What is BOAS and how can it be treated?
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the term given to breed-related respiratory disease that is caused by “obstructive” soft tissues. The most commonly affected breeds include the English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Pug and Boston Terrier although other breeds e.g. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shih-Tzu, etc. can occasionally be affected. Affected dogs are typically noisy breathers and struggle to keep up with other, non-affected dogs. Sadly, many owners do not realise that their dogs have BOAS as many of the classical symptoms can be regarded as “normal” for the breed. More advanced symptoms include poor exercise ability, heat intolerance and collapse.