Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for sleep breathing problems in dogs
By Niinikoski, Iida et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that brachycephalic dogs, like Bulldogs and Pugs, are at a higher risk for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which can disrupt their sleep. Factors such as having a flat face, being overweight, and having moderate to severe signs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) were linked to worse breathing problems during sleep. While aging didn’t seem to be a significant factor, maintaining a healthy weight and managing BOAS symptoms can help improve sleep quality for these breeds. If your brachycephalic dog is having trouble breathing at night, it’s important to talk to your vet about these risks and possible treatments.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog sleep problems · Bulldog breathing issues · Pug weight management · sleep apnea in dogs · treating BOAS in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Brachycephalic dogs display sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The risk factors for SDB remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for SDB. We hypothesized that brachycephaly, increasing severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), excess weight, and aging predispose to SDB. ANIMALS: Sixty-three privately owned pet dogs were prospectively recruited: 28 brachycephalic and 35 normocephalic (mesaticephalic or dolicocephalic) dogs. METHODS: Prospective observational cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. Recording with the neckband was done over 1 night at each dog's home. The primary outcome measure was the obstructive respiratory event index (OREI). Body condition score (BCS) was assessed, and BOAS severity was graded for brachycephalic dogs. RESULTS: Brachycephaly was a significant risk factor for high OREI value (ratio of the geometric means 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2-9.9; P < .001) but aging was not (1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2; P = .2). Excess weight, defined as a BCS of over 5/9, (3.5, 95% CI 1.8-6.7; P < .001) was a significant risk factor. In brachycephalic dogs, BOAS-positive class (moderate or severe BOAS signs) was a significant risk factor (2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.6; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Brachycephaly decreases welfare in a multitude of ways, including disrupting sleep. Brachycephaly, increasing severity of BOAS and excess weight are risk factors for obstructive SDB.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38358051/