Shylo a 15 month old french bulldog had limited activity because he suffered from Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.

He would become overheated at the dog park, struggled to get adequate oxygen, & had episodes of regurgitation.

During his consult he became extremely stressed & required sedation to calm him & obtain xrays of his airways.

His radiology report concluded that his “thickened soft palate occupied almost the entire diameter of his pharynx”.

An ELONGATED SOFT PALATE = ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUE in BRACHYCEPHALIC DOGS.

The soft palate = soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth that separates the nasal passages from the mouth.

An elongated soft palate extends into the throat (they suck this into the air pipe as they attempt to breathe) & it blocks oxygen airflow into the trachea/windpipe

Excitement, stress, barking, & panting causes the tissues to swell which leads to respiratory distress, airway collapse, & airway diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, heatstroke, & collapse.

To help correct this problem the elongated soft palate requires surgical correction which is known as a staphylectomy.

Without the ability to breathe through the nose, many brachycephalics are forced to breathe through the mouth.

Did you know that thermoregulation is dependent on nasal ventilation?

This is why we see these brachycephalic breeds open mouth breathing & panting.

Stenotic nares are genetic, caused by a malformation of the cartilage in the nose.

Stenotic nares are present from birth inaffected dogs, though they might not cause problems until later in life.

Over time the increased airway resistance from pinched nostrils leads to increased effort to breathe in. This is hard on the larynx, which can eventually collapse, making breathing nearly impossible & can even lead to death.Dogs negatively affected by stenotic nares can show the following symptoms:
* Noisy breathing, especially during inhalation
* Exercise intolerance
* Cyanosis – blue gums due to lack of oxygen
* Fainting