Administering anesthesia to dogs considered brachycephalic breeds requires special consideration to accommodate brachycephalic syndrome—the typical anatomic abnormalities that cause some degree of upper airway obstruction (eg, stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, laryngeal collapse, hypoplastic trachea, laryngeal saccule eversion) in these breeds.1
The most common abnormalities seen in brachycephalic breeds are:
- Stenotic nares: A condition where the nostrils are too narrow and sometimes collapse inward during inhalation, making it difficult for the patient to breathe through its nose
- Hypoplastic trachea: A condition where the diameter of the trachea (ie, windpipe) is smaller than normal
- Elongated soft palate: A condition where the soft palate is too long and its tip protrudes into the airway, interfering with inspiration.
Brachycephalic dogs tend to compensate for these respiratory insufficiencies, but sedation and anesthesia remove the compensatory mechanisms2 and it becomes the anesthetist’s responsibility to monitor and protect the patient’s airway.
The following tips will help ensure a smooth experience when preparing a brachycephalic dog for anesthesia.