This makes them more likely to get eye infections and injuries. Flat-faced breeds have very shallow eye sockets and this often means their eyes bulge out slightly. Extra folds and wrinkles around their nose and mouth are the ideal breeding ground for infections. Their teeth can be cramped or overlapping. These breeds have to fit the same number of teeth into a much smaller jaw. Other health problems in flat-faced breedsįlat-faced breeds often suffer from other health problems, as well as struggling to breathe. Read more about the kinds of treatments your vet might suggest. If you notice any of these signs of BOAS, speak to your vet and get your pet treated. These are signs of your pet struggling to breathe and that they need help. It’s important to recognise that this isn’t ‘normal for the breed’. bluish gums (gums should be salmon pink colour).sleeping sitting up or falling over when sitting up.difficulty cooling down when it is warm.

It will also get worse if your pet puts on a lot of weight.

The extra effort to breath can also cause heartburn (acid reflux) which is really uncomfortable and causes vomiting.īOAS can get worse as your pet gets older.

This can eventually lead to heart failure. If they can’t get enough air into their lungs, they’ll have less oxygen in their blood. This can put a lot of strain on the muscles and tissue around the windpipe, gradually making the situation worse.

A narrow windpipe (the tube that pulls air from the nose to the lungs) which means it takes more effort to pull air into the lungs.

This is a real problem for dogs during exercise or in the heat if they can’t pant properly to cool themselves down.

Difficulty getting enough air with each breath.

What is Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)?īrachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is made up of a range of health problems, including: If you own a flat-faced breed, it’s important to understand BOAS so you can get your pet help from a vet if they show any symptoms. These are often overlooked because they’re seen as ‘normal’ for those breeds. Not every flat-faced pet will suffer from the worst symptoms of BOAS but many will have some symptoms that cause health and welfare problems. The most obvious sign of BOAS is difficulty breathing. This is a range of health problems all caused by their shorter snout. Many of these dogs and cats will suffer from something called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome or BOAS.

What is the problem with flat-faced breeds? Find out more about other issues pets can have. Flat-faced breeds include:įlat faces aren’t the only features that cause problems for pets. There’s been a lot of focus on dog breeds like Pugs but these aren’t the only pets that can have health problems because of the way they look.

So, what are these health problems and why are vets so concerned about these pets? What are 'brachycephalic' or ‘flat-faced breeds’?įlat faced breeds are any dogs, cats or rabbits that have short, squashed noses (flat-faces). This is being reported more in the media to try and help owners understand these problems and improve the welfare of these breeds. Dogs like these have become really popular but there hasn’t always awareness of the health problems they can have. You’ve probably seen flat-faced breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs in the news a lot recently.

Squish face cat