The term Brachycephalic Syndrome refers to the combination
of elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, and everted laryngeal saccules, all of which are commonly seen in these breeds.
Dogs affected can have anatomical issues such
as elongated soft palate and nasal stenosis, restricting proper air flow into the lungs.
Surgical procedures to hide faults, like cropped tails and ears, entropian surgery,
elongated soft palate surgery and any other signs of surgery that judge deems to be hiding a fault.
HELPFUL LINKS Brachycephalic breeds Heatstroke Stenotic
nares Elongated soft palate Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome Breathing problems Helping your flat - faced dog There has been -LSB-...]
Other health concerns
include elongated soft palate, small trachea, heart problems, hip dysplasia, shoulder luxation and internalized tail.Bulldogs have been bred smaller and more compact, creating many health problems.
Elongated soft palate — the soft part of the roof of the mouth is too long for the space available, which blocks the back of the throat;
Brachycephalic (short - muzzled) breeds like Persians are more prone to snoring as their shortened nasal passages and
elongated soft palates can lead to noisy sleeping.
Because of their short heads, these flat - faced dogs suffer from brachycephalic syndrome, and might end up having
an elongated soft palate, narrow nasal cavities, laryngeal collapse, and other airway - related problems.
Surgery is recommended to correct stenotic nares,
elongated soft palate, and everted laryngeal saccules if they are present and interfering with breathing.
As a result of the rather cramped conditions that a Frenchie's flat face creates, one of the most common defects in French Bulldogs is
elongated soft palate or cleft palate.
Pressure changes caused by
the elongated soft palate bring about the stretching of the ligaments that support the laryngeal cartilages.
This is often associated with some soft tissue features, pinched nostrils,
elongated soft palate, and extra folds in the throat.
If stenotic nares and / or
elongated soft palate have lead to partial collapse of the larynx, then correction of the palate, nares and saccules may prevent further laryngeal or tracheal collapse, and although some surgical procedures may help with certain cases, these are very complex, not always successful, and usually done only as a last resort.
TREATMENT:
An elongated soft palate is treated by surgically shortening the palate so that the edge opposes or slightly overlaps the epiglottis.
In dogs with
an elongated soft palate, the palate overlaps the epiglottis to a considerable degree, partially obstructing the animal's airway during breathing.
Elongated soft palate can manifest as anything from a mild condition causing laboured breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass out from moderate exercise.
They may also have
elongated soft palates or tongues, which may block their airways,
It is generally advisable to ask breeders if either parent has
elongated soft palate, or has ever been operated on for the condition.
It's more common in canines with long nasal passages, but brachycephalic breeds like the pug or bulldog might experience reverse sneezing, because these dogs often have
elongated soft palates.
Like all dogs, they are prone to certain diseases such as: Hip Dysplasia, Brachycephalic Syndrome, Allergies, Hemivertebrae, Patellar Luxation, Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), Von Willebrand's Disease, Cleft Palate,
Elongated Soft Palate.
If
an elongated soft palate is the culprit, your vet can repair it with surgery.
The main abnormalities contributing to the syndrome that we can address surgically are the narrowed nostril openings (stenotic nares) and
the elongated soft palate.
Elongated Soft Palate It is difficult to fit the soft tissues of the canine mouth and throat into the brachycephalic's short face.
These include a hypoplastic trachea, stenotic nares, everted laryngeal saccules and
an elongated soft palate, all of which can contribute to increased respiratory effort and noise.
Elongated soft palate: Because it is so difficult to fit the soft tissues of the mouth and throat into a brachycephalic breed's short face, the soft palate (which separates the nasal passage from the oral cavity), can hang loosely down into the throat.
ELONGATED SOFT PALATE — It is difficult to fit the soft tissues of the canine mouth and throat into the brachycephalic's short face.
Bulldogs are particularly prone to respiratory problems associated with short nose and
elongated soft palate.
These include a hypoplastic trachea (a malformation of the tracheal cartilage rings leading to narrowing of the airway), stenotic nares (which means the nostrils are pinched and narrow), everted laryngeal saccules (a condition where the soft tissue located in front of the vocal cords becomes swollen and inflamed) and
an elongated soft palate, all of which can contribute to increased respiratory effort and noise.
Many bulldogs require respiratory surgery where
the elongated soft palate at the back of the throat is shortened, allowing the dog to breath easily.
As a result of this deformity, French bulldogs have a tendency to be born with other defects such as
an elongated soft palate (or commonly referred to as cleft palate).
Any dog that exhibits wheezing or you can hear the rattling of
an elongated soft palate or other difficulty breathing while in the ring is a DQ.
Brachycaphelic breeds, like pugs or fox terriers, have pushed in noses and
elongated soft palates.
And they suffer from a multitude of health problems such as VonWillebrand's Disease,
Elongated Soft Palates and Cleft Palates, Thyroid problems, Eye problems, Esophageal as well as Spinal problems.
Upper Airway Surgery (Stenotic Nares,
Elongated Soft Palate, Nasopharyneal Polyp, Everted Laryngeal
Apart from possible infections, pulmonary disorders and other usual suspects; Staffordshire Bull Terriers may be affected by
an elongated soft palate, narrowing of the nasal passage and everted laryngeal saccules (combined referred to as Brachycephalic Syndrome) may also cause breathing difficulties.
There are many other surgeries performed by our doctors at NVH such as most elective soft - tissue surgical procedures, many orthopedic procedures, as well as some specialty - type surgeries such as the correction of
an elongated soft palate or anal gland removal.
Narrowed nostrils,
an elongated soft palate, and a narrow trachea can all cause airway obstructions which might inhibit normal breathing and cause snoring.
There are health concerns to consider a few include
elongated soft palate, inverteral disc degeneration and hemivertebrae.
Some of the common ones are cleft palates and lips and
elongated soft palates.