Meet "West".
This beautiful 5 month old French Bulldog was born with classic "brachycephalic breed" airway defects: His nostrils were tight and narrow, his soft palate was excessively long and "meaty", and his wind pipe (trachea) had a very narrow diameter.
Since dogs thermoregulate (control body temperature) by panting, West would have been at very high risk for heat stroke throughout his life.
The good news is that I surgically corrected his nostrils and his soft palate last week at the same time that I neutered him.
He did great! Check out his nice open post surgery nostrils! And, that excess chunky soft palate tissue was definitely better in the garbage than hanging in the back of his throat blocking the opening to his wind pipe. I just talked with Mom and she says he is doing fantastic!
I love doing airway corrective surgeries... they definitely provide me with a feeling of "instant gratification".
If you have a bulldog breed, please consult with your veterinarian (or better yet me or one of my wonderful doctors) about airway corrective surgery. It's never "too late", right up until your pet collapses or dies from heat stroke.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kimberly Daffner
Family Pet Clinic of Redondo Beach - Soft Tissue Surgery
(310) 376-0072