Brachycephalic dog: features, breeds, care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

There are a huge number of dog breeds on our planet, and all of them can be divided into two types according to the structure of the skull - dolichocephalic and brachycephalic. Unfortunately, brachycephalic dogs are less fortunate. The special structure of the skull causes a number of inconveniences to animals, and sometimes poses a danger to life.

What is brachycephaly?

Brachycephaly is a shortening of the front of the skull. That is, these are all our favorite and very popular breeds of dogs with a flattened muzzle that snore and grunt funny. But for animals with such a rather original appearance, this feature brings a lot of unpleasant moments. A large amount of soft tissue, combined with an abnormal structure of the skull, leads to many he alth problems.

The appearance of these four-legged animals is really strikingly different from their counterparts of the dolichocephalic species. The nose of the dog is short, wide head, malocclusion, due to which the lower jaw is ahead of the upper. Of course you can trycure brachycephaly with plastic surgery, by expanding the nostrils and removing excess tissue. Therefore, before you get such a dog, you should think - can you provide him with the necessary care?

Problems of brachycephaly

The first problem that brachycephalic dogs face is difficulty breathing. Do not ignore if you notice the following:

• your dog is breathing heavily;
• inhale-exhale increased;
• wheezing and whistling are heard;
• cough accompanied by frothy saliva;
• dog is restless;
• her tongue and gums are bluish.

You should take your pet to the vet for an examination. In general, the breathing of a brachycephalic should be carefully monitored, because it is already difficult for them to breathe, and if some pathological processes also occur, then this is a double risk to he alth.

The structure of the skull of dogs with this feature brings a lot of problems for the teeth, and malocclusion is the most harmless. The fact is that the jaws and teeth cannot develop normally due to the shortened muzzle. They have little space, and they grow one after another, because of this, the animal suffers from crooked teeth. Food particles remain between them, and gingivitis may subsequently develop. In addition, the curvature can be such that the upper teeth can dig into the tissues of the mouth, which, of course, causes discomfort to the dog and can cause infection.

Insufficient wrinkle care onthe muzzle leads to the appearance of fungus and bacteria between them, as in brachycephalic dogs, increased skin moisture is noted. If this is not followed, then the process may worsen and only plastic surgery to remove skin folds can help.

In addition, dogs with brachycephaly have impaired thermoregulation. During heat or physical activity, due to the reduced area of the nose and mucosa, they fail to lower their body temperature, which leads to overheating.

Feeding these dogs is strongly discouraged - they are prone to overweight, which contributes to shortness of breath, which is fraught with consequences.

Most brachycephalic dogs suffer from allergies. It is dangerous because it can lead to swelling of the airways, which is a threat to life. Also, allergies can manifest themselves in the form of dermatitis.

Impact of disease on vision

The problem of vision in brachycephals is a separate issue. The eyes of these dogs are excessively bulging. The extent of this depends on the breed of the dog. Some animals are even deprived of the ability to completely close their eyes, which leads to the drying of the cornea and the appearance of ulcers and other diseases on it.

In addition, brachycephalic dogs may experience increased tearing due to a violation of the outflow of fluid from the tear ducts. Due to this, the eyes are constantly moist, and the hair around them is wet. But a large bulge of the eyes creates difficulties in another way. Such dogs quite often, due to their curiosity, injure their organs of vision, bumping into sharp or hard objects.

Rules of care and maintenance

In order for your pet with brachycephaly to feel more or less comfortable, you need to create suitable conditions for him and follow some recommendations.

• Don't walk your pet with a collar. Give preference to dogs with a harness feature that will not squeeze the neck, but will evenly distribute the load and pressure.
• Watch for changes in your dog's breathing and sounds. They may indicate a disease.
• Do not self-medicate. At the slightest sign of danger to your pet's he alth, contact your veterinarian.
• Every year, conduct a medical examination at a veterinary clinic. A timely examination will help prevent the appearance or development of a particular disease.

Also, owners of brachycephalic dogs should always have several drugs on hand in the form of injections: Furosemide or Lasix, a fluid-removing agent, and Prednisolone and Tavegil in case of severe allergic edema.

What breeds of brachycephalic dogs exist

Brachycephals include the following types of breeds we love:

• English Bulldog;
• French Bulldog;
• pug;
• Pekingese;
• shar pei;
• chihuahua;
• Japanese Chin;
• Pomeranian and others.

The unusual structure of the skull and the soft folds of the skin make them especially cute and very popularamong dog lovers.

Description of the French Bulldog

One of the most popular flat-faced dogs is the French Bulldog. It belongs to the fighting breeds, medium-sized and short-haired. His ears are erect, the dog's nose is flat and forked. This is a cheerful and agile animal, with a stable psyche and very reliable, capable of always protecting its owner in case of danger.

In general, each of the above dogs has attractive features of appearance and character, but when choosing a pet, remember that you are responsible for those you tame.