A vet has shared a health warning for dog owners who notice their pet is displaying symptoms

A UK vet has issued a warning to owners of three popular dog breeds. The animal welfare expert took to social media to share guidance about flat-faced breeds, specifically French Bulldogs, Pugs, and English Bulldogs.

In the post, Dr Alex Crow urged owners to remain vigilant for signs that their pet may be struggling to breathe, as veterinary treatment could be required. Dr Crow is a veterinary surgeon and content creator with over 38k followers on Instagram as @Alex_thevet, where he frequently shares pet advice.

In a video posted this week, Dr Crow told dog owners with concerns about their pet’s breathing to speak to their vet about a BOAS assessment. He said: “Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is one of the most common conditions I see in flat-faced breeds — and one of the most misunderstood.

“BOAS affects dogs like French Bulldogs, Pugs, and English Bulldogs, where the skull has been shortened so dramatically that the airway is physically compromised from birth. Narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and an underdeveloped trachea all combine to make every breath an active effort.

“That snoring you hear at night, the snorting on walks, the heavy panting after minimal exercise — none of that is normal. It is a dog struggling to breathe through an airway that was never built to function properly. If your dog sounds like this, speak to your vet about a BOAS assessment. Early surgical intervention can dramatically improve their quality of life.”

In the video, the vet also urged people to think twice before buying these breeds, reports the Daily Record. Dr Crow claimed: “Imagine breathing your entire life through a straw.

“Your soft palate is too long for your shortened skull. It hangs in the airway and has to be surgically trimmed just so you can breathe without constantly choking.

“Your nostrils are so narrow that air can barely pass through them. That requires surgery too—a procedure to physically cut away tissue just to open them up again. On top of that, your tongue is also too large for your mouth, so you have to permanently stick it out just to make room for airflow.

“Your constant struggle to breathe creates negative pressure in the airway, which sucks small pouches of tissue called the laryngeal saccules into the throat, adding yet another obstruction on top of everything else. And now imagine that all of that suffering is a result of the way you’ve been bred, just to look a certain way to please humans.

“This condition is Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), and it affects breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Frenchies—breeds that have been selectively bred to have flatter and flatter faces over generations. So, if you’re considering buying a flat-faced puppy, maybe think twice.”

PDSA said: “The symptoms of BOAS can appear in puppies but sometimes don’t start until dogs are two to four years old.” Symptoms include snoring, noisy breathing, difficulty eating, and disrupted sleep.