A UK vet has issued a warning to pet owners of three popular dog breeds. Posting on social media, the animal welfare expert shared advice for flat-faced dog breeds, such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, and English Bulldogs.
In the post, Dr Alex Crow urged owners to be alert for signs their pet is struggling to breathe properly, as they could require vet treatment. Dr Crow is a veterinary surgeon and content creator with over 38k followers on Instagram as @Alex_thevet, where he frequently shares pet advice.
In a recent video posted this week, Dr Crow asked dog owners with concerns about their pet’s breathing to speak to their vet about a BOAS assessment. He explained: “Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is one of the most common conditions I see in flat-faced breeds — and one of the most misunderstood.
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“BOAS affects dogs like French Bulldogs, Pugs, and English Bulldogs, where the skull has been shortened so dramatically that the airway is physically compromised from birth. Narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and an underdeveloped trachea all combine to make every breath an active effort.
“That snoring you hear at night, the snorting on walks, the heavy panting after minimal exercise — none of that is normal. It is a dog struggling to breathe through an airway that was never built to function properly. If your dog sounds like this, speak to your vet about a BOAS assessment. Early surgical intervention can dramatically improve their quality of life.”
In his video, the vet also shared a word of warning for anyone looking to buy a puppy. Dr Crow told viewers: “Imagine breathing your entire life through a straw.
“Your soft palate is too long for your shortened skull. It hangs in the airway and has to be surgically trimmed just so you can breathe without constantly choking.
“Your nostrils are so narrow that air can barely pass through them. That requires surgery too—a procedure to physically cut away tissue just to open them up again. On top of that, your tongue is also too large for your mouth, so you have to permanently stick it out just to make room for airflow.
“Your constant struggle to breathe creates negative pressure in the airway, which sucks small pouches of tissue called the laryngeal saccules into the throat, adding yet another obstruction on top of everything else. And now imagine that all of that suffering is a result of the way you’ve been bred, just to look a certain way to please humans.
“This condition is Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), and it affects breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Frenchies—breeds that have been selectively bred to have flatter and flatter faces over generations. So, if you’re considering buying a flat-faced puppy, maybe think twice.”
