Grant Amount: $2,838.78

Dr. Joe Hauptman, DMV, Michigan State University

January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009

Sponsor(s): French Bulldog Club of America, Pug Dog Club of America, Inc., Sally Z. Monroe, MD FUND

Breed(s): Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Pekingese, Pug

Disease(s): Brachycephalic Syndrome

Project Summary

Brachycephalic syndrome is characterized by stenotic nares, elongation of the soft palate, and subsequent eversion of the laryngeal saccules. It may become life threatening. Staphylectomy is an excellent and strongly recommended technique for management of the brachycephalic syndrome, and should be performed in all dogs with brachycephalic syndrome. Stenotic nares is a common disease of brachycephalic dogs. It is not clear if the obstruction caused by stenotic nares plays a relatively significant role in the pathophysiology of the brachycephalic syndrome. No study has been performed that either addresses or answers the question: Will resolution of Stenotic Nares in brachycephalic puppies prevent or alleviate development of the brachycephalic syndrome in the adult? They researchers enrolled 63 brachycephalic dogs; 13 were Shih Tzus, effectively treated by the excision technique, and previously reported (SVSTS 2007, JAAHA 44:82-85, 2008); they were excluded. All were < 6 months of age and were diagnosed on physical exam; no complicating problems of any sort were detected on history or physical exam in any puppy. A brachycephalic score was recorded before surgery and after surgery, as possible, at 1, 1.5. 2, 2.5 and 3 years of age. The occurrence of the brachycephalic syndrome was recorded. The researchers included the Pug, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, and Pekinese in their study. It appears that correction of stenotic nares in the puppy decreases clinical signs associated with, but does not decrease the incidence of, the brachycephalic syndrome. The excision technique is an excellent technique for the repair of stenotic nares that is without complications; we recommend that it be performed in all brachycephalic dogs with stenotic nares.