When you have a cold, it can be hard to breathe because your sinuses are swollen. Brachycephalic dogs, which include breeds like pugs, boxers, bulldogs, Boston terriers, know that feeling. That big word—brachycephalic—refers to their anatomy: short snout, wide head, and bulging eyes, and it can lead to a set of upper airway abnormalities called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). In other words, brachycephalic dogs can have a tough time breathing.
When pet parents learn their pup has BOAS, their first question is often, “How can I help my dog?” At Pets In Stitches, we now offer several respiratory surgeries that address common issues for brachycephalic dogs with BOAS, such as stenotic nares surgery.
What Are Stenotic Nares in Dogs?
Stenotic nares are narrowed nostrils that restrict a dog’s air flow and lead to upper airway obstruction. In severe cases, the dog’s nostrils can close up entirely, forcing the dog to breathe only through their mouth.
Signs your pup might be dealing with stenotic nares include noisy mouth breathing, snoring, and trouble sleeping. Your dog may tire out easily after a few rounds of fetch, or refuse to even get off the couch. You might also notice your dog’s gums are tinged blue, which could indicate they aren’t receiving enough oxygen.
Is Stenotic Nares Surgery Right for Your Dog?
Stenotic nares are congenital, meaning that if your dog has them, they were born with them. While there’s no way to prevent the condition, there are several things you can do to make your dog more comfortable:
- Use a harness instead of a collar to help displace some of the pressure on your dog’s neck and promote easier breathing.
- Help your dog maintain a healthy weight by feeding a nutritionally balanced diet and encouraging regular exercise.
- Sometimes surgery for stenotic nares is necessary.
Determining whether surgery is necessary is a decision between the veterinarian and pet parent. Considerations include how much effort your dog is making to breathe and how your dog’s nostrils appear. Surgery to correct stenotic nares involves a wedge resection that removes a wedge of cartilage from the nostril and widens the airway.
Just ask Eddie Johnson, the pup pictured in these photos, who is breathing much easier after Dr. Rastetter performed surgery to address his stenotic nares. It’s obvious from the photos just how much more air Eddie can take in — which makes Eddie’s pet parent breathe a whole lot easier, too.
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Help for Brachycephalic Dog Breathing Issues
If you’ve noticed your dog is breathing noisily or mouth breathing, snoring, or tires out easily from playing or exercise, contact the experts at Pets In Stitches for a consultation. We offer a variety of respiratory surgeries that can help brachycephalic dogs breathe easier.
