Selected Parameters of Venous Blood Gas Analysis in Brachycephalic Dogs with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome before and after Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Brachycephalic dog breeds, such as Pug, English and French Bulldogs and Boston Terrier belong to a group of breeds characterized by a severe shortening of the muzzle and thus the underlying bones, as well as a more modest shortening and widening of the skull. These breeds are prone to a conformation-related disorder known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Among consequences of the upper airway abnormalities is not only hypoxia, but also redued clearance of carbon dioxide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate selected parameters (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate concentration and base excess) of venous blood gas analysis in brachycephalic dogs with BOAS before and one month after surgical treatment of BOAS. Sixty-two BOAS patients with different severity grades of BOAS were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified as grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 based on the decrease in the radius of the airway at the level of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, and larynx after soft palate surgery. Contrary to our expectations, surgical treatment had no effect on selected venous blood gas parameters in any of the grades of BOAS. However, selected venous blood gas parameters deviated from the normal range before and after surgical treatment, indicating respiratory acidosis in our BOAS patients. Based on the results we may conclude that venous blood gas analysis could help in assessing the health status of brachycephalic dogs with BOAS.