Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome in Dogs
The term "brachycephalic" can be broken down into its Latin roots: "brachy" meaning shortened and "cephalic" meaning head. Brachycephalic dogs have short muzzles and, in laymans terms, are referred to as the "smooshed faced" dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston terriers, Shihtzus, Pekingese, etc.
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS) is a condition that occurs in brachycephalic breeds because they are bred to have upper airway abnormalities when compared to other breeds with longer muzzles.
An individual dog may have one or all of these abnormalities which include:
Any of these upper airway abnormalities can cause increased effort to inhale air. Most dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome breathe more easily through their mouth than their nose. The more airway abnormalities that an individual dog has, the more severe their symptoms can be:
Treatment for BAS depends on severity, but may include:
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS) is a condition that occurs in brachycephalic breeds because they are bred to have upper airway abnormalities when compared to other breeds with longer muzzles.
An individual dog may have one or all of these abnormalities which include:
- narrow nostrils which restrict airflow ("stenotic nares")
- long nasopharyngeal turbinates (turbinates are thin scrolls of bone covered with tissue that reside deep inside the nose; the turbinates function to humidify and warm inhaled air. Turbinates can obstruct airflow if they are too long).
- elongated soft palate (the soft palate is the soft tissue that forms the back of the roof of the mouth. When the soft palate is too long, it can partially block the entrance to the windpipe.
- laryngeal collapse (narrowing of the voicebox area of the throat)
- narrowed windpipe ("hypoplastic trachea")
- everted laryngeal saccules (tissue in the larynx area that becomes turned outward while air is being sucked in and further hampers airflow)
Any of these upper airway abnormalities can cause increased effort to inhale air. Most dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome breathe more easily through their mouth than their nose. The more airway abnormalities that an individual dog has, the more severe their symptoms can be:
- Mildly affected dogs have noisy breathing (think heavy snoring sounds) which worsen with exercise. This noise may seem like a "cute little snort", but is actually your pet struggling to breathe.
- Symptoms worsen with hot or humid weather. BAS makes pets more likely to suffer heat stroke.
- Severely affected dogs may tire easily with exercise, collapse or faint, or vomit. Respiratory distress leading to death can occur.
- BAS pets are more prone to obesity (which in turn worsens their symptoms) and are at higher risk for anesthesia.
Treatment for BAS depends on severity, but may include:
- Weight loss
- Restricting activity in hot, humid weather to prevent heat stroke
- Avoiding stress whenever possible
- Using a harness instead of a classic collar/leash to avoid neck pressure
- Short periods of steroids may be needed to decrease airway inflammation
- Oxygen therapy may be needed in an emergency setting
- Referral for surgical correction (removing tissue to widen the nostrils, shorten the soft palate, or remove everted laryngeal saccules).
