Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How collars and harnesses affect eye pressure and breathing in short
By Bailey, Megan E et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Department of Animal and Agriculture, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Effect of a Collar and Harness on Intraocular Pressure and Respiration Rate of Brachycephalic and Dolichocephalic Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that using a collar can increase eye pressure in brachycephalic dogs (like Bulldogs and Pugs) while they are resting and exercising, which could be harmful. In contrast, using a harness did not raise eye pressure for either brachycephalic or dolichocephalic dogs (like Greyhounds) during exercise. Both types of restraint caused an increase in breathing rate for brachycephalic dogs when they were active, but there was no significant difference between the collar and harness. It's important for dog owners to consider using a harness instead of a collar to protect their pet's eye health and breathing during walks.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog collar vs harness · eye pressure in dogs · best harness for Bulldogs · dog breathing problems while walking
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dogs are a popular pet in many countries, and for them to gain appropriate exercise, many owners opt to walk them on a leash. Despite health and welfare concerns, brachycephalic breeds remain common as pets, with limited research existing that investigates the best restraint type for these animals. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test the effect of a collar and harness during stationary and exercise conditions on the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) and respiration rate (RR) of brachycephalic and dolichocephalic dogs. METHODS: A total of 24 healthy dogs, both brachycephalic and dolichocephalic, were recruited for the study and underwent stationary and exercise conditions in two restraint types in a within-between-subjects design. IOP was measured by rebound tonometry, and RR was measured using clinical and visual methods by the same experimenter. RESULTS: Just wearing a collar in a stationary condition increased IOP in brachycephalic dogs (p < 0.05) but not in dolichocephalic dogs (p > 0.05). Exercising in a collar increased IOP for both groups of dogs (p < 0.05), whereas exercising in a harness did not affect IOP for either group (p > 0.05). RR increased in exercise conditions for both restraint types in brachycephalic dogs (p < 0.05), with no difference between collar and harness (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that collars may elevate IOP during exercise for all dogs and also during stationary conditions for brachycephalic breeds. Owners need to be conscious of the most appropriate restraint for their dog to avoid deleterious effects on IOP and RR.
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/40294112/