Warmer weather may be lovely for humans, but for short-nosed breeds of dog, it can prove to be a challenging and uncomfortable time. This is because warmer weather can trigger problems with their breathing, caused by BOAS, which stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.

The term brachycephalic comes from Greek roots: brachy- meaning “short” and -cephalic meaning “head.”

Brachycephalic dog breeds include:

• English Bulldogs
• French Bulldogs
• Pugs
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• Boston Terriers
• Shih Tzus
• Boxers
• Pekingese
• Lhasa apsos

Please note this isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are some of the main breeds affected.

Dr Javier Berron DVM, GPCert(SAS), MRCVS (pictured) is Head Vet & BOAS Assessor at The Pet Vet Warrington. Javier specialises in the assessment and treatment of brachycephalic dogs; and has provided some answers to frequently asked questions to help owners improve their pets’ ability to breathe and thereby enhance their quality of life.

Why are short-nosed dogs affected by warmer weather?

A dog’s nose is the main area in their body where heat exchange takes place, and the air flow restrictions in these breeds can make it challenging for them to cool down, which also puts them at greater risk of heat stroke. Even brachycephalic dogs with wider nostrils can still be negatively affected, as the structure of their palate and the larynx can contribute towards breathing difficulties.

What are the signs of breathing difficulties to look out for in a brachycephalic dog?

If you have a brachycephalic breed, it’s important to be aware of the following signs and symptoms:

• Excessive panting or heavy breathing, even when resting
• Noisy breathing such as snorting, wheezing, and snoring
• Coughing or gagging, especially after exercise or excitement
• Difficulty exercising or tiring quickly
• Blue-tinged gums or tongue (sign of low oxygen)
• Open mouth breathing at rest
• Collapse or fainting in severe cases

These symptoms can worsen over time as your pet ages. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with a vet.

BOAS assessment

During a BOAS assessment, the vet will initially use a stethoscope to listen to your dog’s breathing while they are calm and relaxed. Your dog will then be encouraged to move around an exercise area at a brisk pace for 3 minutes. The vet will then listen to your dog’s breathing again and use a list of criteria to allocate a grade between 0-3. Following this, your vet will provide recommendations as to how your dog’s symptoms can be best managed.

• Difficulty exercising or tiring quickly
• Blue-tinged gums or tongue (sign of low oxygen)
• Open mouth breathing at rest
• Collapse or fainting in severe cases

These symptoms can worsen over time as your pet ages. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with a vet.

Surgery to help brachycephalic dogs

We offer BOAS surgery, which is a corrective procedure that aims to improve breathing by addressing anatomical abnormalities like elongated soft palates, narrowed nostrils, and other structural issues that obstruct airflow. This surgery is available at:

• The Pet Vet Warringon
• The Pet Vet Liverpool
• The Pet Vet Morden
• The Pet Vet Waltham Forest
• The Pet Vet Rotherham
• The Pet Vet Bristol
• The Pet Vet Portsmouth
• The Pet Vet Nottingham

Register for a BOAS assessment 

If you have a short-nosed dog and have any concerns around their breathing, please book an appointment with our team. For greater convenience, we’re open 7 days a week with late opening (check the opening hours of your local surgery), with no surcharge for evenings, weekends, bank holidays – including for non-registered customers.

We recognise the expense of pet ownership, so we offer CarefreeCredit 0% payment plans, our fair price guarantee (details can be found in our T&Cs), and 10% discount for over 60s, the Blue Light community and Armed Forces.