Can Dogs Lose Their Voice?

Barking, growling, and whining are important components of canine communication. Dogs can lose their voices due to a variety of conditions, some of which can be serious. Knowing the differences in possible causes can help you determine if your pup needs to be seen by a veterinarian.

How do dogs lose their voices?

When we talk about a dog losing its voice, we generally mean that there is reduced vocalization (the dog is quieter or hoarse) or that the pitch of its vocalization has changed (the bark sounds higher or lower than usual ).

A dog’s larynx, part of the upper respiratory tract, is a complex structure with many important components. The larynx plays an important role in the sound of a dog’s voice and is also responsible for ensuring that food and air travel safely through the correct passages.

Just like us, dogs have vocal cords in their larynx. Damage, irritation, or a change in function of anatomical structures within the larynx can cause changes in a dog’s voice.

While dogs do not completely lose their voices very often, vocal changes are common due to a variety of potential causes.

7 ways a dog can lose its voice

Dogs can lose their voices due to:

• • Traumatic injury to the throat.. Dogs can suffer a traumatic throat injury if they are hit by a car, bitten in the throat by another animal, or pulled too hard on a choke chain. All of these injuries can cause damage to the structures within the larynx and can cause inflammation of the laryngeal tissues.

     

• • Abscesses in the throat, tonsils or larynx. Dogs with abscesses often feel quite lethargic and have a poor appetite. Abscesses are painful, red, and swollen (inflamed). Abscesses in the larynx, tonsils, or throat are difficult for pet owners to notice unless a drainage tract appears through the skin.

     

Otherwise, a veterinarian may need to identify a throat abscess while the dog is sedated. The inflammation caused by an abscess, in addition to how it alters the structure of the larynx, contributes to vocal changes.

• • Laryngeal edema (accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the larynx). Repetitive barking is a potential cause of laryngeal edema. Additionally, dogs that have acute allergic reactions or anaphylaxis due to insect bites, vaccines, or medications may develop severe laryngeal edema.

Allergic reactions can change the sound of the voice, but some reactions can be life-threatening and inhibit the dog’s ability to breathe. If you think your dog is having a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian immediately.

• • Laryngitis. Inflammation of the larynx can occur due to upper respiratory infections, such as kennel cough. Some autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can also cause inflammation within the larynx. Inhaled or oral irritants, such as smoke, can also cause laryngitis.

     

    • • Similarly, gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflex can cause laryngitis, as stomach acid can irritate the larynx. Dogs with laryngitis often have a cough along with a change in voice.

         

     

    

• • Tumors that grow in the larynx.. Masses that grow in the larynx may be benign, such as a polyp. However, these masses can also be malignant (potential to spread to other parts of the body), such as mast cell tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, or lymphoma.

     

• • laryngeal paralysis. Laryngeal paralysis occurs due to dysfunction of a specific nerve involved in the function of the larynx. In this condition, the airways do not open properly during breathing or close properly during swallowing. This can clog the airways, making it difficult to breathe, especially during exercise.

     

• • Neuromuscular diseases. An example of a neuromuscular disease that can cause voice changes in dogs is myasthenia gravis, a condition in which dogs develop muscle weakness. Many of these conditions do not begin with changes in a dog’s bark, but eventually, this weakness can affect the nerves and muscles of the larynx and vocal cords.

     

When to Contact Your Veterinarian About Dog Voice Loss

If your dog has been barking excessively and sounds a little hoarse, wait a few days to make sure he recovers, as long as he doesn’t have any other symptoms.

Call your veterinarian if you notice other signs such as coughing, discharge from the eyes or nose, if your dog seems less interested in exercise, or if you notice a change in the dog’s voice over time.

An emergency visit to the veterinarian is necessary if your pet has a sudden allergic reaction or has difficulty breathing.

Can dogs lose their voices from barking too much?

Yes, a dog can lose his voice from barking too much. Repeated barking can cause overuse of the vocal cords, causing the tissues to swell with excess fluid. This is called laryngeal edema. Due to inflammation of the laryngeal tissues, the dog’s voice may sound hoarse.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Voice Loss