Understanding signs of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) for pet owners

What it is: Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is a condition affecting flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and French Bulldogs, and it can significantly impact their ability to breathe comfortably.

Why it matters: Awareness of the signs is crucial for pet owners to ensure timely care and prevent serious health risks.

Key signs to watch

• Noisy breathing: Persistent snoring, snorting, wheezing, or labored breaths, even when at rest, are common.
• Exercise intolerance: Dogs may tire quickly or avoid physical activity and show a reluctance to play.
• Heat sensitivity: Affected pets struggle to cool themselves and are prone to heat stress or overheating, especially in humid or hot weather.
• Gastrointestinal issues: These may include retching, vomiting, regurgitation, or loss of appetite due to abnormal breathing pressures.
• Cyanosis or collapse: In severe cases, a bluish tongue or gums and episodes of fainting can occur from insufficient oxygen during exercise or sleep.

What your vet will check

Your vet will review history, examine the nostrils and breathing sounds, and may recommend imaging. A brief sedated or anaesthetised airway exam allows direct assessment of an elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, or a narrowed windpipe. Early diagnosis helps prevent secondary damage.

Treatment at a glance

Conservative care (mild cases):

Keep body weight lean. Use a harness, not a neck collar. Avoid heat and strenuous exercise, especially on humid days. Manage stress and excitement. Your vet may use short courses of anti-inflammatories or anti-reflux medicines during flare-ups.

Surgery (moderate to severe cases):

Procedures can widen the nostrils, shorten an elongated soft palate, and remove everted saccules in one anaesthetic. Many dogs breathe quieter, tolerate activity better, and sleep more comfortably afterwards. A congenitally narrow trachea cannot be widened, so some precautions still apply after surgery.

Home care and prevention

• Walk during cooler hours, offer shade and water, and use air conditioning in warm weather.
• Stop activity at the first sign of heavy or noisy breathing that does not settle quickly.
• Feed measured portions and monitor body condition; even small weight loss can help.
• For future pets, choose breeders who prioritise wider nostrils, a longer muzzle, and who screen for BOAS.

When to seek help

Book a routine vet visit if your pet snores while awake, struggles on walks, or overheats easily. Seek urgent care now if you see blue gums or tongue, collapse, or severe distress that does not improve with rest and cooling.