Frank’s breathing issues began when he was 8 months old. He loved to play but easily became tired & overheated because of his obstructed airways.

Exercise intolerance is one of the most common things we see with BOAS. Frank’s mom stated that a good portion of the time he would snort & vomit & it was obvious that he wasn’t living the life that he deserved.

Without the ability to breathe through the nose, brachycephalics must breathe through the mouth (open mouth breathing & panting)

Stenotic nares are genetic, caused by a malformation of the cartilage in the nose.

Did you know that adequate thermoregulation depends on nasal ventilation ?

Over time the increased airway resistance from pinched nostrils leads to increased effort to breathe in. This is hard on the larynx, which can collapse, making breathing nearly impossible which can lead to death.

An elongated soft palate occurs when the soft tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth extends too far into the throat.

This condition obstructs the upper airway, leading to breathing difficulties, especially after exercise & during sleep.

It is commonly associated with snoring & sleep apnea in humans & certain breeds of dogs (brachycephalic breeds like frenchies, pugs & english bulldogs).

Surgical intervention to reduce the length of the soft palate is known as a Staphylectomy.

SYMPTOMS of BOAS include:
Noisy breathing, snoring, wheezing, snorting
Open Mouth Breathing
Exercise Intolerance
Gagging
Choking
Regurgitation
Abdominal Breathing
Bluish Color (instead of pink) of Gums
Chronic fatigue or daytime sleepiness due to disrupted sleep
Difficulty breathing, especially during exercise or heat

Fortunately, EARLY & PROACTIVE measures to address BOAS leads to BETTER OUTCOMES & makes a SIGNIFICANT IMPACT on the QUALITY of LIFE in affected dogs.