.
When Will My Dog’s Voice Break?
It’s difficult to pinpoint when your puppy starts having a louder, deeper bark. Like we humans, dogs are different.
Some may break their voice and have a deeper bark at around 5 months, and some can start having a deeper bark at around 12-18 months.
A factor that determines when a dog will break its voice is size. Small dogs like Yorkies can start voice breaking when they are 5 months old. Large dogs like the Great Dane may start breaking their voice after a year.
A male dog can break its voice just like boys do when they enter puberty.
If you are keen on how your male dog has been developing since he was a puppy, you will note a change in his bark tone.
Nothing is as annoying as losing your voice when you are about to deliver a speech or hold a meeting. You can lose your voice after speaking so much or when a sore throat develops.
Similarly, dogs can lose their voice.
Your dog won’t lose his voice all at once, let’s say when he is barking. It’s a gradual process that worsens with time.
Why does your voice change as you get older? – Shaylin A. Schundler
