Home videos from pet parents are a great way to get a sneak peek of pet home life & health issues.

Lily had elongated soft palate surgery a year ago with another vet & noticed her breathing problems returning recently.

Lily’s nose was determined to be a large part of her breathing problem.

Did you know that thermoregulation is dependent on nasal ventilation ?

Without the ability to breathe through the nose, many brachycephalics are forced to breathe through the mouth. This is often why we see these brachycephalic breeds open mouth breathing & panting.

Stenotic nares are genetic, caused by a malformation of the cartilage in the nose, and are a component of brachycephalic syndrome.

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

The problem is that 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 & this can even lead to death.Dogs negatively affected by stenotic nares will show some of the following symptoms:
* Noisy breathing, especially during inhalation
* Exercise intolerance
* Cyanosis – blue gums due to lack of oxygen
* Fainting

Stay tuned for the rest of her story…