vet-n-pet DIRECT

uFEATURED ARTICLE 8 | my pet magazine Squishy faces, short noses, wrinkly skin, adoring eyes, it's no wonder breeds like French Bulldogs, British Bulldogs, Pugs and Persian cats are becoming increasingly popular. But along with their adorable looks these breeds do come with some possible medical concerns that owners and potential owners should be aware of. Brachycephalic means "short headed" and it refers to dog and cat breeds that have a short nose and flat face. Some popular Brachycephalic breeds include; Brachycephalic pets are faced with a number of health concerns that result from their abnormal head/skull formation which then determines the formation of their facial features including eyes, nose, mouth and airways. Brachycephalic breeds are at an increased risk of a number of different medical problems including; Eye problems due to shallow eye sockets which can result in ineffectual eyelid closing, infections, drying out of the eyes, cornea irritations, ulcers, watery eyes and the chance of bulging or eyes popping out of the socket. Dental issues due to overcrowding of teeth Skin infections due to the folded skin Heat intolerance and inability to pant effectively Difficulty swallowing due to narrow trachea or blockages in trachea Breathing difficulties due to elongated soft palate, abnormal nostrils and trachea blockages and collapse. The most concerning issue faced by brachycephalic breeds is the breathing difficulties which can have an extremely detrimental effect on their overall health and become life threatening. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a condition faced by these pets which refers to a number of upper airway abnormalities. Pets suffering with BOAS may be affected by one or a combination of abnormalities including: stenotic nares - small or narrow nostrils extended nasopharyngeal turbinates - when the nasal turbinates extend past the nose into the pharynx an elongated soft palate - when the soft palate is too long for the mouth laryngeal collapse - when the larynx does not open as wide as it should a hypoplastic trachea - narrower trachea than normal everted laryngeal saccules - when laryngeal sacs turn outward or are sucked into the airway Signs and symptoms of BOAS include; Noisy breathing, snorting or snoring Wheezing sound (strider) Open mouthed breathing Extending of the neck or keeping head elevated when sleeping Difficulty breathing during exercise, heat or humid weather Coughing, gagging or vomiting Insufficient panting Overheating Fainting or collapse, particularly after exercise ü Pug ü French Bulldog ü British Bulldog ü Boxer ü Bull Mastiff ü Japanese Chin ü Lhasa Apso ü Chihuahua ü Boston Terrier ü Shih Tzu ü Persian ü British Shorthair ü Himalayan Brachycephalic Pets Brachycephalic Pets

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