This condition, extremely prominent in British Bulldogs in particular (up to 50% in some studies), causes immense suffering in many dogs, from euthanasia in puppies when extreme, to just increasing levels of respiratory concerns depending on the degree of hypoplasia an individual may have.
Told by the breeder surgery is not needed (almost ubiquitous but very poor advice by most breeders), Harry’s owner noticed huge differences in exercise ability and quality of life post routine airway improvement at desexing at 8 months of age. There were huge reductions in snoring, exercise noise and most importantly, a significant improvement in exercise ability, even though he was considered “normal” by the breeder, and the owner himself. We commonly find people believing their dogs exercise “really well with no concerns at all”, then have twice as much energy post airway maximisation.
Henri is a classic story of across the board improvement in snoring, exercise tolerance and, as we find in so many cases, vomiting. Reduced from weekly to virtually nothing.
Across the board improvement in snoring, exercise tolerance and especially vomiting, from two times weekly to almost nothing and a doubling of exercise ability, Maggie was left very late in life at 3 years of age rather than 12 months, so was lucky to get such a result.
Marley had early BOAS surgery with little response, then spent a year at specialists trying to work up why he was vomiting. A typical case of why we start by keeping everything simple, Marley had only had 2/5 airway correction, hence we started with a revision 5/5 surgery. He needed all 5 aspects done (and re done) and his improvements across the board were dramatic (including vomiting). His case highlights the option of just doing appropriate 5/5 airway correction before spending 12 months in and out of specialists doing exhaustive tests to try to work out what’s going on.
Similar to Marley, Harley had unsuccessful BOAS surgery at a specialists at about two years of age. Revising her palate via further shortening and thinning and deepening the nares, the improvements were significant. Hence revision assessment always remains an option if initial surgery has not given a good result.
With surgery performed at two years of age, Trevor had massive improvements in vomiting. He also enjoyed full nights sleep with no more restlessness, with virtually no snoring and huge improvements in exercise.
Having had little improvement from an original BOAS surgery, Zena was so bad she almost didn’t survive a simple sedation. Upon a full revision surgery from Dr Davids, (including palate thinning that was not originally done), Zena was a completely new dog.
BB is an excellent example of cognitive dissonance that is part of owning a bulldog. Cognitive dissonance is the inability to see obvious concerns as they have been ‘normalised”. Believing BB was a totally healthy, fit and normal Bulldog, her owner still elected for “preventative airway correction“ before any signs developed, as that made sense to him. However, the difference post-surgery was astounding, with 80% more energy and a far happier dog. We all believe our brachycephlics have no problems, because that’s what the breeders want you to believe. BB’s story is common.
Told by two vets that there’s no need for surgery as snoring is “not that bad”, her improvements in snoring and exercise tolerance and happiness in life were significant. BB is another excellent example that significant improvements are likely in most dogs that are considered normal with no concerns. The fact that many seemingly “normal” dogs have significant improvements in happiness and life tells us we have a big problem with these breeds. All these breeds benefit from surgery, even if they don’t ‘need it’ to live.