Health and Financial Concerns of Short-Nosed Dog Breeds
Written By: Stephanie Volkert
Short-nosed dog breeds such as pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, pekingese,and bulldogs have seen a surge in popularity in recent years due in part to trending on social media. YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are stocked with videos and pictures of these squat canine's antics. One popular pug's Instagram account boasts 3.1 million followers, with his own online merchandise store. You can find wares touting the virtues of these short-nosed, wrinkly pets in many stores and boutiques.
These breeds are popular for their smaller size and cute looks, especially with apartment dwellers. However, potential owners don't often realize the health effects (and associated veterinary costs) that arise in brachycephalic breeds. These breeds are characterized by their shortened heads, flat-faces, and underbites, all characteristics that have been bred into these breeds. These dogs are subject to a serious repercussion of this practice: brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS). Many people think the increased breathing sounds of short-nosed dogs to be endearing, but they may change their opinion if they knew this underlying health issue could cause animals undue stress and cost owners thousands in veterinary bills.
The increased breathing sounds, snoring, and snorting common to these breeds can be a sign of serious breathing problems. Brachycephalic airway syndrome can be present with a congenital malformation of the skull bones (normal width but lack sufficient length), stenotic nares (pinched or narrow nostrils), and an elongated soft palate in addition to laryngeal collapse and enlarged tonsils. The dog's windpipe may also be short and narrow, further exacerbating the ability to breathe and reducing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. These issues can range from low quality of life to outright life-threatening for the animal, depending on the severity of the malformations.
Clinical signs of BAS include gagging, coughing, difficulty swallowing food, snoring, cyanosis, acid reflux, digestive problems, and even hyperthermia (overheating), particularly during or after exercise or when the animal is excited or stressed. Warm weather increases the risk of respiratory distress and heat stroke. Heart problems such as arrhythmias may be present due to a lower blood oxygen level. Symptoms can be present at birth or show up between 1 to 4 years of age.
Treatment for BAS includes weight loss, avoidance of exercise during humid or warm weather, and surgery. Most vets recommend surgical intervention when the dog is still young, as the condition will only worsen with time and may need costly emergency treatment if the airway collapses. Soft palate resection can cost $500-1,500, and stenotic nares resection from $200 to $1,000. These are the least expensive procedures to treat BAS, and these figures only represent a rough estimate. Owners should consider the cost of several office visits, anesthesia, potential complications from surgery, long-term care, and whether treatment is needed on an emergency basis. Over the course of their pet's life, owners could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in veterinary bills.
Other health complications frequently seen with brachycephalic breeds include eye injuries and ulcers, a need for cesarean sections due to the puppies' large heads being unable to pass through the birth canal, and tooth and gum disease. These should also be factored into the total cost of owning short-nosed dog breeds.
Potential owners should consider the long-term health and quality of life before purchasing or adopting a brachycephalic breed. If purchasing from a breeder, inquire about the health of the parents, including whether the mother needed a cesarean section. Many dog rescues have seen an upsurge in surrendered brachycephalic dogs, so potential owners could consider adopting from a shelter or rescue.