Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
What does brachycephalic mean?
"Brachy" means "shortened" and "cephalic" means "head". The skull bones of brachycephalic dogs are shortened in length, giving the face and nose a "pushed in" appearance. Due to the shorter bones of the face and nose, the anatomy and relationship with the other soft tissue structures are altered; some of these changes can cause physical problems for the affected dog.
Examples of breeds that are brachycephalic include: Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Chinese Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus and Bull Mastiffs.
What is brachycephalic airway syndrome?
Brachycephalic airway syndrome refers to a particular set of upper airway abnormalities that affects brachycephalic dogs.
Any of these upper airway abnormalities can cause increased airway resistance, increasing the effort required to inhale. Most dogs with this syndrome are able to breathe more easily through their mouth than their nose.
Mildly affected dogs will have noisy breathing, especially with exercise, and most will snort when excited and snore when relaxed or asleep. Severely affected animals have more pronounced airway noise, appear to tire easily with exercise, and may collapse or faint after exercise. Other symptoms may include coughing, gagging, retching and vomiting. Symptoms are often worse in hot or humid weather.
Over time, dogs with this syndrome may develop other secondary problems, including inflammation of other structures in the airways. In the long term, the increased effort associated with breathing can put an increased strain on the heart.
What is the treatment for brachycephalic airway syndrome?
Since obesity worsens the symptoms of brachycephalic airway syndrome, weight loss is important if the pet is overweight. For dogs with only mild or intermittent symptoms, their condition may be managed conservatively by controlling exercise levels, avoiding hot or humid conditions, keeping the dog in an air-conditioned place during the summer, and avoiding stress.
Corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and oxygen therapy may all be useful for short term relief of airway inflammation or respiratory distress. However, medical management of this condition does not correct the underlying anatomical abnormalities.
Surgery is the treatment of choice whenever the anatomic abnormalities interfere with the patient's breathing. Stenotic nares can be surgically corrected by removing a wedge of tissue from the nostrils, allowing improved airflow through the nostrils. An elongated soft palate can be surgically shortened to a more normal length. Everted laryngeal saccules can be surgically removed to eliminate the obstruction in the larynx.
How successful is surgery?
The earlier that the abnormalities associated with this syndrome are corrected, the better since the condition worsens over time and may cause other abnormalities. Early correction of stenotic nares and/or an elongated soft palate will significantly improve airway function and may prevent development of everted laryngeal saccules.
In the early post-operative period, swelling of the surgical sites may occur and interfere with breathing. Therefore, your veterinarian will closely monitor your pet after the surgery has been performed. The degree of monitoring that will be necessary depends on the surgical procedures that were performed.
Any other advice?
Dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome should be fitted with a harness that does not tug at the neck area. It is not advisable to use a regular neck collar for these dogs, since the collar can put undue pressure on the neck.
If you have any questions regarding brachycephalic airway syndrome or think your dog is suffering please, give us a call to find out more!
What does brachycephalic mean?
"Brachy" means "shortened" and "cephalic" means "head". The skull bones of brachycephalic dogs are shortened in length, giving the face and nose a "pushed in" appearance. Due to the shorter bones of the face and nose, the anatomy and relationship with the other soft tissue structures are altered; some of these changes can cause physical problems for the affected dog.
Examples of breeds that are brachycephalic include: Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Chinese Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus and Bull Mastiffs.
What is brachycephalic airway syndrome?
Brachycephalic airway syndrome refers to a particular set of upper airway abnormalities that affects brachycephalic dogs.
Any of these upper airway abnormalities can cause increased airway resistance, increasing the effort required to inhale. Most dogs with this syndrome are able to breathe more easily through their mouth than their nose.
Mildly affected dogs will have noisy breathing, especially with exercise, and most will snort when excited and snore when relaxed or asleep. Severely affected animals have more pronounced airway noise, appear to tire easily with exercise, and may collapse or faint after exercise. Other symptoms may include coughing, gagging, retching and vomiting. Symptoms are often worse in hot or humid weather.
Over time, dogs with this syndrome may develop other secondary problems, including inflammation of other structures in the airways. In the long term, the increased effort associated with breathing can put an increased strain on the heart.
What is the treatment for brachycephalic airway syndrome?
Since obesity worsens the symptoms of brachycephalic airway syndrome, weight loss is important if the pet is overweight. For dogs with only mild or intermittent symptoms, their condition may be managed conservatively by controlling exercise levels, avoiding hot or humid conditions, keeping the dog in an air-conditioned place during the summer, and avoiding stress.
Corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and oxygen therapy may all be useful for short term relief of airway inflammation or respiratory distress. However, medical management of this condition does not correct the underlying anatomical abnormalities.
Surgery is the treatment of choice whenever the anatomic abnormalities interfere with the patient's breathing. Stenotic nares can be surgically corrected by removing a wedge of tissue from the nostrils, allowing improved airflow through the nostrils. An elongated soft palate can be surgically shortened to a more normal length. Everted laryngeal saccules can be surgically removed to eliminate the obstruction in the larynx.
How successful is surgery?
The earlier that the abnormalities associated with this syndrome are corrected, the better since the condition worsens over time and may cause other abnormalities. Early correction of stenotic nares and/or an elongated soft palate will significantly improve airway function and may prevent development of everted laryngeal saccules.
In the early post-operative period, swelling of the surgical sites may occur and interfere with breathing. Therefore, your veterinarian will closely monitor your pet after the surgery has been performed. The degree of monitoring that will be necessary depends on the surgical procedures that were performed.
Any other advice?
Dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome should be fitted with a harness that does not tug at the neck area. It is not advisable to use a regular neck collar for these dogs, since the collar can put undue pressure on the neck.
If you have any questions regarding brachycephalic airway syndrome or think your dog is suffering please, give us a call to find out more!