Most people only consider surgery on pets to be necessary when they’ve been in accidents or when they have debilitating orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia. However, if your pup snorts, chokes, or coughs frequently, especially after exercising or being out in the heat, he or she may be having trouble breathing. This could be due to the narrow passageways in his or her nose called stenotic nares.
What Are Stenotic Nares?
Dogs who have short noses, usually with a “smushed” face appearance, are considered brachycephalic breeds and include pugs, English Bulldogs, Pekinese, and other similar pooches. These breeds suffer from a malformation of the cartilage in their noses, which leads to a condition called stenotic nares. When the nose passages are too narrow, these breeds have a hard time breathing so you may hear them snort, choke, or cough more frequently as they get older.
Correcting Stenotic Nares
A veterinarian at an animal medical center can diagnose a dog with this issue during a routine examination and may recommend surgery to correct it even if he or she hasn’t had any breathing problems due to the condition. The issues with stenotic nares often do not appear until a dog is older and then you will notice him or her breathing through his or her mouth more than his or her nose. However, if the problem is taken care of early in his or her life, he or she won’t need to suffer from breathing problems.
Since dogs with this condition may have issues with general anesthesia, a veterinarian at an animal medical center will usually recommend having it done when a pup undergoes spaying or neutering. This surgery can improve a dog’s quality of life by allowing him or her to breathe freely. If you own one of these breeds, go to Vetassociatesbodman.com to contact them for a consultation to discuss whether your dog needs surgery to correct his or her breathing.
