Brachycephalic, or our “smooshed-face” breeds, such as Boston Terriers and Bulldogs, often have anatomic abnormalities which make breathing more difficult. Excessive tissue of the soft palate (the tissue that extends off the roof of the mouth toward the airway) often makes breathing noisy and difficult for these breeds, especially when excited or exerting themselves. Careful removal of this tissue provides the dog with a clearer passage for the flow of air while breathing.
These same breeds, and others, are often born with stenotic nares, or very narrowed nostrils. This narrowing makes breathing more difficult and can make the dog’s breathing very noisy. Removal of excessive tissue in the nares makes a world of difference for the patient’s ability to breathe comfortably.
Narrowed nostrils called “stenotic nares” and surgical correction by Dr. Britton Bradberry.