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BOAS and flat-faced dogs

4.98 avg.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is a common condition in flat-faced dogs, where breathing takes far more effort than it should. Send us a photo or video and one of our vets will tell you how your dog's breathing looks, at no cost.

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The same soft tissue, half the space

A shortened skull doesn't come with shortened soft tissue. Narrow nostrils, a long soft palate and a crowded throat all sit in a smaller space, so every breath takes more effort. Not every flat-faced dog needs surgery. Plenty are noisy and breathing perfectly well.

Free WhatsApp advice

Vet greeting a dog at a Hello Vet clinic

Signs to watch for

Many people think heavy breathing is normal for flat-faced breeds. It is actually a sign of airway struggle. Watch for these indicators:

Loud breathing

Snoring, snorting or wheezing noises while awake or resting.

Exercise struggles

Tiring quickly on short walks, or taking a long time to recover afterwards.

Heat intolerance

Excessive panting or distress in warm, humid weather.

Digestive upsets

Frequent gagging or choking, or bringing up white foam or food.

Disrupted sleep

Tossing and turning, sleeping with a toy in the mouth to keep the airway open, or waking up gasping.

Emergency signs

Blue or purple gums, tongue discolouration, or sudden collapse. Please seek immediate veterinary care.

Next steps

If you are concerned about any of these signs, please book a check-up with one of our team, or contact us via WhatsApp for a free digital assessment. We can examine your dog's breathing and anatomy to determine if they might benefit from surgical intervention.

Free digital assessment

Cat being held by a Hello Vet vet

Labrador in a Hello Vet kennel

Terrier wearing a harness

How our digital assessment works

1

WhatsApp us with:

A picture of your dog's face from the front, showing the nostrils.

A video of your dog breathing at rest, filmed from the front.

A 20-second video of your dog asleep, taken from the front. Useful but optional if it's tricky.

2

A vet reviews it

One of our vets reviews what you have sent and gives you their first view. We will always examine your dog in person before recommending anything.

3

You get advice and an estimate

If the vet feels your dog would benefit from BOAS surgery, they'll prepare an estimated cost range and treatment plan for you to consider.

4

Book in for a physical checkup

If further prevention looks likely to help, we'll book you in at your nearest clinic. A vet will examine your dog's breathing and anatomy in person before anything is decided.

What happens during BOAS surgery?

BOAS surgery helps flat-faced dog breeds breathe more easily by correcting the physical structures blocking their airway. Surgery is a case-by-case decision made with your vet, based on your dog's specific symptoms and severity. For dogs who do need it, the improvement in day-to-day comfort and long-term health can be significant.

What we can correct

1

Stenotic nares correction

Widening narrow nostrils by removing a small wedge of tissue.

2

Soft palate resection

Shortening an overly long soft palate.

3

Sacculectomy

Removing small mucosal pouches that are obstructing airflow.

What changes for your dog

Easier, quieter breathing, with less snoring, coughing and gagging.

Better exercise tolerance.

A reduced risk of respiratory distress or collapse.

In severe cases it can be life-saving, reducing the risk of complications such as pneumonia or respiratory failure.

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How you can help your dog at home

You can significantly reduce your dog's risk of airway distress with everyday care:

Weight control

Keep your dog lean. Excess weight significantly worsens breathing difficulties.

Cool environments

Use air conditioning on warm days and avoid walking in midday heat.

Walk on a harness

Never use a neck collar. A harness prevents pressure on the windpipe.

Stress management

Keep excitement levels stable to avoid sudden breathing panics.

4.98 avg.

Straightforward pricing

Friendly, reasonably priced and I didn’t feel I was being pushed into paying for unnecessary treatment. A refreshing change! The use of WhatsApp to book appointments and communicate follow-up really worked.

Bandit & Loki’s human

Transparency

Very friendly staff, sparkling clean surgery, and transparent pricing. The Stay with your Pet procedure option was really well organised and a huge value add.

DouDou’s human

Peace of mind on costs

One of the things I appreciate most is the transparent pricing—no hidden costs or surprises, which gives me real peace of mind.

Zuko’s human

Affordable care

Excellent service and patient care, at a good price.

Basil’s human

Competitive pricing, calmer care

Competitive and clear pricing making the whole process much less stressful.

Sandy’s human

Instant Whatsapp support

Hello vet is great, their prices are very fair and they are super easy to get appointments with. The care they provide via WhatsApp is amazing, too.

Nan’s human

Easy, stress-free visit

Everything was so easy, my dog was so chilled and it's reasonably priced too. Very happy we chose Hello Vet!

Genius’ human

Free BOAS assessment