Caring for dogs with brachycephaly
As a current, new or hopeful owner of a flat-faced dog, having the right information can help you give your pet a better chance at a happier life. Caring for a brachycephalic dog is a big responsibility; they can suffer from many health issues that may impact you both financially and emotionally.
On this page, you’ll learn more about dogs with brachycephaly, how best to care for them and the most common issues they experience.
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Dogs with brachycephaly
Brachycephalic dogs are also commonly referred to as ‘flat-faced’ dogs, or as having ‘squished faces’. They’ve been intentionally bred to have a shortened skull, which causes their distinctive appearance, through selective breeding; choosing a desired characteristic and reproducing this as a way to ensure it’s passed onto puppies.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is the term used to describe breathing problems that are a result of this skull shape. BOAS can cause lifelong health conditions, and many dogs with flat faces experience health and welfare problems. They often require regular veterinary treatment and lifestyle adaptations and are sometimes even euthanised to end their suffering.
Important information
All animals with BOAS require extra care and attention, as the health issues that extreme conformations like brachycephaly cause can result in lifelong suffering. Some may be more apparent, like breathing issues, while others may be subtle or appear later in life, such as spinal problems.
For a brachycephalic dog, the simple joy of a walk is overshadowed by the constant labour of breathing. As they move forward, every stride is a struggle for oxygen, a hidden physical toll where extreme anatomy turns basic exercise into chronic respiratory distress.
General dog care advice
The best thing you can do for your dog, regardless of whether they’re brachycephalic, is to keep your eye on them, monitor any changes to their behaviour or everyday functioning, and try to make them as happy and comfortable as possible. To do this:
Take them for regular vet checks
Even if there are no apparent problems, some issues are harder to spot, while others may present themselves later down the line. More frequent vet visits mean you’re more likely to keep on top of any issues.
Monitor their breathing
Flat-faced animals often experience distressing difficulties with their breathing. Check your dog for signs of breathing difficulties daily, especially during and after exercise and in warm weather. Speak to your vet for advice on managing any breathing issues.
Go steady with exercise
Exercise is a crucial part of your dog’s life, and vital to keep them healthy. However, brachycephalic breeds are at risk of overheating. Strenuous activity and exercise in warm weather can make their breathing problems worse. A regular routine of steady exercise is the best way to reduce any issues that may arise.
Use a harness for walking
Walk your dog on a harness rather than a collar and lead, to avoid putting pressure on their neck and help them breathe easier.
Keep them cool when it’s hot
Many flat-faced dogs can struggle to breathe in hot weather, due to how they regulate their body temperature through panting. Keep them out of the sun and don’t walk them on hot days, or walk them in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler, and watch out for heatstroke. Make sure they always have access to lots of fresh water.
Keep their weight down
Weight can put additional stress on your dog’s breathing. Monitor their weight and discuss any signs of obesity with your vet. They can help you make sure your pet gets all the nutrients they need, while losing weight. Many vets have supportive weight clinics run by trained vet nurses, which are a great place to start. You can also make feeding time more fun by using toys that make your pet 'work' for their meal.
Check their skin regularly
Due to skin folds and wrinkles, flat-faced dogs are extremely prone to skin infections and chronic itching. Check between the folds of skin, especially around the face and tail, on a daily basis for signs of infection such as an unusual odour, red/sore patches and discharge or pus. Your dog may also rub at the area, or rub it against the carpet. To help prevent issues, keep them clean and carefully dry between skin folds.
Check their teeth regularly
Brachycephalic breeds are at greater risk of teeth overcrowding, which can cause a buildup of plaque and tartar, and other dental issues. Clean and monitor your dog’s teeth, and take them for regular dental checkups. Your vet or vet nurse can advise on appropriate teeth cleaning products and the best way to introduce these.
Keep an eye on their vision
Flat-faced animals are more prone to a variety of eye disorders, including ulceration and eye trauma. Check your dog’s eyes at least once a day for unusual discharge, tears, redness or cloudiness, as well as behavioural changes such as rubbing their eyes with a paw. Seek advice from your vet as soon as you can if you have any concerns. Eye disorders can be very painful and may worsen quickly. In severe circumstances, vision may be lost or the eye(s) may need to be removed. Some eye problems are not obvious, so your vet may need to examine the eyes using special tools and dyes to check them.
Could your dog suffer from brachycephaly?
Subtle signs that your dog may be suffering from problems which occur with brachycephaly include:
- Noisy breathing such as snorting or snoring
- Laboured breathing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping or lying with the head raised
- Propping their mouths open with toys in order to try to sleep more comfortably
- Exercise intolerance
- Gagging, retching or vomiting
- Collapse or fainting
- Skin issues
- Eyes issues
- Spinal issues
- Dental issues
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Watering eyes
- Changes in their eating habits (e.g. avoiding their usual foods)
Common brachycephalic dog issues
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the clinical term to describe breathing difficulties caused by a shortened muzzle and flattened face. Dogs with brachycephaly have the normal amount of soft tissue in the mouth and throat, but in a much smaller space due to their shortened skulls. This restricts movement of air when breathing. Specific physical features include narrow nostrils, a long soft palate and a narrow windpipe.
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BOAS symptoms can be difficult to spot in dogs, but common signs include:
- Noisy breathing (wheezing, rasping, sneezing, snorting)
- Sticking their tongue out frequently
- Disrupted sleep
- Sleeping or lying with their head raised or sleeping sitting upright
- Sleeping with toys in their mouth to prop it open
- Sleeping or resting with their tongue out of their mouth
- Increased breathing effort
- Inability or unwillingness to exercise (which may contribute to being overweight, which further exacerbates other BOAS symptoms)
- Sneezing frequently
- ‘Reverse-sneezing’ – sporadic, rapid inhalations
- Open-mouth breathing when not exercising/panting
- Difficulty eating (gagging, retching, coughing, spitting food, etc)
- Vomiting/regurgitation
- Collapse
If you think your dog is suffering from BOAS, contact your vet.
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When caring for dogs with brachycephaly:
- Be extra cautious during warm weather: Bring them indoors, and avoid walking your dog during the hottest parts of the day. Keep them cool by ensuring there’s plenty of shade and access to water when outside – find more advice on walking dogs in hot weather, heatstroke in dogs and caring for dogs in hot weather.
- Groom regularly: Their skin folds, especially around their face and tail, require daily cleaning.
- Always use a harness: This avoids putting pressure on their neck, unlike collars (find our RSPCA car safety and walking harness here).
- Maintain a healthy weight: Many vets offer weight check appointments and advice with a veterinary nurse to help support a dog’s healthy weight loss.
- Give them regular, steady exercise: This will help keep your pet fit and healthy, while minimising the risk of overheating or worsening breathing problems.
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Dental problems
While dental issues can affect all animals, dogs with brachycephaly are more likely to have dental problems compared to those with normal-length skulls. This is due to overcrowding in the mouth. They have the same number of teeth but a much smaller jaw, so the teeth overlap or do not erupt, causing periodontal disease (infection and inflammation of the gums and teeth).
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Symptoms of dental problems include:
- Pawing at the mouth
- Head shaking
- Jaw chattering
- Dropping food when eating
- Difficulty eating (they may chew on one side only)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drooling
- Bad breath
- Red/bleeding gums
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- Plaque and tartar on the teeth
- Wobbly teeth
- Facial swelling
If you think your dog is suffering from dental problems, contact your vet.
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Clean your dog’s teeth daily, just like we do ours. Many vets offer dental clinics, sharing teeth cleaning advice and demonstrations. Learn how to care for your dog's teeth here.
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Eye conditions
Brachycephalic animals are at increased risk of eye problems, such as ulceration, dry eyes, eyelash growth abnormalities, and physical trauma to the eye as they’re more susceptible to injury. Left untreated, vision can be permanently impaired. Research has found that dogs with brachycephaly are 11 times more likely to suffer from corneal ulcerations compared to non-brachycephalic dogs.
The term Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome (BOS) is used to describe eye problems that occur due to an animal's skull shape. As the skull shape is flattened, the eye socket becomes shallow, causing the eyes to bulge forward. This means the eyelids don’t properly cover the eyes when the animal blinks, reducing protection and lubrication.
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Symptoms of eye conditions include:
- Rubbing their eyes
- Discharge
- Irritation
- Blinking/winking frequently
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Cloudy eyes
- Watery eyes and excessive tear production (often shown by brown stained fur in the corner of the eye)
If you think your dog is suffering from eye conditions, contact your vet.
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Check your dog’s eyes each day, to monitor for any problems or changes. Clean around their eyes using a damp cloth and cooled boiled water or saline, and clean their paws after time outside to remove any irritants that may transfer to the eye when scratching.
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Skin disease
Brachycephalic animals are more likely to suffer with skin disease such as ear problems, skin fold dermatitis, bacterial infection, inflammation of the paws and allergies.
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Symptoms of skin disease include:
- Itching, scratching, rubbing the body against objects or surfaces
- Hair loss
- Redness
- Excessive licking (this may cause a change in coat colour to brown/pink/orange)
- Odours from the skin
- Swelling of the affected area
If you think your dog is suffering from skin disease, contact your vet.
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Clean and dry between skin folds daily, using cooled boiled water or saline and a clean cloth. If this doesn’t help, contact your vet for advice.
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Difficulty giving birth
Some brachycephalic dogs are unable to mate or give birth naturally due to the size of their pelvis; it may be too small to accommodate the larger head sizes of their pups. This means that babies can’t pass through without medical or surgical treatment.
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Symptoms of difficult births include:
- Prolonged contractions without delivery
- Long gaps between delivery of each offspring in the litter
- Black or green discharge from the vulva
- Prolonged gestation
Difficulty giving birth is a veterinary emergency. If you think your dog is suffering from any of these signs, contact your vet immediately.
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We don’t support breeding animals with extreme conformations, unless it’s part of a strategic outcrossing programme conducted to improve the health and welfare of future generations. Anyone considering breeding from their dog should conduct comprehensive health and conformational screening tests and work closely with their veterinary surgeon.
There are more dogs in our care than ever before, all in search of loving homes. If you are looking for a specific type of puppy, they may already be here.
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Spinal and tail malformations
Some brachycephalic dog breeds are more likely to have spinal abnormalities. Although they occur very commonly, they do not always cause problems. If they do cause problems, these can be severe and can worsen with age. These can include an inability to walk, severe pain, and urine and faecal incontinence. Up to 83% of some brachycephalic dog breeds have spinal defects, and dogs with a screw tail are more likely to have other deformities of the spine.
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Symptoms of spinal and tail malformations include:
- Pain from the spine and/or abdominal region
- Reluctance or inability to move
- Difficulty walking, standing and rising
- Dragging feet
- Vocalisation when picked up
- Lack of coordination
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
Sudden onset of spinal problems is a veterinary emergency. If you notice anything concerning, contact your vet immediately.
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A regular routine of steady exercise will help keep your dog fit and healthy, while minimising the risk of worsening back problems. Try to limit jumping and other high impact activities such as chasing balls and running. You may need to make changes to your environment to stop your dog from jumping onto furniture to prevent joint issues, and provide ramps to help them access higher levels. Weight is an important factor; keep your dog a healthy weight as obesity can increase pressure on the spine.
Be careful when handling, keeping them well supported to avoid strain on the spine. Regular physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can also help strengthen muscles, provide low impact exercise and improve recovery following surgery.
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