Brachycephalic Surgery

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is the term given to the effects that the shortened head of these animals has on the passage of air through the upper airways. The signs can vary in severity from mild snoring or snorting noises to severe breathing problems.

Animals suffering from clinically significant BOAS can struggle to breathe during exercise and may suffer collapse due to lack of air. The reliance of dogs on panting to cool themselves also makes animals suffering from BOAS very susceptible to overheating and developing potentially very serious breathing difficulties in hot conditions.

Stenotic Nares (narrow nostril openings) - the opening of the nasal passages in brachycephalic dogs is abnormally narrow and collapses during inspiration. This blocks normal airflow from entering the nose without additional effort.

Elongated and Thickened Soft Palate - the soft tissue behind the hard roof of the mouth is too long relative to the shortened face of brachycephalic dogs, this long and thickened extra soft tissue is sucked into the windpipe and blocks the airway. You can hear the elongated soft palate fluttering and making snoring noises when breathing in these dogs, especially after activity.

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Hypoplastic Trachea (abnormally narrow trachea) - the trachea of brachycephalic breeds is abnormally narrow, which adds to the overall breathing difficulty. Unfortunately this is the one abnormality which cannot be corrected.

​Everted Laryngeal Saccules (early collapse/obstruction of the windpipe opening) - because of how hard brachycephalic dogs have to pull to bring air into their lungs, soft tissues of the airway can weaken and collapse into the path of airflow during breathing.

Brachycephalic breeds include those breeds of dog and cat that have an obvious, characteristic short or squashed nose appearance. Any breed of dog or cat with a brachycephalic head conformation can be affected:

Dogs:

• English Bulldog

• French Bulldog

• Dogue de Bordeaux

• Boxer

• Pug

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

• Lhasa Apso

• Shih Tsu

• Pekingese

• Other brachycephalic breeds

Cats:

• Persian

• Himalayan

Most cases are treated with a surgical correction. No other treatment will create a better airway correction than removing the excess tissue around the nostrils and soft palate.

Overlong Soft Palate:

The excess length of the soft palate can be reduced by surgery in order to reduce the interference with air flow into the larynx (voice box).

Stenotic Nares (narrowed nostrils):

Removal of a section of the cartilage of the front of the nose or a section of skin next to the nose can improve the airflow through the nares.

Weight Management

Brachycephalic dogs are not able to tolerate additional weight as well as other breeds. These dogs in particular should be kept as thin as possible to avoid excess fat around the throat and airway, as well as to prevent overheating. The top of the spine and ribs should be easily felt when petting those areas, if not, there is the presence of excess fat in these locations. Low fat diet and controlled exercise is the main way to encourage a healthy weight for your dog. Thin brachycephalic dogs are much less likely to have life-threatening respiratory distress episodes.

Harness

Use a harness instead of a neck collar when walking your pet, this will prevent additional pressure on the throat and airway when on leash.

Avoid Excess Heat

Dogs cannot sweat to cool down like people can. Their main way to control body temperature is through panting/breathing. Because brachycephalic dogs have difficulty breathing, they also have difficulty regulating their body temperature and are prone to extreme overheating. Brachycephalic dogs should avoid exercise and play outside during the hottest times of day. Monitor your pet closely when active for difficulty breathing and give them frequent breaks in a cool environment.

Reduce Stress

Stressful situations cause dogs to pant excessively and overheat. This can lead to episodes of difficult breathing in dogs with BOAS. If you know your dog gets stressed or over excited with visitors or storms, a light sedative can be given to help keep them calm during the excitement and prevent breathing issues. A sedative medication can be prescribed by your veterinarian if needed.

Avoid Respiratory Irritants

Anything with a strong smell can be irritating to the airway of dogs and can cause coughing and worsen breathing. This includes smoke, candles, incense, perfumes, and sprays. Keep in mind that dogs are much more sensitive to smells than humans are. Try to minimize your dog’s exposure to anything with a strong scent or which may be irritating to the airway.