Why Boaz Man, DVM, believes we have an ethical responsibility to not only recognize a dog who can’t breathe, but to help them.

There’s no denying that brachycephalic dog breeds are in vogue throughout the world, with no signs of this trend slowing any time soon. As a result, the usually well-meaning but often unprepared owners of these smoosh-faced dogs are showing up in droves in veterinary clinics, sometimes with little understanding of the potential severity and sequelae of brachycephalic obstructive airway disease (BOAS) and the benefits of early surgical intervention.

Boaz Man, DVM, medical director of Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital in Boca Raton, Florida, feels strongly that general practitioners can and should be performing surgical procedures to treat elements of BOAS in dogs. He works hard to spread this message to not only veterinary professionals, but also to pet owners.