Brachycephalic Syndrome

Symptoms:

Symptoms of brachycephalic syndrome include:

• Noisy breathing
• Overheating even in moderate weather
• Labored breathing with only minimal exercise
• Frequent gagging or throwing up of "froth" for no apparent reason
• Cyanosis (a blue appearance of the gums due to lack of oxygen)
• Syncope (fainting).

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is often made based on the breed of dog and clinical signs.

Your veterinarian may also perform other diagnostic tests such as:

• A physical examination, including listening to the chest with a stethoscope to help exclude other causes of respiratory difficulty
• X-rays to determine if heart or lung disease is present
• Visual inspection of the nostrils to identify stenotic nares
• Examination (under sedation) of the mouth and larynx to diagnose an elongated soft palate and/or everted laryngeal saccules

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Management:

Mild cases may be managed through tranquilization, administration of oxygen, or anti-inflammatory steroids. Surgery before severe symptoms develop is relatively easy and has a more favorable prognosis than treatment later when the symptoms become more severe. Possible surgeries (depending on which conditions are present in your dog) include removing a portion of the nostril to increase airflow, shortening the soft palate, and removing the laryngeal saccules.

Some steps you can take to help manage this condition:

• Keep your dog from becoming obese - being overweight makes breathing more difficult.
• Avoid stressful situations, such as exercise during hot, humid weather.
• Use a harness instead of a neck collar.
• See your veterinarian immediately if your dog has trouble breathing, becomes cyanotic, or collapses.

Return from Brachycephalic Syndrome to Boston Terrier Health Problems

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