50,000 FLAT FACED DOGS were RESEARCHED by @nationwidepet & it’s clock to TALK about EXTREME BRACHYCEPHALIC DOG BREEDS who SUFFER from BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome).

These breeds include French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, & Pugs.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of this disease early in life.

1. Panting
2. Snoring
3. Gagging
4. Abdominal Breathing
5. Exercise Intolerance
6. Color change of tongue/gums due to inadequate oxygen

As PET LOVERS we must WORK TOGETHER to HELP PETS live BETTER LIVES !

Imagine STRUGGLING to BREATHE lungs on a DAILY BASIS ?

The GOAL of BOAS surgery = IMPROVE QUALITY of DAILY LIFE by OPENING the AIRWAYS 🫁 (thru the NOSE & THROAT)

@drboazman explains that those adorable SMUSHED faced dog paw (Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, & Boxers) have something in common: A flat face, pushed-up nose, narrow nostrils, & large see

BOAS is characterized by index pointing or more of the following:

An elongated soft palate
Stenotic nares
Everted Laryngeal Saccules
A narrow trachea
Ever notice that Bulldogs do a lot of Zzz snorting? That’s probably due to an elongated soft palate.

The soft palate = soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth that separates the nasal passages from the mouth. In brachycephalic breeds, it extends into the throat & can block the trachea/windpipe.

Barking & panting causes the tissues to swell which leads to breathing issues & respiratory distress. To help correct this problem the elongated soft palate is surgically corrected.

Stenotic nares refers to narrowing of the nostrils. This limits the airflow, making breathing through the nose difficult. When the nostrils are narrow corrective surgery helps patients breathe better.

Some dogs have only a partial improvement of their symptoms & can have ongoing snoring & heat intolerance.

A small % will have no improvement in snoring, or recurrence of snoring within 6-12 months of surgery.

Even with airway surgery, BOAS is a progressive condition, as there is only a certain # of things that we can address surgically.

Short noses, large tongues, redundant pharyngeal muscosa, laryngeal collapse & hypoplastic trachea can’t be surgically corrected.