Yoda, a 2-year-old mischievous little French Bulldog, who came into SASH Tuggerah for a consultation with our Specialist Surgeon, Dr Stephen Fearnside. Little Yoda had been snoring, having episodes of regurgitation/reflux, exercise fatigue from stertorous respiration, but not causing exercise intolerance – all symptoms we can commonly see in brachycephalic breeds. The term brachycephalic means ‘shortened head’ and refers to the short nose and flat face of dogs such as; pugs, cavaliers, beagles, boxers, English, Aussie and of course, French bulldogs.
Yoda was diagnosed with BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) due to his narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate and excessive tissue within his airways, which were likely the cause of his snoring, regurgitation and exercise fatigue. Airway surgery for Yoda’s BOAS was recommended by the wonderful Dr Fearnside, which meant that, whilst Yoda will never be cured of his BOAS – surgery to open his airways would certainly benefit his quality of life in the long term.
It was a no brainer for Yoda’s owners, who recognised that whilst his snoring was cute, it wasn’t sustainable long term, and that surgery was the best option for him to improve his long life ahead.
In trusting SASH with Yoda’s care, his surgery was successfully performed and Yoda is living his best life – his first time smelling the flowers in the garden was a heartfelt moment for his fur mama.
