Glottic and skull indices in canine brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome

Abstract

Background: Forty dogs presented for brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome with laryngeal collapse not over 1st degree (saccule eversion) underwent glottis endoscopic and radiographic skull measurements before surgery. Fifteen Pugs, fifteen French and ten English Bulldogs were included. The goals were prospectively to compare three common brachycephalic breeds for anatomical differences regarding glottis and skull measurements, and to assess if any correlation between glottis and skull measurements was present. Linear measurements were used to obtain glottis and skull indices. Correlations between glottis and skull indices and glottic measurements were evaluated. Finally, glottis indices were compared among the three breeds. Results: No correlation was found for glottis and skull indices. The glottic index differed among the three breeds (smaller in Pugs and higher in English Bulldogs), ultimately representing a morphologic indicator of the different larynx shape in the three breeds (more rounded in English Bulldogs, more elliptical in Pugs and in-between in French Bulldogs). Conclusions: The lack of correlation between skull/glottic indices does not support skull morphology as predictor of glottic morphology. As Pugs had the lowest glottic index, it may be speculated that Pugs' original narrow glottic width may predispose to further progressive respiratory deterioration more easily than in the other two breeds.

Complications following laryngeal sacculectomy in brachycephalic dogs

“…Severity of laryngeal abnormalities, rima glottis size and chondromalacia vary between breeds; for instance, pugs have narrower, oval‐shaped larynges compared to French bulldogs (Caccamo et al . ). It could be hypothesised that the narrower the rima glottis is, the more detrimental any further swelling would be.…”

MRI features of presumed normal palatine tonsils in dogs

“…) or enlarged (Caccamo et al . ) in several publications. However, this might be not directly related to tonsillar size itself but rather because of the smaller size of the tonsillar crypt in brachycephalic dogs.…”

The impact of tongue dimension on air volume in brachycephalic dogs

“…Although the large tongue of brachycephalic dogs is readily appreciable by oral examination, it has been noted uncommonly and inconsistently in the peer‐reviewed literature, and, when mentioned, it is typically unreferenced or cited as an earlier anecdotal observation . Possibly because of the lack of robust documentation, macroglossia is not listed as a feature of brachycephalism in many major veterinary texts, so awareness of it may be low in the veterinary profession .…”