Brachycephalic breeds, characterized by their larger heads and flattened muzzles, are prone to specific congenital and hereditary issues. Breeds at higher risk include Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekinese, Boxers, Boston Terriers, and some Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos.
These breeds often suffer from a condition known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), which includes two primary abnormalities: stenotic nares and an elongated soft palate.
Stenotic Nares: This condition involves partially or completely blocked nostrils, which restricts airflow through the respiratory system. As a result, affected dogs often breathe through their mouths, leading to persistent breathlessness.
Elongated Soft Palate: The soft palate is a flap of tissue that normally helps close off the nasal passages from the mouth. In affected dogs, this flap is abnormally long and can obstruct the airway, causing noisy breathing (such as snoring or snorting), a higher risk of heat stroke, exercise intolerance, and increased cardiac stress.
Surgical intervention can address these issues, and the procedure typically involves removing excess tissue from the nostrils and trimming the soft palate to improve airflow.
Recovery from surgery is generally quick, and most dogs experience a significant improvement in their quality of life following the procedure. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend correcting these abnormalities before spaying or neutering your dog to optimize their overall health and well-being.
