Although dogs such as the pug originated in ancient China and are more than 2,000 years old and the English bulldog has a history in England of more than half a millennium, genetic changes caused by humans have caused the breed to suffer from major disturbances. and have serious health problems during their lifetime.

Changes that occur for the aesthetic pleasure of humans can trigger canine pathology, for which Agribusiness consults with veterinarians to learn about different treatments that can be done with breeds that are predisposed to suffer from brachiocephalic disorders.

Pay attention to the dog’s breathing

Juan Carlos Morales, Veterinarian and professor at the University of Antonio Nariño and specialist in animal clinical laboratories and a master’s degree in veterinary science, explains that, “As a first step, ideally when buying a brachiocephalic is that he does not snore, certain sounds are not heard when he breathes. Over time, the human desire to give some specific racial traits, made the bone system shorten, but not the soft tissue part. The palate begins to fold and causes a partial obstruction at the entrance to the larynx.”

Dogs are inefficient at losing heat and when they sense high temperatures, they use their respiratory system to dissipate excess heat. “If we take into account that this animal is already gagged, it will not lose good heat and will go into caloric shock and possibly death of the patient,” Morales added.

When the breed has brachycephalic problems due to excess soft tissue, mucus production is also high, which will quickly clog the respiratory system and serious problems can occur.

It is important that the holder of this breed of pet observes that the nasal inlet and nostrils are wide enough to allow for excellent ventilation.

“Generally, problems related to breathing, more specifically brachiocephalic syndrome, end in surgery. But it should be borne in mind that, if the operation is performed after the patient is three years old, the symptoms may recur and require subsequent surgery. If it is done before the age of three, it is likely that the animal will not experience the process again and succeed,” he explained.

Patients older than three years whose surgery was unsuccessful should not be exposed to high temperatures, nor should they be stored in very hot climates.

“You have to try not to put them in the cart too much, because inside the temperature rises too much and heat loss is difficult for the dogs and they will end up with total metabolic problems for the patient,” he added.

Skin and eye care

For people, the more wrinkles this pet has, the cuter it looks. The reality is that between the skin folds moisture accumulates and is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

“What is recommended is to do a good cleaning between the wrinkles and, if necessary, to remove them surgically. This cleaning is done with a solution that has an acidic PH and that will be very helpful so that no opportunistic bacteria and fungi will colonize this area,” he explained.

When these patients have excess skin, the eyelids become longer than normal and curve toward the eye causing the eyelashes to scratch the cornea, requiring surgery on the pet.

“Another pathology of these canines is the presence of a ‘cherry eye’ or prolapse of the nictitating membrane gland. Towards the medial canthus of the eye, which is close to the nose, there are eyelids, and in that area there are glands where tears are released and there is red flesh on the medial canthus of the eye. The solution is repositioning,” he explained.

Low back problems and physical activity

For the experts, it is worrying that this pet will come with spina bifida, the last pathology of the lumbar spine, which will prevent the patient from moving and which is genetic. “Because they are so heavy, they can have Hansen type 1 and Hansen type 2 herniated discs or type 1 and type 2 hernias where the intervertebral disc will protrude slightly and put pressure on the spinal cord on the nerve roots and the intervertebral disc may burst, which will cause great damage to the nerves.”

These dogs are often obese, and because they cannot breathe properly, exercise tends to be limited. The alternative can be swimming, so that the exercise is light and not too hot, to stay healthy.

“If you have a dog without breathing problems and have good space in the nostrils, nothing happens, you can do normal exercise and even jogging, However, if he has respiratory problems, it is necessary to limit exercise until the problem is resolved and invite him to swim a little without exceeding 30 minutes a day,” he explained.

It should be borne in mind that, regardless of the breed, veterinarians recommend checking every six months, but if any special characteristics are found, it should be done every two months.