Brachycephalic Obstructive Syndrome: Do We Need to Treat This?

Brachycephalic Obstructive Syndrome: do we need to treat this?

Primary problems include stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, redundant pharyngeal folds and tracheal hypoplasia. Nasopharyngeal turbinates (1) and congenital nasopharyngeal stenosis or choanal atresia have been reported sporadically. Nasopharyngeal dysgenesis, which has mainly been reported in Dachshunds (2) is also seen in brachycephalic breeds, causing functional nasopharyngeal obstruction with signs similar to those of BOAS. Exacerbated negative airway pressures lead to secondary events such as eversion of the laryngeal saccules and laryngeal collapse. Hiatal hernia, tracheal collapse and epiglottic entrapment may also occur. Epiglottic retroversion has been reported in a variety of breeds and may also present with similar signs (3). Redundant suprearytenoid folds, with secondary signs of upper respiratory obstruction have been reported in a series of Norwich terriers (4).

Clinical signs are chronic and progressive and include snoring, coughing, respiratory stertor/stridor, dyspnoea, regurgitation, vomiting, exercise intolerance, cyanosis and syncope. Corticosteroids, oxygen, cage rest, weight loss and keeping the patient cool may be palliative. […]