How do you treat brachycephalic airway syndrome?
Surgical treatments are aimed at relieving the upper airway obstruction through widening of the stenotic nares, shortening of the soft palate, and removal of everted laryngeal saccules. There are numerous techniques described for both widening the nares and treating the elongated palate. Procedure & treatment: BOAS: – stenotic nares: a small area of the outside, visible part of the nose is removed, after which the edges are sutured. This will widen the opening and increase airflow. This can be excess length, or excess width as well.Surgical treatments are aimed at relieving the upper airway obstruction through widening of the stenotic nares, shortening of the soft palate, and removal of everted laryngeal saccules. There are numerous techniques described for both widening the nares and treating the elongated palate.Surgical management of Brachycephalic Syndrome involves widening of the nares (nostrils), resection of the excess soft palate, and removal of everted laryngeal saccules.Treatment consists of surgery for widening the nostrils, removing the excess tissue of an elongated soft palate, or removing everted laryngeal saccules. Early treatment prevents secondary conditions from developing.Many dogs will require surgery to treat their BOAS. The aim of surgery is to remove excessive tissue to improve/correct the anatomical issues that restrict airflow. Typically, this involves widening the nostrils, shortening the soft palate and removing excessive tissue around the larynx.
Are brachycephalic dogs in pain?
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) animals face a much greater risk of developing serious and painful health problems compared to other animals. Some of these need lifelong medical attention and care which can be deeply distressing and expensive, with significant vet bills and great emotional costs for both owners and pets. These breeds are at risk for a variety of health conditions and often require specialized veterinary care. Owners with brachycephalic dogs should pay extra attention to their animals in the heat and during exercise as they are prone to breathing problems.Pets between the ages of 6 to 18 months are ideal candidates for BOAS corrective surgery. While the condition can be successfully treated in older animals, they face a greater risk of post-operative complications; more complex surgical treatment is often also needed.Treatment for BOAS Management includes weight loss, reducing exposure to heat, and using a harness rather than a collar. Surgery concentrates on shortening the elongated short palate and enlarging the stenotic nares, which can collapse inwards on brachycephalic dogs.Brachycephalic syndrome in dogs is caused by deformities in the upper airway. These can lead to breathing difficulties, an inability to cope with exercise, respiratory infections, and overheating. As a result, surgery may be necessary to help your dog enjoy a better quality of life.Emergency treatment for brachycephalic dogs involves oxygen supplementation, sedation with acepromazine +/- butorphanol, dexamethasone and cold IV fluids, taking care to minimize stress when placing an IV catheter.
Do brachycephalic dogs need surgery?
Surgery is the treatment of choice whenever the anatomic abnormalities interfere with the dog’s breathing. Stenotic nares can be surgically corrected by removing a wedge of tissue from the nostrils, allowing improved airflow through the nostrils. brachycephalic airway syndrome includes stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules and laryngeal collapse.Diagnosis will be largely based on the dog’s breed, clinical signs, and physical examination findings, such as stenotic nares (narrowed nostrils). A classic breathing noise characterized as a low-pitched, snoring-type sound called stertor may be noted in dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome.Brachycephalic dogs often have a thickened tongue base, a long and/or thickened soft palate, and hypertrophied nasal turbinates, which can obstruct the airway during closed-mouth breathing when the dog is sleeping.Brachycephalic breeds, as they’re known, are more prone to respiratory, eye, skin and spinal problems. A 2017 study by Nationwide insurance found even when breathing problems and other brachycephalic-related issues are discounted, flat-faced dogs are still more unhealthy on average.
How to treat brachycephalic airway syndrome?
As with most conditions affecting dogs, the sooner they are diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated, which usually results in a better prognosis. With brachycephalic airway syndrome, the most common form of treatment is surgery to correct the abnormality and improve the airflow and breathing abilities of the dog. Dogs with significant BOAS have more difficulty breathing, may have difficulty exercising and/or sleeping and ultimately may develop life-threatening breathing problems. These problems tend to worsen as they get older as secondary problems develop or if they put on weight.The only treatment for dogs suffering from BOAS is surgery. A dog with BOAS may deteriorate with time, so the sooner intervention is done to help, the better the expected outcome. The surgical procedure(s) required to correct BOAS are done under general anaesthesia.Dogs with significant BOAS have more difficulty breathing, may have difficulty exercising and/or sleeping and ultimately may develop life-threatening breathing problems. These problems tend to worsen as they get older as secondary problems develop or if they put on weight.What are the possible outcomes? Dogs with milder cases of BOAS can have normal life expectancies. Early surgical intervention (dogs under 2 years of age) leads to better outcomes. Dogs with laryngeal collapse have less favorable outcomes, with or without surgery.BOAS is not curable. Nevertheless, upper airway corrective surgery can provide a better quality of life. Regular post-operative rechecks are suggested. Revision surgery might be required in some severely affected dogs.
How can I help my brachycephalic dog breathe better?
Brachycephalic soft palate and stenotic nares surgery: To ease airway issues, veterinary surgeons can shorten an elongated palate in order to prevent blockage of the airway at the back of the throat. In addition to improving the dog’s breathing, this can reduce risk of aspiration of food. Brachycephalic dog breeds, like Boston terriers, boxers, and pugs, have ‘squished faces’ or shortened snouts, which increases their risk of developing breathing problems. Pet owners should closely monitor these breeds for signs of increased respiratory effort.Brachycephalic dogs can suffer from a range of health and welfare issues including breathing problems, digestive issues, eye diseases, difficulty giving birth, spinal malformations, exercise and heat intolerance, sleeping difficulties, skin and ear diseases, as well as dental disease [1].Generally, most dogs with a short, scrunched nose or flat face are brachycephalic—you can probably already picture multiple breeds. Some of the most common include: English, French, and American Bulldogs.The skull of brachycephalic dogs can grow to be very long and narrow. The muzzle is also smaller than in non-brachycephalic breeds. The short muzzles and narrowed nostrils lead to breathing difficulties. The soft palate can also be affected by the deformity of the skull.
What is the best sleeping position for brachycephalic dogs?
Many dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome will often prefer to sleep on their backs, as this position may help keep their airway more open. We often see these dogs at the vet hospital when they are in severe respiratory distress or suffering from heatstroke when they may have collapsed. Nevertheless, the most common brachycephalic breeds are the French bulldog, pug, bulldog, Boston terrier and boxer, with the first three generally considered more ‘extreme’ in their brachycephaly.Brachycephalic dogs can suffer from a range of health and welfare issues including breathing problems, digestive issues, eye diseases, difficulty giving birth, spinal malformations, exercise and heat intolerance, sleeping difficulties, skin and ear diseases, as well as dental disease (1).Brachycephalic syndrome is caused by genetics. Dogs born into breeds with flat faces lead to malformations in their upper airways and cause issues breathing. Commonly affected species are bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, French bulldogs, Pekingese, chow chows, and Shih Tzus.