3-year-old French Bulldog, Derek, was referred to us after being diagnosed with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS ).
His owner reported that Derek was finding it increasingly difficult to regulate his own temperature, whilst they were on walks, and easily became overheated. He snored and this was becoming louder, and he had experienced some episodes of sleep apnoea (stopping breathing in his sleep). He also showed difficulty with eating, often struggling to breath and swallow at the same time, resulting in him being a slow eater and dropping food from his mouth while eating. When he managed to eat, he would regurgitate his food several times a day.
On examination at rest Derek was confirmed to be suffering from BOAS. His nostrils were obviously narrow. He was given a grade 2/3 on the Kennel Club Respiratory Functional Grading Scheme, though an exercise tolerance test (where a dog is kept moving at a trotting pace for 3 minutes to assess the effect of exercise on their breathing) was not performed due to concern that his breathing may worsen significantly. To assess the extent of BOAS, examination of the back of the throat under general anaesthesia is required. When this was done prior to surgery it was seen that Derek had an over long excessively thickened soft palate and enlarged, inflamed tonsils.
Derek underwent surgery to shorten his soft palate and reduce its thickness, remove his enlarged tonsils and widen his narrow nostrils.
Derek recovered well. At 2 weeks after surgery his owner reported he was bright and well. He was no longer noisy with his breathing, to the point that his owner would keep going to check he was still where she had left him as she was so used to his breathing being loud.
Derek’s owner is pleased to say he is back to his mischievous self, enjoying his walks and back to cuddling in bed with no worries! Well done Derek!
