Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Comparing tongue size and fat in brachycephalic and mesaticephalic
By Song, Ava et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2023·Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: CT volumetric analysis permits comparison of tongue size and tongue fat in different canine brachycephalic and mesaticephalic breeds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that brachycephalic dogs, like Bulldogs and Pugs, often have larger tongues with more fat compared to other breeds, which can lead to breathing problems during sleep. This condition is linked to a syndrome called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), where the shape of their heads makes it hard for them to breathe. The researchers used CT scans to measure tongue size and fat in these dogs, discovering that their increased tongue fat could be a factor in their breathing difficulties. Identifying these issues could help vets plan surgeries to reduce tongue size and improve breathing in affected dogs.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · bulldog sleep apnea · brachycephalic airway syndrome treatment
Abstract
While macroglossia is a newly accepted component of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in dogs, macroglossia with increased tongue fat is a well-known cause for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in people, and targeted reduction procedures such as midline glossectomy are used to treat people with OSA. While midline glossectomy has been described in dogs, tissue contributions to macroglossia have not been characterized. The purpose of this retrospective, descriptive, case-control study was to describe and compare volumetric dimensions of the tongue and tongue fat in brachycephalic (BC) and mesaticephalic (MC) dogs using CT images. Data collected included head and neck CT images from 17 BC and 18 control MC dogs. Multiplanar reformatted and 3D reconstructed images were created using image segmentation and specialized visualization software to calculate volumetric dimensions of the total tongue, tongue fat, and tongue muscle. Rostral and caudal topographical distributions of fat were compared. Total tongue and tongue muscle volume (P < 0.0001) and tongue fat volume (P = 0.01) normalized to body weight (BW) were greater in BC dogs. More fat was localized in the caudal tongue in both groups (P < 0.04). In regression analysis, BC conformation and increased weight were significant predictors of increased tongue fat volume. As in people, increased tongue fat may contribute to macroglossia and sleep-disordered breathing in BC dogs. Use of CT volumetry to identify tongue fat deposits may permit targeted surgical reduction of tongue volume in BC dogs and contribute substantially to treatment of BOAS.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36787184/