Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) in Dogs and Cats

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome

A set of upper airway abnormalities affecting flat-faced (“brachycephalic”) breeds, caused by squeezing a normal-length airway into a shortened skull. Well-documented and common in dogs like Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers; the same anatomical issue can also affect flat-faced cats like Persians and Himalayans.

Symptoms

Loud snoring, snorting, or noisy breathing, even at rest
Struggling to exercise or overheating easily
Excessive panting
Gagging, retching, or regurgitating, especially after eating
Fainting or collapse in severe cases, particularly in hot or humid weather
Sleeping with the mouth open due to difficulty breathing through the nose

Causes

Selective breeding for a shortened, flat-faced skull shape
A combination of structural abnormalities: narrowed nostrils (stenotic nares), an elongated soft palate, and a smaller-than-normal windpipe (hypoplastic trachea)
Everted laryngeal saccules, tissue that gets pulled into the airway from chronic strain
Excess weight further compresses the airway and worsens symptoms

Treatments

Mild cases can be managed conservatively: weight control, a harness instead of a neck collar, and avoiding heat and overexertion
Surgical correction for more severe cases: widening the nostrils, shortening the soft palate, and removing everted saccules
Earlier surgical intervention, ideally before 2 years of age, leads to better outcomes
Affected dogs with pronounced symptoms should not be used for breeding

This condition is common in the following Dogs & Cats

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