Soft palate surgery

Hello, Brachycephalic breeds, like Bulldogs, very often have respiratory abnormalities: noisy breathing, snoring, and so on. These difficulties are caused by airway obstruction; air doesn’t flow properly, and the animal has to put in significant effort even during conditions that would be normal for any other dog. Furthermore, dogs regulate their temperature through breathing rather than sweating like humans. This makes these breeds very susceptible to heatstroke, even with moderate exercise or in mild temperatures, because they can’t dissipate body heat effectively. Before deciding on surgical treatment, it’s important to have the airways assessed to locate the areas of obstruction and to check for any heart issues (pulmonary hypertension, etc.) or upper digestive tract abnormalities (such as a tortuous oesophagus). Depending on the affected area, different surgeries are recommended (correction of stenotic nares and/or soft palate resection). Anaesthetising brachycephalic breeds is indeed more delicate than for other dogs, precisely because of their breathing struggles. Specific precautions are taken, such as extending the fasting period before the operation. If the issues are limited to the nostrils or the soft palate, the improvement is often very significant. However, the optimal window for this surgery is between 6 months and 2 years old (for the best results and recovery). Beyond 2 years of age, recovery becomes trickier and the benefits gradually diminish. Nevertheless, surgery on the nostrils and/or soft palate frequently increases a brachycephalic dog’s quality of life significantly and reduces the serious risks mentioned earlier. Best regards, Quitterie.