Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a condition that results in abnormalities of the upper airways in dogs, including stenotic nares. Stenotic nares refer to nostrils that are small or narrow, resulting in restricted airflow.
Symptoms of brachycephaly include difficulty breathing, breathing more through the mouth than the nose, snoring when asleep or relaxed, and breathing that gets louder with activity. Coughing or gagging are also signs of BOAS. Symptoms may also worsen in hot or humid weather because brachycephalic dogs struggle to regulate their temperatures and can overheat.
Other abnormalities brachycephaly-susceptible dog breeds may experience include elongated soft palates, which means the dog’s soft palate is too big and obstructs the windpipe. As a result of stenotic nares or an elongated soft palate, laryngeal saccules (sacs located inside the larynx) can become everted, or turned outward, making airflow even more difficult.
If your dog exhibits any symptoms of brachycephaly, see your veterinarian for a consultation to determine if they could benefit from stenotic nares surgery.