*WARNING: SURGERY AND OTHER GRAPHIC IMAGERY MAY BE DISPLAYED ON THIS PAGE.
A simple surgery can allow your pet to breathe better, play better,
and live better. We are pleased to offer a procedure using our
state of the art equipment that allows us to perform a same day
surgery safely and cost effectively that could change you and your
pet’s lives forever. For a limited time, we are offering a
complimentary surgical consultation with
our veterinary team. This life changing, (and potentially
life saving), surgery is currently only $675 for a limited time, as
we try to encourage a safer summer for pets with Brachycephalic
Airway Syndrome.
Overview:
Dogs breeds, like French and English bulldogs, or any “Bully” dog
breeds, like Boston terriers, Pugs, and Pekinese, all have a head
shape that is shorter, therefore the structure of their throat and
muzzle often causes breathing obstructions. These dogs are known as
“brachycephalic” breeds, meaning “having a short
head”.
Brachycephalic Syndrome is diagnosed if the dog has stenotic nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and they may also have laryngeal saccules which are everted. These characteristics are common in all the breeds that are listed above.
An elongated soft palate, by definition, is longer than normal and the tip extends into airway passages. This overly long soft palate restricts the air that is moved in and out of the lungs. Stenosis of the nostrils means the nasal airway is too narrow and restricts air flow during breathing through the nose. Laryngeal Saccules that are everted impede air flow entering the trachea.
Signs and Symptoms: Noisy breathing
is one of the first signs in dogs who display Brachycephaly.
This is more prominent when the dog is inhaling. Certain dogs will
have a gag reflex when attempting to swallow and will show an
intolerance of exercise. Sometimes their gums and their
tongue turn blue if they are over-exerted in any way.
Collapsing may be experienced, particularly after strenuous
exercise. Being overly
excited or when the weather is hot and humid may cause your dog to
overheat. The condition will be worse if your dog is
overweight. Dogs with laryngeal elongation sometimes prefer
sleeping on their back.
Diagnostics:
Stenotic nostrils are usually evident during an examination of a
physical nature and require no imaging. Diagnosis of everted
laryngeal saccules, or elongation of the soft palate, is only
achieved with anesthesia. Under anesthesia, a positive
diagnosis is made if the elongated soft palate extends past the
epiglottis/airway entrance. The veterinarian might advise
that radiographic images of the chest be obtained so that your
pet’s trachea, lungs, and lower air passage can be evaluated.
Treatment:
Signs of your pet gagging, having a cough, being intolerant of
exercise are common symptoms of the condition. ANY
SIGNS OF STRUGGLING TO BREATHE OR HISTORY OF OVERHEATING SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED ASAP. If necessary, treatment
to remove excess soft palate would be performed. This
procedure is called a staphylectomy, and Makawao Veterinary Clinic
surgeons use a LigaSure cutting instrument designed for
tonsillectomies in humans. This instrument allows us to
safely and effectively remove excessive soft palate with minimal
complications.
Correcting stenotic nostrils and removing everted laryngeal saccules would be performed at the same time.
Aftercare and Outcome:
Young animals tend to have a better long-term prognosis, but we
regularly perform this procedure in older dogs with chronic
breathing issues and make amazing improvements in their quality of
life. See the video below of a middle-aged bulldog that
struggled with Brachycephalic Airway issues for its entire life
until we resected his soft palate and surgically opened his nasal
airway.
Example of how we perform a BAS surgery, (video provided by South Paws):
Please check out this highly informative PDF from Vetscalpel.com
"Hi, I'm Scott Matsumoto, a new client at Makawao Vet. I took my American Bully, Piko, To Makawao Vet for Soft Palate and Nares surgery. He went in at 8 am and was heading home by 4 pm. His breathing is remarkably better, it doesn't sound like he is struggling to breathe. The care he received during and after the surgery was phenomenal. They called quite often to check on him; the other vet offices he went to never did this. The cost was WAY more affordable than the quotes I got from another vet office. This surgery is well worth it and Piko is living a way better life. I wish I had switched to Makawao Vet years ago!"
- Scott M.
