If your dog is panting after vigorous activity or on a really hot day (especially in Singapore), that’s quite normal. But it could also be your dog’s breed that makes her breathe more laboriously than others.
What type of dogs tend to breathe heavily?
Dogs that tend to breathe heavily because of their shortened snouts are called brachycephalic dogs. Brachycephalic breeds include:
Shih Tzus
Pugs
English and French bulldogs
Boston Terriers
Lhasa Apsos
Boxers
Pekingese
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Bull mastiffs
And the list goes on. Mixed breeds who have brachycephalic parent breeds can also inherit shortened snouts.
We say “shortened” and not “shorter” because many dogs have been selectively bred to birth generations of puppies with this “flat-face” trait. Dogs with this look are in high demand.
Why is this a problem?
Not all dogs belonging to the above-mentioned breeds will have health concerns. But such dogs tend to have abnormalities to their upper airways because of their shortened snouts and flat heads:
Narrower nostrils which restricts air flow into their noses
Soft tissue on the roof of the mouth (aka soft palate) is too long, and extends to the back of their throat, blocking their windpipe (trachea)
Narrower windpipe (hypoplastic trachea)
Tissue in the airway, just in front of the vocal cords, gets pulled into the windpipe (trachea) and partially obstructs airflow (aka Everted Laryngeal Saccules)
In short, your dog may have Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. The severity of this syndrome can range from mild, e.g. snoring loudly (nothing alarming) to severe, e.g. prone to tracheal collapse - a condition that can be fatal.
Some brachycephalic dogs cannot over-exert themselves or get over-excited because they can collapse from lack of oxygen. The same thing can happen if they overheat or experience excessive humidity. Others tend to retch or gag easily, especially while swallowing.
And all of these conditions are made worse if your brachycephalic dog is overweight.
Unfortunately, we have seen obese brachycephalic dogs that have died from heatstroke.
What can I do about it?
If you already own a brachycephalic dog...
… and live here in Singapore, you’ll need to take note of the following:
Keep your dog cool, especially in our hot and humid weather
Avoid stressing your dog out
Use harnesses instead of collars
Ensure your dog’s body weight is maintained within the healthy range. Not sure what is considered healthy? Talk to us!
Be observant. Every dog is different and can have varying degrees of Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. Brachycephalic dogs are also prone to other health issues e.g. dental issues, skin fold inflammation, eye problems, etc.
So the best thing you can do is to visit your vet (or contact us!) and get advice on specific signs to watch out for.
If you intend to buy a pug (or one of the breeds above)…
We’d recommend that you avoid buying such purebred dogs because they tend to have more health issues. Besides, buying drives up their demand. This results in breeders selectively breeding for these physical traits and produce more puppies with such breathing issues.
If you really want to add a pug puppy or any brachycephalic dog to your family, do set aside some money for reconstructive surgeries* such as soft palate resection (cutting away some tissue to prevent blockage to airway) and nares resection (opening up nostrils to allow more airflow for better breathing).
*Note: Such surgeries are most effective when your dog is still a puppy (9 months to 1 year).
How can you best care for your brachycephalic dog?
