There is something ever so appealing about the appearance of flat or short nose dog breeds. Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, British Bulldogs, etc. share the similar physical characteristics of squashed or flattened noses and large eyes. One theory goes that they are more human or baby-like in their facial shape, which is why we find them appealing. Personally, I often find them to be affectionate and devoted pets, but the shortened nose/squashed face comes at a price.

Selectively bred over many generations
We describe these dogs as ‘brachycephalic’, which essentially means short-nose. They look very different from wild dogs because we have selectively bred them over many generations to have shorter and shorter snouts. The problem with this selective breeding regime is that the structural breathing apparatus behind the nose has essentially got compressed and simply doesn’t fit into the space that is provided for it. The nostrils are too narrow to allow good airflow, the ‘soft palate’ at the back of the throat extends too far and obstructs the opening of the airway, and the larynx (top of the windpipe) struggles to cope with this limited airflow by gradually collapsing under constant strain.

Life-threatening breathing difficulties
The give away is the excessive noise that a lot of these dogs make when they are breathing. Most of them will snore excessively and pant far more than they should – even when relaxed their breathing is often raspy or rattle-like. Hot weather can be particularly problematic as these dogs cannot pant efficiently to keep themselves cool. We call this condition ‘brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome’, or BOAS for short, and sadly it often gets worse and more serious as a dog ages. Some of these dogs will struggle to manage any sort of exertion and suffer life-threatening breathing difficulties.

Early surgical intervention is possible to dramatically improve breathing in the worst affected dogs. It is possible to widen the nostril openings, shorten the soft palate and relieve some of the pressure on the larynx. If these procedures are performed early in a dog’s life it dramatically reduces the long-term strain on the airway. Ultimately, better and more responsible breeding will reduce the more extreme breathing problems we see. If you are interested in getting a puppy from one of these breeds, talk to your vet about what to look out for and what can be done if a problem occurs.