Caring for Brachycephalic Dogs

Brachycephalic dogs are those with condensed snouts that often cause respiratory distress. Some brachycephlic breeds include:

• Boston Terriers
• English Bulldogs
• French Bulldogs
• Pugs
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• Shar-Pei
• English Mastiff
• Shih Tzu
• Pekinese

Unlike most dogs with upper airways that enable air to pass freely through the trachea, the anatomy of brachycephalic dogs can present issues and hamper clear, easy breathing.

The key components of the brachycephalic airway syndrome include:

• Elongated soft palate that extends beyond the tip of the epiglottis making airflow into the lungs difficult
• Stenotic nares (malformed nostrils that are narrow or collapse inward during inhalation, making it difficult for the dog to breathe through its nose)[1]
• Hypoplastic trachea
• Everted laryngeal saccules (a condition in which tissue within the airway, just in front of the vocal cords, is pulled into the trachea (windpipe) and partially obstructs airflow) [1]

Clinical signs: These components generally lead to the following clinical signs:

• Snorting
• Loud snoring
• Coughing
• Gagging
• Regurgitation
• Vomiting
• Difficulty eating
• Exercise Intolerance

Surgery can shorten an elongated soft palate, improve the dog’s comfort, and reduce these clinical signs (though loud snoring often remains even after surgery). The most concerning of these clinical signs are regurgitation and vomiting, and if your brachycephalic dog experiences these symptoms, please consult with your veterinarian as to how to address these issues.

At Angell, most brachycephalic patients undergoing soft palate surgery are held overnight in Angell’s Critical Care Unit for observation with some time spent in our oxygen cages for additional breathing comfort postoperatively. Most patients return home the following morning.

Short term prevention:  It is especially important for brachycephalic dogs to avoid stress and heat. To prevent distress, take the following steps with your dog, but be sure to consult your vet if symptoms progress:

• Avoid stress/heat
• Use a harness instead of a collar
• Avoid overfeeding
• Maintain ideal body weight
• Other issues to which your brachycephalic dog may be predisposed include:
• Inflammation of skin folds
• Face Fold and Tail Fold Pyoderma
• Mating and Dystocia/Caesarian Sections (only applicable if the dog is intact)

Brachycephalic dental issues:

• Malocclusion – misalignment of the teeth.
• Dental crowding

For more information on caring for your brachycephalic dog, please consult your primary veterinarian or visit the American College of Veterinary Surgeons website. Additional information can also be found here.

For information about soft palate surgery, please contact Angell’s Surgery service at 617-541-5048.

References:

1. “Brachycephalic Syndrome.” American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 29 June 2023, www.acvs.org/small-animal/brachycephalic-syndrome/.