BOAS Surgery in Melbourne
BOAS Surgery for Brachycephalic Breeds
What is BOAS Surgery: BOAS surgery (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome surgery) is a corrective procedure designed to improve airflow in flat-faced dogs by widening narrowed nostrils (alarplasty), shortening elongated soft palate tissue (staphylectomy), and removing obstructions that make breathing difficult.
Key Breeds Affected: BOAS most commonly affects brachycephalic breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, English Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, and Shih Tzus although other breeds can be affected. These breeds are prone to airway obstruction due to their shortened skull shape and compact upper airways.
Berwick Clyde Vet Clinic’s Experience with BOAS: At Berwick Clyde Vet Clinic, BOAS surgeries are performed in-house by our experienced veterinary team, ensuring your dog receives continuous care from consultation through to recovery. Our vets have a combined 45 years of experience in soft tissue and airway surgery-a bit misleading can we just say extensive experience, I don’t even know if they have done this procedure in the industry for 45 years, using advanced anaesthetic monitoring and surgical techniques to deliver safe, effective outcomes for brachycephalic dogs.
Understanding BOAS Surgery
The BOAS procedure involves widening the nostrils, shortening the elongated soft palate at the back of the mouth and, where necessary, removing everted laryngeal saccules that obstruct airflow.
The BOAS surgery is individually tailored to your dog’s anatomy and the severity of obstruction identified during our pre-surgical airway assessment. For patients treated early at about 7 months old, prior to development of chronic changes in their respiratory system, sometimes even just widening the nostrils can have a significant positive impact on long term outcomes. The assessment also ensures the most effective outcome for restoring normal breathing in already affected patients.
At Berwick Clyde Vet Clinic, all BOAS surgeries are performed in-house by our skilled veterinary surgeons or specialist surgeons, who have extensive experience in soft tissue and airway procedures. Our team uses modern surgical equipment, advanced anaesthetic monitoring, and strict safety protocols to provide the highest standard of care for every patient.
Is My Dog a Candidate for BOAS Surgery?
Not every brachycephalic dog will require surgery, but many may benefit significantly from early intervention. Many brachycephalic breed dogs, benefit from surgery at about 7 months of age, to prevent or lessen the development of breathing abnormalities. This can be conveniently combined with their desexing procedure if desired and carries much less risk than performing the procedure on a dog already showing altered breathing. However, for older dogs there can still be many benefits to surgical intervention.
Common indicators that surgery is required in older dogs include:
- Persistent snoring or noisy breathing even at rest
- Exercise intolerance or collapsing during play or heat
- Gagging, retching, or regurgitation after activity
- Difficulty sleeping comfortably or resting with the mouth closed
We typically conduct a clinical assessment to grade the severity of the obstruction with the complete airway assessment then being completed under sedation or anaesthesia. Sometimes chest and throat X-rays may also be required. This can be done at the time of corrective surgery. From there, an individual surgical plan can be created to relieve airway resistance and prevent long-term complications.
For pet owners seeking more detailed information about the causes, early signs, and progression of BOAS, you can refer to our comprehensive blog post on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.
What to Expect Before and During Surgery
- Each patient undergoes a comprehensive pre-surgical assessment. This includes an initial consultation to review your dog’s medical history and symptoms, and physical examination. In some cases, blood work and pre-anaesthetic X-rays are recommended to ensure your dog is fit for surgery and to minimise risk.
- Once your dog is ready for their procedure, they will be placed under general anaesthesia and closely monitored using advanced equipment throughout. Most BOAS surgeries take between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on the number and complexity of airway corrections required.
- Following surgery, patients are carefully observed during recovery to ensure they are breathing comfortably before discharge. Most dogs go home the same day. For patients already experiencing moderate to severely altered breathing prior to surgery overnight care may be recommended to allow for an extended monitoring period. We can liaise with specialist centres to provide this.
Our surgical team includes veterinarians with advanced expertise in soft tissue and airway surgery and a commitment to ongoing professional development to maintain the highest standards of care.
Cost of BOAS Surgery at Berwick Clyde Vet Clinic
The cost of BOAS surgery can vary depending on the specific procedures required, such as widening the nostrils, shortening the soft palate, or removing obstructive laryngeal tissue. Each case is unique, and the exact cost will reflect your dog’s breed, airway anatomy, and the complexity of the surgery needed.
As a general guide, complete BOAS surgery at our Berwick Clyde Vet clinic ranges from ~ $2,500 to $4,800 depending on the complexity of the surgery. For patients receiving preventative surgery at the time of desexing this may be significantly less. For example, for stenotic nare widening (alarplasty) done at the time of desexing it may only add an additional ~$400 to the desexing. These prices include anaesthesia, surgical correction, hospital monitoring, and immediate post-operative care.
Many pet insurance policies now provide partial or complete cover for BOAS surgery, depending on your provider and level of cover. Pre-existing conditions or breed exclusions may apply, so we strongly recommend checking your policy terms or speaking directly with your insurer before scheduling surgery. Our team can assist with providing itemised treatment estimates to support insurance claims. If your pet is insured through a company that offers GAP only insurance, we can also send estimates off for pre-approval so you can confidently know ahead of time how much of the surgery will be covered by your insurance provider.
At Berwick Clyde Vet Clinic, detailed estimates are always provided after a pre-surgical assessment, ensuring transparency and allowing owners to make informed decisions about their dog’s treatment plan.
Contact us today for a BOAS surgery quote or to book a consultation with our team.
Book a BOAS Consultation
Early intervention can make a lasting difference for dogs predisposed to breathing difficulties. Addressing BOAS before it progresses helps improve comfort, reduce the risk of heat stress, and extend long-term quality of life.
If your dog is a brachycephalic breed or struggles with snoring, noisy breathing, or exercise intolerance, it may be time for an airway assessment.
You can read more in our comprehensive blog post on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.
Book a BOAS consultation today with our experienced veterinary team to discuss your dog’s symptoms and treatment options.
Useful Links
American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS): The ACVS provides a comprehensive overview of Brachycephalic Syndrome, including a description of the condition and the surgical procedures used to correct it. The website discusses soft palate resection (staphylectomy), stenotic nares correction, and the removal of everted laryngeal saccules. It also highlights the importance of close monitoring post-surgery due to the risk of swelling and airway obstruction.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: This website offers an explanation of BOAS, its clinical signs, and treatment options. It clearly states that for more severe cases, surgical correction is required, which may involve shortening an elongated soft palate. It also mentions the risks associated with anesthesia and the possibility of a temporary tracheostomy.
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: It notes that many brachycephalic dogs, particularly French Bulldogs and Pugs, have both an elongated and a thickened soft palate, and that folded flap palatoplasty has shown remarkable success in relieving sleep apnoea.
Today’s Veterinary Practice: This includes a diagram and further information around an everted laryngeal saccules.