12/09/2023
What is BOAS?
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is a breed-related disorder that means affected animals cannot breathe normally and this significantly compromises their welfare. Animals affected by brachycephaly (having a flat face) include breeds such as the French Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, Boxer, British Bulldog, Australian Bulldog and Shih-tzu.
Many brachycephalic animals have Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. BOAS is a lifelong, and often progressive disorder that affects an animal’s ability to breathe, exercise, eat, play, sleep, engage in normal behaviours and live comfortably. Extremely brachycephalic dogs have a shorter life span compared to dogs with less extreme brachycephaly or non-brachycephalic dogs.
Airway abnormalities that characterise BOAS include narrowed nostrils, elongated and thick soft palate, inflamed and enlarged tonsils, everted laryngeal saccules, enlarged tongue, and reduced size of the windpipe. Animals suffering from BOAS usually have more than one abnormality.