Stenotic Nares
'Brachycephalic' Breeds

‘Brachycephalic’

Most people are not familiar with the term "Brachycephalic," but if you own a Pug,  Boston terrier,  Pekingese, Modern style Shar-pei, Boxer, Bulldog, Shih tzu or any one of the other breeds with "pushed in" faces, you should become familiar with this word. The word comes from Greek roots "Brachy," meaning Short and "cephalic," meaning Head…

Brachycephalic dogs have been bred so as to possess a normal lower jaw, that is, one in proportion to their body size, and a compressed upper jaw.
Although the original Chinese Shar-pei in China has a longer muzzle and does not suffer the same problems that the Brachycephalic breeds suffer, and could not remotely be described as Brachycephalic, the Modern Western bred Shar-pei type has a much shorter compressed muzzle and although it is not specifically bred to the basic brachycephalic description of normal lower/compressed upper jaw, it is fairly common to find undershot mouths and the same respiratory problems that the dogs that are most commonly known as Brachycephalic breeds suffer.
 

This pic only shows type,
and is not an example
of an affected dog

The Respiratory System:
Brachycephalic breeds are characterized by "brachycephalic respiratory syndrome," which affects the different areas of the respiratory tract.  Fortunately, most dogs do not suffer from all aspects of the syndrome but you should be aware of which your particular pet may have.

Stenotic Nares:
This the name for narrowed nostrils. The brachycephalic dogs begins by having very small nasal openings for breathing. If this is severe, surgical correction is possible.

Elongated Soft Palate:
It is difficult to fit the soft tissues of the canine mouth and throat into the brachycephalic's short face. As a result, the soft palate which separates nasal passage from oral cavity flaps loosely down into the throat creating snorting sounds. Virtually all brachycephalics suffer from this but, except in bulldogs, actual respiratory distress is rare. Excess barking or panting may lead to swelling in the throat which can, in turn, lead to trouble.

Tracheal Stenosis** - The brachycephalic's windpipe may be dangerously narrowed in places. This condition creates tremendous anaesthetic risk and should be ruled out by chest radiographs prior to any surgical procedures. (It is important not to breed dogs with tracheal stenosis)

 The Most Likely Candidates for 'Heat Stroke' are the Brachycephalic Breeds.

The upper airways of the brachycephalic dog compromises his or her ability to take in air.  Under normal conditions the compromise is not great enough to cause a problem; however, an owner should take care not to let the dog become grossly overweight or get too hot in the summer months.  Be aware of what degree of snorting and sputtering is usual for your individual pet.

If your dog shows obvious signs of dehydration, you should seek immediate veterinary assistance to include intravenous fluid replacement. If he/she appears only mildly dehydrated, you can give him/her an electrolyte solution, such as Dioralyte by bottle or syringe into the cheek pouch. Check with your vet as to how much fluids you should give your dog per hour until the dehydration has resolved.  make sure he/she is kept out of the Sun and in a cool well ventilated place...
Remember re Hot weather, keep dogs out of cars, keep from lying outside in direct sun, sun rooms, conservatory's  etc, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes through heat stroke. keep your Sharpei dog in a well ventilated room during summer...
 Short-nosed breeds(Brachycephalic)  like pugs boxer, shar-pei, bulldogs, etc... young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.

Some Heat Stroke Symptoms include below.

  Excessive Panting/behaviour

  Rapid Heartbeat

     Swollen tongue

  Barking or Whining.

  Diarrhea.

Should your pet require general anaesthesia or sedation, your vet may want to take extra precautions or take radiographs prior to assess the severity of the syndrome. Anaesthetic risk is higher than usual in these breeds, though under most circumstances the necessary extra precautions are readily managed by most vets…

Eye Problems…
Eyelid problems are common in these breeds.  Look for persistent wetness around the eyes.  In some dogs, the shape of the eyelids prevents normal tear drainage and there is an overflow. This problem cannot be corrected surgically and is not uncomfortable for the pet; however, there is a more serious condition which looks similar. This second condition involves the rolling inward of the eyelids such that the lashes rub on the eye. Entropion surgery may be needed to correct this problem

Chronic irritation will show as a pigmented area on the eye surface, especially on the side nearest the nose. This is hard to see without a bright light but if seen, a further examination to find the cause should be implemented. Depending on the location of the pigmentation, surgery may be recommended.

With most of the nasal bones compacted, Brachycephalic dogs tend to have trouble with the way their eyes seat in their heads.

First, recognize the prominence of the eyes on these dogs. The bony eye sockets are very shallow.  This means that any blow to the back of  the head, even a fairly minor one, can cause an eye to pop from its socket and require surgical replacement. This can happen also with too much pulling against the leash if the pet is wearing a collar.  You may wish to consider a harness for your pet.

Sometimes, the eyes are so prominent that the lids cannot close all the way over the eyes. This will lead to irritation and drying of the centre of the eye unless surgical correction is performed. If you cannot tell by watching your pet blink, watch as your pet sleeps.  Dogs who sleep without closing their eyes all the way may require surgical intervention…

Other Concerns
The normal dog has 42 teeth in its mouth.  The brachycephalic dog also has 42 teeth but a lot less space to fit them in. This means that the teeth will be crowded and growing in at odd angles which, in turn, traps food debris and leads to periodontal disease at a far younger age than in non-brachycephalics. The earlier you begin using home care dental products, the longer you will be able to postpone full dentistry under general anaesthesia.

Skin fold infections are common amid the facial folds of the brachycephalic breeds.  Be sure to examine these areas periodically for redness. The broad headed nature in some of these breeds makes reproduction a tricky matter as Caesarean section is frequently needed. Difficult labour is common and, as surgical assistance is often necessary, it is important not to breed females with tracheal stenosis (see above**). Breeding is usually best left to the experts…

Altogether, the brachycephalic breeds show plenty of personality and intelligence just as all dogs do but because of the special needs of some of these dogs, they require some extra knowledge of their owners.