Most people are not familiar with the term "Brachycephalic," but if you own a Pug, Boston Terrier, Pekingese, King Charles Spaniel, Boxer, French Bulldog English Bulldog, Brussels Griffon, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso or any one of the other breeds with "pushed in" faces, you should become familiar with this word. The word comes from Greek roots "Brachy," meaning short and "cephalic," meaning head.
Brachycephalic dogs have been bred to have a normal lower jaw (one in proportion to their body size) and a compressed upper jaw. In producing this cosmetic appearance, we have created breeds with special needs.
Brachycephalic cats include breeds like Persians, Burmese, and Himalayans.
Brachycephalic breeds are characterized by "brachycephalic respiratory syndrome," which affects the different areas of the respiratory tract. Fortunately, most pets do not suffer from all aspects of the syndrome, but you should be aware of which your particular pet may have.
- This is a fancy name for narrowed nostrils. The brachycephalic dogs begins by having very small nasal openings for breathing. If this is severe, surgical correction is possible.
- It is difficult to fit the soft tissues of the canine mouth and throat into the brachycephalic's short face. As a result, the soft palate which separates nasal passage from oral cavity, flaps loosely down into the throat creating snorting sounds. Virtually all brachycephalics suffer from this but, except in bulldogs, actual respiratory distress is rare. Excess panting or excessive exertion may lead to swelling in the throat which can, then lead to breathing problems.
- The brachycephalic's windpipe may be dangerously narrowed in places. This condition creates tremendous anesthetic risk and should be ruled out by chest radiographs prior to any surgical procedures.
- Because of these upper respiratory obstructions, the brachycephalic pet is an inefficient panter. A dog with a more conventional face and throat is able to pass air quickly over the tongue through panting. Saliva evaporates from the tongue as air is passed across and the blood circulating through the tongue is efficiently cooled and circulated back to the rest of the body.
In the brachycephalic dog, so much extra work is required to move the same amount of air that the airways become inflamed and swollen. This can lead to a more severe obstruction, distress, and further over-heating.
Altogether, the upper airway of the brachycephalic dog compromises his or her ability to take in air. Under normal conditions the compromise is not great enough to cause a problem; however, an owner should take care not to let the dog become grossly overweight or get too hot in the summer months.
Be aware of what degree of snorting and sputtering is usual for your individual pet plus, should your pet require general anesthesia or sedation, your vet may want to take extra precautions or take radiographs prior to assess the severity of the syndrome. Anesthetic risk is higher than usual in these breeds, though under most circumstances the necessary extra precautions are readily managed by most animal hospitals.
With most of the nasal bones compacted, brachycephalic dogs tend to have trouble with the way their eyes are positioned in their heads.
Brachycephalic pets have very prominent eyes. The boney eye sockets are very shallow. This means that any blow to the back of the head, even a fairly minor one, can cause an eye to pop out of its socket and require surgical replacement. You may see eye protrusion with too much pulling against the leash if the pet is wearing a collar. You may want to consider using a harness with your pet.
Sometimes, the eyes are so prominent that the lids cannot close all the way over the eyes. This can lead to irritation and drying of the center of the eye unless surgical correction is performed. If you cannot tell by watching your pet blink, watch as your pet sleeps. Dogs who sleep without closing their eyes all the way may need surgical correction.
Eyelid problems are common in these breeds. Look for persistent wetness around the eyes. In some brachycephalic dogs and cats, the shape of the eyelids prevents normal tear drainage and there is an overflow. This problem cannot be corrected surgically and is not uncomfortable for the pet. There is a more serious condition which looks similar and involves the rolling inward of the eyelids such that the lashes rub on the eye, called entropion. Surgery may be needed to correct this problem.
The normal dog has 42 teeth in its mouth. The brachycephalic dog also has 42 teeth, but a lot less space to fit them in. This means that the teeth will be crowded and growing in at odd angles which, in turn, traps food debris and leads to periodontal disease at a far younger age than in non-brachycephalic breeds. The earlier you begin using home care dental products, the better you will be able to maintain your dog’s dental health.
Skin fold infections are common amid the facial folds of the brachycephalic breeds. Be sure to examine these areas periodically for redness. The broad headed nature of these breeds makes reproduction a tricky matter as Caesarean section is frequently needed. Difficult labor is common and, as surgical assistance is often necessary, it is important not to breed females with tracheal stenosis. Breeding is best left to the experts.
Altogether, the brachycephalic breeds are wonderful pets, but because of their anatomical differences, they require that their owners have extra knowledge about their special needs. If you have any questions about your brachycephalic dog or cat, please do not hesitate to call your veterinarian.
Sources:
www.marvistavet.com
www.veterinarypartner.com
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