The Full Story
About Brachycephalic Breathing
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is a generic term for any breathing obstructions for a dog. The obstruction can be anywhere in the respiratory area (nose, mouth throat, lungs) and is caused by any number of things including:
-
Collapsed (Pinched) nostrils
-
Pressure on the trachea from a thick neck
-
Elongated soft palate
-
Thick tongue or thickened tissue in the mouth and throat
The obstructions vary by breed but generally affect brachycephalic “flat faced” dogs .
Why is BOAS a worry?
Obstructed breathing can cause a lot of misery for dogs so it is a serious humane concern. Most of us know the feeling of being congested, or having your airways partially blocked while having dental work done. But the dogs never get relief.
Signs of BOAS
BOAS often goes undetected because people believe something is “normal for the breed” or do not know the signs that the dog's breathing is restricted.
A dog’s breathing is restricted if:
-
Breathing is noisy
-
Dog snores
-
Dog consistently wakes during the night
These things are NOT normal for ANY breed. (Common, maybe. But not normal. It still means the dog’s breathing is restricted.)
No
In some “brachy breeds” nearly all the dogs are affected and some breeds have a very low incidence. But there are purebred brachys of every breed that can breathe just fine.
However, it doesn't necessarily mean you can simply pick out a breathing brachy from your breed of choice. In some breeds few dogs are affected and you will have little trouble finding a nice dog who breathes easily.
The challenge is there are other health and behavior considerations. Not just breathing. So it gets tricker in breeds where a large percentage of dogs are affected. It may greatly limit your choices.
From Dr. Ladlow VetMB, DipECVS, MRCVS
-
Any audible breathing
-
Regurgitation when eating, especially if excited
-
Excessive drooling during exercise
This means the dog can’t swallow because they are mouth breathing indicating a nasal airway obstruction
4. How soon does the dog pant outside?
If a dog switches to panting within a minute that indicates there is something obstructing nose breathing
5. Interrupted sleep (and snoring) are signs of breathing obstruction.
If the dog props their head up as they sleep this is likely to try to improve airflow similar to how we sleep more upright when congested.
Keep in mind lack of sleep causes misery and behavior problems.
Signs of BOAS
Head Shape Affects BOAS Risk
-
The dog needs a muzzle. It doesn’t have to be long, but they need something
-
Nostrils should not be “squished” together
-
Narrower heads are better. For instance:
Head Shape
Wider heads mean tounge can be too thick and soft palate too long
Neck Shape
Big Necks = Big Risk
-
Slimmer, longer necks are better
Big thick meaty necks are putting pressure on the trachea. If the dog's neck is 0.7 cm wide (slightly more than half as thick) as the dog's chest they are at a greatly increased risk for BOAS.
More factors
-
Loose skin can mean thickened and excessive tissue on the inside also, which obstructs breathing
Loose Skin
Are there health screenings for dogs to determine their BOAS risk before breeding them?
There is currently no DNA screening that shows if the dog carries the genes for BOAS. Researchers have noticed multiple genes that seem to affect BOAS and they are different for each breed. So that indicates it probably is genetic and DNA tests will come with time.
Most dogs are 0 or 2.
-
Run the dog around for 3 minutes
-
Measure breathing before and after with stethoscope
-
Score breathing according to the scale below
Score
0 - Not affected
Cannot hear breathing before or after running
1-Not affected
Can hear breathing after running with a stethoscope
2 - Affected possibly needs surgery
Can hear breathing after running without a stethoscope
3 - Severely affected - needs surgery
Can hear breathing before running