BOAS
What is BOAS?
BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) is the name given to breathing problems caused by dogs having flat faces. It is caused by selective breeding and can cause serious health and welfare issues. BOAS commonly affects flat-faced breeds such as Boston Terriers.
Boston Terriers have become popular pets because of their appearance and good nature. Many owners think the snuffles and snoring noises made by their flat-faced dogs are normal, however, these noises are a sign that their dog is struggling to breathe.
BOAS includes one or more of the following primary issues:
- Narrowed nostrils — meaning less air can get in through the nose and each breath takes more effort. Some affected dogs may only be able to get enough air by panting and breathing through their mouths.
- Crowded nose and throat — the same amount of tissue that longer-nosed dogs have is packed into a much smaller space, obstructing the airway and adding to the difficulty of getting enough air
- Elongated soft palate — a large soft palate (the soft back part at the top of the mouth) blocks airflow into the windpipe, making breathing difficult and resulting in the snuffling/snoring noises in dogs with BOAS
- Narrow (windpipe) — breathing through a narrow windpipe is a bit like trying to breathe through a drinking straw, it’s very difficult! There are also two sacs inside the windpipe that can be enlarged and cause further problems.
The extra breathing effort these issues create can then lead to secondary problems, for example, collapse of the airway — including the windpipe (trachea) and the larynx (flaps at the top of the windpipe also known as the voice box). Once secondary changes have developed they can be more difficult to treat.
Symptoms
The symptoms of BOAS can appear in puppies but sometimes don’t start until dogs are two–four years old. Symptoms include:
- Noisy breathing (including snuffles)
- Snoring
- Difficulty breathing
- Disrupted sleep
- Excessive panting, even when resting
- Unable or unwilling to exercise
- Struggling in hot weather (Bostons are prone to heatstroke - see here for info)
- Difficulty eating
- Regurgitation or vomiting— from the pressure created in the abdomen (tummy) from struggling to breathe
- Cyanosis (blue-coloured skin)
- Collapse
Heatstroke and/or a sudden increase in breathing difficulty can lead to collapse and is an emergency.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on an examination and the symptoms above showing in a Boston Terrier. Your vet might also ask you to walk your dog around for a few minutes to see if symptoms are brought on or made worse by exercise. Your vet may suggest looking at your dog’s airways under an anaesthetic using an endoscope (a special camera), although this is usually only done with the plan to perform surgery to fix the problems at the same time. Your vet might refer you to a specialist for this. A specialist might also carry out scans such as an MRI scan.
Treatment
Surgery
Your dog might benefit from surgery to correct some of the problems causing their breathing difficulties. This might include widening their nostrils and shortening their soft palate. Surgery should be done earlier rather than later for the best chance at a good outcome. There are a number of risks associated with surgery and it’s important to discuss these with your vet. However, the surgery is likely to dramatically improve your dog’s quality of life. Your vet may refer your dog to a specialist.
Keeping an ideal weight
Since they often have trouble exercising, flat-faced dogs are prone to weight gain. Extra weight on a flat-faced dog is likely to make breathing worse as it adds to the tissue around their neck and face, causing airways to narrow even more. Speak to your vet or vet nurse for weight advice.
Exercising
Keep your Boston Terrier as fit as possible and build their fitness gradually. Don’t be tempted to take them for a long walk if they aren’t used to it. Boston Terriers often struggle to keep up with other breeds. Put your dog on a lead if they are struggling to chase another dog. If your dog does too much exercise this can cause swelling to their airways and mean they struggle to breath and can lead to collapse.
Attach your dog’s lead to a harness instead of their collar — pressure on their neck will make breathing more difficult.
We always recommend a harness instead of collar for Boston Terriers.
If you notice your dog starts breathing heavily or panting while you’re out for a walk, let them rest for a while then slowly bring them back home.
Avoid hot weather
It’s difficult for Boston Terriers to stay cool on hot days, as dogs lose a lot of heat by panting, which is less effective in dogs with flat faces. They can therefore be very sensitive to heatstroke which can be fatal. On hot days you should only take your dog for short walks when it’s cool (early morning and late evening). If it is too hot all day then it’s better to skip your dog’s walk until a day when it is cooler. Monitor your dog during walks and only take them as far as they are comfortable — remember you have to get back! Always take plenty of water on walks even if it doesn’t seem that hot for you, as this will help them cool down.
Prevention
BOAS is inherited from the parents, so if your dog is suffering from BOAS or any of the symptoms listed above it is important not to breed them, even if surgery has improved their symptoms.
If you’re considering buying or rehoming a Boston Terrier make sure you are aware of any health problems they have or might develop. Take time to research the breed and think about whether they will fit into your lifestyle.
Outlook
The outlook for your dog depends on how severely their breathing is affected. Struggling to breathe can really affect your dog’s quality of life, so it’s important to get help for your dog, even if they only have mild signs of BOAS. Earlier treatment for BOAS is also likely to have a better outcome.