BOAS Warning Signs in Short Nosed Dogs

If your dog shows any of the signs below, it’s not “normal”—it’s an airway obstruction. These symptoms worsen over time and can become life-threatening. Don’t wait—early intervention can save your dog’s life.

1. Does your pet snore while sleeping?
2. Is your pet a noisy breather?
3. Does your pet ever gag while swallowing?
4. Does your pet regurgitate or vomit?
5. Is your pet resistant to exercise?
6. Have you observed your pet breathing heavily, including chest and stomach heaving?
7. Does your pet have difficulty sleeping, or do they prop their head up while resting?
8. Does your pet cough up foamy saliva?
9. Does your pet faint?
10. Does your pet have a blue tinge to their tongue and gums?
11. Has your pet’s bark changed, or do they ever lose their voice?
12. Is your pet especially sensitive to heat?
13. Has your pet experienced significant weight gain?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, your dog may have Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Minimally invasive laser surgery can dramatically improve their breathing — often with same-day discharge and no sutures. Free consultations available. Schedule below.

Time to help Flat Faced Dogs Breathe Better!

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome(BOAS) is an animal welfare condition affecting flat faced dogs which leads to severe respiratory distress & life threatening complications.

Abnormalities that contribute to this disease include an elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, a hypoplastic trachea, aberrant turbinates, and everted laryngeal saccules (a condition which occurs secondary to the other abnormalities). Greater pressures are required during breathing, particularly during inspiration. Over time the increased negative airway pressure results in secondary changes & complications that make it difficult to breathe during exercise, stress, & heat.

Affected dogs may be unable to take deep or fast enough breaths to release carbon dioxide. This leads to distress & further increases respiratory rate & heart rate, creating a vicious cycle that can quickly lead to life-threatening situations such as pneumonia, bronchitis, hyperthermia, and collapse.

Minimally invasive corrective laser airway surgery involves widening the entrance to each nostril, removing excessive tissue within each nostril, and removing the excessive tissue of an elongated soft palate. This combination of procedures is performed without the need for sutures and drastically improves airflow and oxygenation.

Benefits of laser surgery include minimal bleeding, short anesthesia time, reduced pain, swelling, and tissue trauma. Early treatment has been proven to prevent secondary conditions from developing, improve breathing, and improve overall quality of life.