Is your dog a Brachycephalic breed? 

Brachycephalic dogs are "squishy/flat face" breeds such as bulldogs and pugs. These dogs often experience a condition referred to as Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS), which effects their ability to breath effectively and can increase their risk of a number of health issues. 

Symptoms of BAS include (but are not limited to):

- Excessive snoring
- Noisy or open mouth breathing
- Exercise intolerance
- Gagging or choking
- Cyanosis (blue tongue)

Other health concerns your Brachycephalic breed could have may be:

Stenotic Nares:
Often brachycephalic dogs have nostrils that are too closed to allow normal respiration. Instead of a nice, round opening, we see a slit. It is difficult for these dogs to breath with their mouths closed, and we recommend surgery to open up the airways. A small wedge of tissue from each nostril is surgically removed, and the edges are then stitched together. The sutures dissolve over time and owners report noticeable improvement in a matter of days.

Everted Laryngeal Saccules: 
Laryngeal saccules are bags of tissue that sit in front of the vocal chords. In dogs with compromised upper airway flow, these saccules are pulled into the airway, blocking the opening to the trachea. Treatment involves removing the saccule tissue. 

Elongated Soft Palate:
If the soft palate is long enough to hang down into the airway it can block the opening to the trachea and prevent normal airflow. Surgical treatment involves removing the excess tissue to shorten the soft palate. 

We perform all of the above corrective airway surgery right here in the clinic. Please make an assessment appointment for any further information, or if you have any concerns regarding your pet's breathing, please let us know.