Signs of Voice Loss in Dogs
When dogs lose their voices, it can be for the same reasons as humans – either due to an illness such as a cold or because of excessive barking. It can also be the cause of a range of conditions such as respiratory disorders.
If your dog has had a cold, you may notice that during the period of the illness or shortly after the other symptoms have disappeared, its voice starts to sound hoarse and strained. Likewise, if your dog has been barking incessantly for a pretty lengthy period, you may find that it puts so much strain on the voice box that it loses its voice.
So, what are the signs that your dog has lost its voice? Well, it may stay completely quiet for far longer periods than usual. However, if your dog is the type that barks at anything, it won’t be able to resist. When it tries to bark you may notice a rasping sound and the bark will sound much weaker than usual.
Your dog may also show signs of distress when it loses is voice, which could include tail ticking and acting in a subdued manner, whining if it is able to get its voice out, and a loss of appetite. However, the signs can vary based on the cause of the voice loss.
Looking at your dog’s body language is important because it can provide you with a better idea of the cause of the voice loss. While excessive barking and the effects of a cold are common reasons behind loss of voice, there could be more sinister causes that you have to consider.
If your dog shows signs of labored breathing, coughs a lot, or makes squeaking noises, it could be a sign of obstruction. If it is caused by a respiratory problem, your dog may be wheezing or turning away from food because of swallowing difficulties. It may also spend time trying to hide somewhere quiet, as dogs often do when they are unwell.
Signs your pooch may have lost their voice include:
More signs you should watch for if you think your dog has lost their voice are:
How Do Dogs Bark?
In order to understand what happens to a dog when it loses its voice, it is imperative to explain how they can bark in the first place.
Like human beings, dogs have a larynx at the back of their throats. The larynx is also referred to as the voice box because its main purpose is to produce sounds or voice. But beyond this purpose, the larynx also protects the airways and the trachea, making sure that the food does not enter and lead to breathing problems.
The larynx is composed of muscles, tissues, cartilage, and vocal cords. The last one, the vocal cords, opens up so that air can go inside the trachea and the lungs. On the other hand, it closes up when the pet is swallowing food. To produce sound, the vocal cords create vibrations from the air moving through the mouth and the throat. The air pressure that is passing through the voice box will either open and close the vocal cords and in turn, sound is created.
The History of Dogs Losing Their Voice
Studies that have been carried out into canine health over the years have concluded that a dog can lose its voice for a variety of different reasons in the same way as humans can. This includes overuse of the vocal chords, which is a common reason for short-term voice loss.
However, there are also other conditions that can cause longer-term issues, which is why experts state that dogs should receive medical attention quickly if they lose their voice in case the root cause is something more serious. Some of the causes that have been identified through years of study into canine voice loss include laryngeal collapse, obstruction of the airway, injury to the vocal chords, infections, and respiratory problems.
For dog owners, it is important not to dismiss loss of voice and assume that it is down to something simple, because this may not be the case. Some causes of voice loss can be very serious, which is something that has been discovered through historical research into canine health. This makes it all the more important to get your dog checked out by the vet if it does lose its voice, particularly if the voice loss continues over a longer period.
Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It may result from upper respiratory tract infection or by direct irritation from inhalation of dust, smoke or irritating gas, or foreign objects. It can also be caused by the trauma of a breathing tube placed during surgery or excessive vocalization (barking).