Dr Arthur House

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Dr Arthur House

Independent Small Animal Surgery Specialist

05/08/2026

A good day isn't measured by the number of surgeries performed.

Sometimes it's measured by helping owners understand when surgery is needed, and when it isn't.

It was a pleasure to be part of Dogs Victoria's Health 24/7 Day last month, where I carried out Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) assessments and spoke with owners and breeders about their dogs' health.

Events like this reinforce to me that education is one of the most powerful tools we have.

Helping people understand what normal breathing looks like, when to seek advice, and how informed breeding decisions can improve the health of future generations is just as important as the surgery itself.

Great to hear that Dogs Victoria received such positive feedback from the day, with plans already underway to bring Health 24/7 Day back and expand the initiative to more locations in the future.

Photo Credit:

03/08/2026

Recently I had the privilege of presenting at the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) Annual Scientific Meeting, joining specialist surgeons, researchers and academics from around the world.

Across the meeting I presented on a range of topics, but it was a particular honour to contribute to this year's Meet the Expert programme.

My session focused on building a BOAS surgical service beyond palate and nostril surgery. Looking at the broader approach required to diagnose and manage these complex cases.

It was great to see the session fully booked and to spend time discussing different approaches with colleagues from across the profession.

30/07/2026

Praline was born with a rare condition affecting her soft palate. It didn't form properly before birth. The medical term for this is a hypoplastic soft palate.

Looking inside Praline's mouth, I could see that the sides of the soft palate were missing.

Puppies with this condition are usually identified at a very young age because they struggle to suckle.

The soft palate acts like a seal. During suckling, it seals off the back of the nose so puppies can create the suction they need to drink milk. It also helps stop food from entering the back of the nose when they swallow.

The good news is that many dogs adapt well once they start eating solid food. The tongue, together with the small amount of remaining soft palate, is often enough to stop food from going the wrong way.

In the rare cases where food regularly enters the back of the nose, which can be distressing for the dog, surgery can be performed to create a new soft palate.

Luckily, Praline has no difficulty eating solid food, so surgery isn't needed. Long term, her owners will simply need to monitor her for signs of nasopharyngeal reflux, as this can increase the risk of upper respiratory infections or aspiration pneumonia.

Lovely meeting Praline, and I'm pleased I could help provide some answers.

Thank you, to rescue, for sharing this photo. Praline is currently looking for her forever home.

01/07/2026

Harley was told she might need more airway surgery. She didn't.

Harley underwent BOAS surgery with me in late 2025 and initially did really well. She was enjoying her walks, sleeping comfortably and breathing much better.

Then things changed.

Harley started waking during the night making significant respiratory noise. The whole family was losing sleep, she was advised further airway surgery might be required.

Harley's mum decided to come back for another assessment before proceeding.

As it turned out, the noise wasn't a failure of her previous BOAS surgery, nor was it a progression of her airway disease - the noise was in fact reverse sneezing.

A CT scan showed what appeared to be a soft tissue mass obstructing the back of her nasal passages.

Rhinoscopy (a camera examination of the nasal passages) revealed the real cause...

A pea lodged in the back of her nose. 🫛

Once the pea was removed, Harley was feeling much better.

Harley's case is a good reminder that new or returning respiratory sounds in brachycephalic breeds do not automatically mean more airway surgery.

Every dog is different and deserves an accurate diagnosis before definitive treatment decisions are made.

16/06/2026

Over the years I've been fortunate to be involved in a range of clinical, research and educational projects. One thing I've never had is a central place to bring all of that information together.

I've recently launched my website, which includes information on my clinical work, research, publications, speaking engagements, clinical trials and current projects.

There is still more to add over time, but it's a good starting point and a place where colleagues, referrers and owners can find me and learn more about the work I'm involved in.

www.drarthurhouse.com.au

11/06/2026

Pleased to be part of the upcoming Health Day at KCC Park this July as part of the Dogs Victoria Breeders Education & Health Committee initiative.

I’ll be offering Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) assessments throughout the day, alongside a range of other veterinary health services, testing and breeder education opportunities.

The RFG scheme has now expanded from 3 breeds to 17 eligible breeds. The breeds currently included are:

• Affenpinscher
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Bulldog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chihuahua
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• French Bulldog
• Griffon Bruxellois
• Japanese Chin
• King Charles Spaniel
• Maltese
• Pekingese
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Shih Tzu
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

These breeds are now included because they can potentially suffer from airway obstruction.

The event is open to both Dogs Victoria members and the general public. If you own one of the eligible breeds and would like to learn more about your dog's breathing function, this is a great opportunity to have an RFG assessment performed.

Bookings are now open for both Dogs Victoria members and the public.

To book an RFG assessment with me, please contact Linda on 0439 675 855.

Further event information is available via Dogs Victoria:

https://dogsvictoria.org.au/public-events/health-247-day-at-dogs-victoria-1/

04/06/2026

Looking forward to contributing to the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Liverpool this July.

I’ll be presenting within the Meet the Expert programme on building a BOAS surgical service beyond palate and nostril surgery. The session is now fully booked.

I’ll also be speaking within the Small Animal programme on:

• Management of surgical implant-related infections in small animals
• Management of orthopaedic trauma with concurrent soft tissue injuries
• Challenging trauma cases – Case 3
• Challenging traumatic surgery: bladder and urethra

Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this year's programme and to share ideas with colleagues from around the world.

Event information: https://www.ecvs.org/annual-scientific-meeting/2026.php

28/05/2026

This is the first publication for SnoreTox, resulting from the clinical trials performed by Maurice and me alongside the RMIT team who developed the product.

Hopefully the results of the second clinical trial investigating French Bulldogs and Pugs will also be published soon.

SnoreTox is an exciting new development for flat-faced dogs and may provide another tool to help dogs with breathing issues. It’s particularly interesting for dogs that haven't had a good response to surgery, or for owners wanting to explore a non-surgical approach. Ultimately, the best management is likely to involve a combination of approaches.

The results we’ve seen with SnoreTox suggest an improvement in breathing similar to surgery. Unlike surgery, however, SnoreTox doesn’t provide a permanent change and may need to be repeated approximately every six months.

Prior to clinical trials, proof of principle, efficacy, safety and dosing studies were performed to help ensure the treatment approach was safe for the dogs.

A new trial is currently being planned and we will keep you posted.

SnoreTox is still undergoing research and is not currently available as a routine clinical treatment.

Publication link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023326000924

24/03/2026

Evaluating a new treatment option for dogs with elbow arthritis.

I’m currently involved in a clinical trial assessing an injectable treatment designed to support joint function and mobility in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis.

We’re looking for suitable patients with elbow pain, stiffness, or lameness to take part.

Osteoarthritis can be challenging to manage, and studies like this help us better understand additional treatment options.

This study is being conducted in collaboration with Dr Matthew Ray at Westernport Veterinary Clinics.

All study-related care and follow-up are provided, with participation based out of Westernport Veterinary Clinic in Hastings.

If you think your dog may be suitable or you’re a veterinarian with a potential case, or you’d like to learn more, you’re welcome to get in touch with me.

Dr Arthur House
[email protected]

09/02/2026

Saving Dogs’ Legs: Final Place Available in Synchrotron Radiation Clinical Trial

One place remains in a clinical trial exploring a limb-sparing treatment option for dogs with distal limb soft tissue sarcoma (tumours below the elbow or stifle).

This study uses Synchrotron radiation therapy to deliver a single, targeted radiation treatment with curative intent, offering an alternative to amputation in carefully selected cases.

Dogs have already undergone treatment as part of the study, with early results encouraging.

If you are a veterinarian with a patient who may be suitable, or an owner seeking further information, you’re welcome to contact me directly to discuss eligibility.

Dr Arthur House
[email protected]

Address

Melbourne, VIC

Telephone

+61400495922

Website

https://drarthurhouse.com.au/

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