Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to measure tracheal narrowing in French bulldogs
By du Preez, Marina et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2024·Small Animal Specialist Hospital Adelaide, Australia·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Evaluation of measurements for tracheal hypoplasia in French bulldogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 139 French bulldogs was studied to better understand tracheal hypoplasia, a condition where the trachea (windpipe) is narrower than normal, which can cause breathing problems. Many of these dogs showed signs of respiratory issues, and the researchers found that a significant number had tracheal measurements below the established healthy ranges. This study aimed to provide clearer guidelines for diagnosing tracheal hypoplasia specifically in French bulldogs, as previous measurements were based on other bulldog breeds. The findings suggest that French bulldogs may have different normal values compared to other breeds, which can help veterinarians better assess and treat breathing problems in these dogs.
People also search for: French bulldog breathing problems · tracheal hypoplasia in dogs · French bulldog airway issues · brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome treatment
Abstract
Tracheal narrowing may increase airflow resistance, resulting in clinical manifestations associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). When diagnosing tracheal hypoplasia, established values are based on measurements established for English bulldogs or non-specific "bulldog" breeds. The objective of this study was to investigate tracheal diameter ratios in French bulldogs to gain a better understanding of what would constitute tracheal hypoplasia in this breed. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted to measure the right lateral thoracic radiographs of 139 French bulldogs to investigate tracheal diameter ratios. Pulmonary disease was observed in 55/139 dogs. The mean TD:Ti for healthy French bulldogs was 0.15 (±0.02), and the mean TD:ML was 0.32 (±0.07). 44/84 dogs had a TD:Ti < 0.15 (±0.02), and 37/65 dogs had a TD:ML < 0.32 (±0.07). At least one thoracic vertebral anomaly was observed in 131/139 of evaluated French bulldogs, and sternal malformations were observed in 42/139 dogs. TD:ML showed an excellent interclass correlation between observers (ICC0.9562). The listed covariables were compared for statistical significance when measuring relative tracheal ratios, and none were found. There was a statistically significant relationship between TD:Ti and sex. An objective value for tracheal hypoplasia in French bulldogs has previously not been established. The mean TD:Ti described for French bulldogs in this study is higher than that previously described in other "bulldog" populations. The mean TD:ML is similar to previously reported for non-brachycephalic and non-bulldog brachycephalic small breed dogs. The correlative relationship between TD:Ti and TD:ML was statistically significant but weak.
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/39344787/