Certain dog breeds have been bred to have short snouts over time. While we may think these dogs are adorable, there are many well-documented health concerns to consider. In this post, our San Gabriel vets discuss brachycephalic airway syndrome in dogs, how their short snout impacts their health, and how you can help improve their quality of life.
What is Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome?
Looking at all those letters in the word 'brachycephalic' is daunting for most people, so let's break the word down into two separate parts to better understand this term. The first part of the word, 'brachy', means shortened, and the second part, 'cephalic' means head. So together, 'brachycephalic' as a whole means shortened head, which is exactly how you'd describe the dog breeds that tend to have this physical characteristic. These types of dogs have "smooshed-in" faces that many of us admire.
Unfortunately, these unique features can also adversely affect the health of these dogs. The veterinary term for the condition these dogs experience is brachycephalic airway syndrome, which refers to the upper airway abnormalities affecting these breeds.
Brachycephalic Dog Breeds
Some of the brachycephalic breeds of dogs that currently exist include:
- Boxers
- Boston terriers
- Chinese shar-peis
- Bulldogs (French and English)
- Bullmastiffs
- Pekingese
- Pugs
- Shih tzus
Common Health Concerns With Brachycephalic Dogs
Dogs with shortened snouts often face health issues related to upper airway abnormalities and breathing difficulties. Specifically, a few of these physical characteristics include:
Stenotic Nares – A dog with stenotic nares will have normally narrow or small nostrils that restrict airflow into the nostrils.
Extended Nasopharyngeal Turbinates – Nasopharyngeal turbinates are ridges of bone covered by tissue. They help to warm and humidify the air a dog breathes in. However, when these are too long, they can cause a blockage, which affects airflow.
Elongated Soft Palate – A dog with an elongated soft palate may have a partially blocked windpipe, which causes an obstruction.
Laryngeal Collapse – When there is chronic stress on a dog's larynx, this can lead to laryngeal collapse. As this collapse happens, airflow will be restricted.
Everted Laryngeal Saccules – The laryngeal saccules are small sacs or pouches within the larynx that may be sucked into the airway. This can cause an obstruction.
Hypoplastic Trachea – This condition means that a dog's trachea has a narrow trachea (the tube that runs from just under your dog's larynx to the bronchi and allows air into and out of its lungs). The bronchi are the airways that connect the trachea to deeper airways of the lungs.
While this causes minimal symptoms in some dogs, it can lead to more severe problems in others, including breathing respiratory difficulties. Symptoms include coughing, noisy breathing, and labored breathing.
Other Conditions Affecting Dogs With Brachycephalic Syndrome
Brachycephalic airway syndrome has been linked to changes in the lungs, along with changes in the gastrointestinal tract, including:
- Bronchial Collapse – The weakening and collapse of the bronchi causes further obstruction.
- Chronic Gastritis – This condition can cause your dog to vomit regularly (once or twice per day for 7-14 days consistently). It can also cause a variety of other symptoms, including abdominal pain and cramping, lethargy, diarrhea, and bleeding from the intestinal tract.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux - Occurs when intestinal fluids flow back into the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach).
Symptoms Of Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome in Dogs
Brachycephalic dogs may experience symptoms such as:
- They may have noisy breathing, especially when they breathe in
- They may gag when they are swallowing
- These dogs may have the inability to partake in exercise
- Cyanosis causing blue tongue and gums related to the lack of oxygen
- The dog may occasionally collapse especially with over-activity, excitement, or excessive heat or humidity
- Dogs suffering from obesity will be at a greater risk
Many brachycephalic dogs have a preference for sleeping on their backs. This position provides the opportunity for the soft palette to fall away from the larynx.
Diagnosing Brachycephalic Syndrome in Dogs
Your veterinarian will assess any breathing abnormalities in your dog and determine whether your pup has brachycephalic airway syndrome.
While stenotic nares can be diagnosed with a simple physical examination, other abnormalities are a bit more complex and difficult to diagnose and will require the dog to be placed under general anesthesia. Depending on the issue being assessed, your vet may also recommend a chest X-ray to aid in diagnosis.
As with most health concerns, the sooner conditions are diagnosed in brachycephalic dogs, the sooner treatment can begin. This allows for the best possible outcome.
Is surgery the right answer for brachycephalic syndrome in dogs?
The most common treatment for brachycephalic airway syndrome is surgery, which can correct the abnormality and improve a dog's airflow and breathing abilities.
Due to the risk of swelling at the incision site after surgery, so your vet will monitor your dog closely to ensure their breathing is not affected while they recover.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.