Quick Dog Breed Selector:

Select a Breed Affenpinscher Afghan Hound African Boerboel Airedale Terrier Akbash Dog Akita Alapha Blue Blood Bulldog Alaskan Klee Kai Alaskan Malamute American Bandogge Mastiff American Bulldog American Eskimo American Foxhound American Pit Bull Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier American Water Spaniel Anatolian Shepherd Australian Cattle Dog Australian Kelpie Australian Shepherd Australian Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Bearded Collie Beauceron Bedlington Terrier Belgian Malinois Belgian Sheepdog Belgian Tervuren Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise Biewer Terrier Black and Tan Coonhound Black Russian Terrier Bloodhound Border Collie Border Terrier Bordoodle Borzoi Boston Terrier Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Briard Briquet Griffon Vendeen Brittany Brussels Griffon Bull Terrier Bullmastiff Cairn Terrier Canaan Dog Cane Corso Italian Mastiff Cardigan Welsh Corgi Catahoula Leopard Dog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Central Asian Ovtcharka Cesky Terrier Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua Chinese Crested Chinese Foo Chinese Shar-Pei Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel Cocker Spaniel Collie Coton De Tulear Curly-Coated Retriever Dachshund Dalmatian Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher Dogo Argentino Dogue de Bordeaux English Bulldog English Cocker Spaniel English Foxhound English Setter English Springer Spaniel English Toy Spaniel Estrela Mountain Dog Field Spaniel Fila Brasileiro Finnish Spitz Flat-Coated Retriever Fox Terrier (Smooth) Fox Terrier (Wire) French Bulldog German Pinscher German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Giant Schnauzer Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenee Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Greyhound Harrier Havanese Ibizan Hound Irish Setter Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Jack Russell Terrier Japanese Chin Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Komondor Kooikerhondje Kuvasz Labrador Retriever Laekenois Lakeland Terrier Lhasa Apso Lowchen Maltese Manchester Terrier Maremma Sheepdog Mastiff Miniature Australian Shepherd Miniature Bull Terrier Miniature Pinscher Miniature Poodle Miniature Schnauzer Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland Norfolk Terrier Norwegian Buhund Norwegian Elkhound Norwich Terrier Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Old English Sheepdog Otterhound Papillon Pekingese Pembroke Welsh Corgi Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Pharaoh Hound Pointer Polish Owczarek Nizinny Pomeranian Portuguese Water Dog Pug Puli Rat Terrier Red and White Setter Redbone Coonhound Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saint Bernard Saluki Samoyed Schipperke Scottish Deerhound Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier Shetland Sheepdog Shiba-Inu Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Silky Terrier Skye Terrier Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Spinone Italiano Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard Poodle Standard Schnauzer Sussex Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier Toy Fox Terrier Toy Australian Shepherd Toy Manchester Terrier Toy Poodle Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Welsh Terrier West Highland White Terrier Whippet Wire Fox Terrier Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Xoloitzcuintli Yorkshire Terrier Bordoodle Goldendoodle Web Terrificpets.com Quick Traffic Stats:

Visitors Online: 191

Today's Visits: 3,350

Yesterday's Visits: Smashed Face Equals Health Problems in Brachycephalic Dogs Filed under Dogs 0.5 of 5 Paws Rating View Full Pet Ad » Excellent Health History Price: $1050 Location: Gap, PA Breed: Boxers View All Ads Next

If you're fond of dogs that have a "smashed in" face, then your pet likely falls into a special category of canine known as brachycephalic. The term comes from two Greek words: "brachy," which means short, and "cephalic," which means head.



These types of dogs have been bred through the generations to have a normal lower jaw in proportion to their body, and a compressed, or shorter, upper jaw. Because of selective breeding, these dogs also have developed a number of health conditions that may cause concerns.



Specifically, these dogs often have brachycephalic respiratory syndrome, a condition that affects different areas of the respiratory tract. Breeds most often affected are Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Pekingese, Pugs and Shih Tzus.



Some brachycephalic dogs have stenotic nares, which is a medical term for extremely narrowed nostrils that interfere with breathing. In the most severe cases, these nasal openings can be widened with surgery. These dogs also can have tracheal stenosis, a condition in which portions of the animal's windpipe are extremely narrow. This causes a number of problems for the affected animals, plus it places them at very high risk if they undergo anesthesia. Because of this, your veterinarians will perform X-rays prior to any surgery if your dog is a brachycephalic breed, and then make adjustments as needed.



Finally, because of their shortened face, the soft tissues inside the dog's mouth and throat do not fit properly. The soft palate, which is responsible for separating the dog's nasal passages from the mouth, is too big, and the ends of it hang down loosely inside the dog's throat. This causes the snorting sounds that are familiar to owners of affected breeds, and in Bulldogs it can occasionally cause difficulty breathing. In all brachycephalic dogs, a period of intense barking or panting can cause their throat to swell, again interfering with breathing.



Normal dogs cool themselves by panting, passing air quickly over the throat and tongue. Saliva evaporates from the tongue and cools the blood that is circulating through the tongue. This cooled blood then circulates through the dog's body, reducing its temperature. The physiological limitations of brachycephalic dogs make them unable to pass air quickly through their throats and mouths. Because they are inefficient panters, they also are unable to cool their body very efficiently, and thus are more susceptible to heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. Plus, the extra work required in order to pant can cause the dog's airways to become swollen and inflamed, further exacerbating the problem.



Because of their shorter upper jaw, these dogs also are susceptible to problems with their teeth, which are crowded in the mouth and may grow at odd angles, trapping food debris and leading to gum disease. Infections in the skin folds of these animals also are common, and responsible owners should check their dog's skin regularly for any reddening. Also, eye problems may develop, since the eye sockets of these animals are very shallow, and even a minor accident can cause the eye to pop out of its socket. Or, the eyelids may not be able to fully close over the eyes, and there are several irritating eyelid conditions that can occur as well.



In most cases these problems are not severe, or can be treated with corrective surgery. Owners of a brachycephalic dog should, above all, take care to keep their pet cool during warmer months and to not let it become overweight. If you have any specific concerns about your dog, be sure to discuss them with your veterinarian.



Puppies for Sale: CFA Chinchilla Silver Persian Male Kitten

WWW.TEACUPPUPPIESSTORE.COM TINY TEACUPS

Puppies For Sale

TerrificPets.com helps you find puppies for sale from great dog breeders! Please support our breeders when looking for puppies for sale.

