Have you ever heard of brachycephalic races? Or the brachycephalic dog syndrome? Currently there are many dogs that suffer from various he alth problems due precisely to this condition, which also generates certain consequences in their day to day life, such as not being allowed to fly by plane, due to the high risk that this entails. Do you want to know what the brachycephalic breeds are?
Next, on our site we will show you a complete list of the 11 brachycephalic dog breeds and we will also explain the care they require. Take note and discover in this article if your dog is also a brachycephalic and what you should take into account in his day to day.
What are brachycephalic dogs? What causes this feature?
The word brachycephalic comes from the Greek and is divided into two terms: "brachi" (brakhys) which means "short" and "cephalus" (képhalos) which means "head". According to the RAE [1], this adjective refers to people who have a almost round skull, the same characteristic used to define certain dog breeds.
These dogs, due to their anatomy, are susceptible to brachycephalic dog syndrome, which leads to respiratory problems and even obstruction of the airways, thus causing noisy breathing and even collapsing. Other characteristics of brachycephalic dog breeds are:
- The soft palate, elongated and fleshy.
- Narrow nostrils with changes in the larynx.
- A small windpipe.
You can obtain more information about tracheal collapse in dogs: its symptoms and treatment in this other post that we recommend.
Why does brachycephalic dog syndrome occur?
Currently we can find more than 300 dog breeds around the world, most of them meeting a strict morphological standard that indicates how their anatomy should be. The origin of all this is eugenics, the study and application of biological laws in breeding, with the aim of creating "perfect" or standardized breeds. This has led to an ever-increasing exaggeration of the attributes of certain races, which has ended up causing very serious he alth problems.
Below we will show you a list of the 11 most popular breeds of brachycephalic dogs and we will finish by offering you a small guide so that you know the care they require.
Don't hesitate to consult this section of our site where we expose All dog breeds: names, photos and characteristics.
English bulldog
The first dog on our list to show brachycephaly is the English bulldog. It is a dog very characterized by its crab-like gait, full of strength and stability. In addition, his face is flattened and he has many wrinkles, something that needs to be checked and cleaned regularly as they can generate skin infections
Check this other article about the most common diseases in English bulldogs or the complete file of the English Bulldog, here.
Boston terrier
The second dog with brachycephaly is the Boston terrier, a breed of dog native to the United States. These brachycephalic dogs are very social and easy to train. Physically it has a very small but compact body, with hard and square features. What differentiates him from the bulldog is that does not have wrinkles It is worth mentioning that his limbs must always be in proportion to his body size.
Check the complete file of the Boston terrier on our site.
French Bulldog
Brachycephaly also occurs in the French bulldog, a docile and affectionate dog. It is a dog that originated in England, but it was in France where it gained popularity, until it was established as a breed at the end of the 19th century.
It is small in size and reaches a maximum height of 30 centimeters. In addition, it is a molossian and muscular dog, with a compact and strong body. A curiosity of the French bulldog is that it has " bat ears", with a larger ear pinna.
Don't hesitate to read the complete file on the French Bulldog on our site.
Pekingese
The Pekingese is another of the dogs with brachycephaly. It is a derivation of the woolly dogs of Tibet and although it is a guard dog, the Pekingese can respond with barks or growls in the presence of strangers around it. One of the peculiarities of the Pekingese is that is longer than it is tall, in addition to having fairly short legs.
We leave you the complete file of The Pekingese dog so you can learn more about this brachycephalic dog.
Pug or Pug
It is commonly said that the pug is "much in little". In other words, it is a big dog in a small body. They have a very affectionate and social attitude, since they tend to be very playful with all the people who are part of their lives. Like the previous dogs with brachycephaly, the pug has a head without cracks in the skull, a large round head and wrinkled skin
We recommend that you read this other article on our site about pug or pug dog care.
Lhasa apso
Originating in the city of Lhassa, in Tibet, the lhasa apso is a dog that stands out for its long hair that can obtain, as it prevents you from losing heat from your body and allows you to cope with low temperatures. In fact, it has 2 layers of hair that offer the above advantages. Its height is around 25 and 28 centimeters approximately and, although it is very small, it is not considered a miniature dog.
We leave you more information about the Lhasa apso, here.
Shar pei
Symbol of the second Chinese dynasty in 206 BC, the Han dynasty, the Shar Pei dog is a breed of brachiocephalic dog that, according to public opinion, provides energy and love. There are now two lines of the breed, the American and the traditional, but both have the characteristic wrinkles that make them so popular. These wrinkles represent aging and longevity, a highly important Chinese trait.
Shih Tzu
Like other dog breeds mentioned in this article, the Shih Tzu is a dog of Tibetan origin. According to history, the Asians were in charge of giving them the best care so that they looked like living carpets. In addition, they were considered guard dogs The translation of their Chinese name means "lion dog", as they were bred to resemble this wild animal.
Don't hesitate to read this article with the Differences between Pekingese and Shih Tzu so you can learn more about these breeds.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a dog with brachycephaly of small size and an active attitude. It is worth mentioning that they are great friends with children and other dogs, so they are very sociable and close to those around them. Its weight is between 6 and 8 kilos and it has a maximum height of 33 centimeters.
Take a look at this fact sheet on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Another brachycephalic breed is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which originated in England as a result of a cross between the English bulldog and the terrier. At first these brachycephalic animals were used for fights, but over the years these types of events were banned. It is considered a potentially dangerous breed of dog for having powerful physical characteristics: a deep chest, a compact trunk and a strong jaw, among other things.
We leave you the file on the Staffordshire bull terrier so you can read more about him.
Boxer
The last of the brachycephalic animals is the boxer. It is a breed of German dog of the Molossian type, like the French bulldog. Males are usually larger than females in size and weight. It has a heavy head with a very pronounced jaw. In fact, the lower jaw is prognathic. Unfortunately these dogs suffer aesthetic modifications to their tails and ears, although in many European countries this practice has already been banned.
Discover more about the Boxer and the Types of Boxer dogs, here.
Care and considerations for a dog suffering from brachycephalic syndrome
Dogs suffering from this syndrome can suffer from a wide range of he alth problems While some will only have difficulty breathing, others will show easy breathing noisy, nausea, coughing, fainting, and even episodes of collapse. Everyone generally has poor exercise tolerance and, in the long term, often experiences heart problems
Here are some details to keep in mind if you have a brachycephalic dog:
- Heat: Rising temperatures are very dangerous for these breeds, as they increase panting (a system for maintaining body temperature).) and, as a consequence, generates greater narrowing and swelling of the airways, also causing anxiety and stress. It can also cause heat stroke. See more information about heat stroke in dogs: symptoms, what to do and treatment, in this other article on our site that we recommend.
- Exercise: Exercising these dogs can be especially dangerous, especially when combined with heat.
- Feeding: Most breeds suffering from brachycephalic dog syndrome have trouble coordinating swallowing during feedings, as they have certain breathing difficulties. This also causes air ingestion or aspiration pneumonia, also causing vomiting and retching.
- Overweight: Being overweight undoubtedly favors an increase in the dog's body temperature, as well as more difficulty moving and exercising, aggravating thus the symptoms exposed.
Finally, it is important to highlight that these dogs, due to their flattened snout and the he alth problems they experience, run a greater risk when traveling, as well as before sedation, by the use of anesthesiaIt's also not easy to find muzzles that fit well with your anatomy.
In any case, if we suspect that our dog suffers from brachycephalic dog syndrome or that he experiences any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, we recommend visit the vetto assess possible treatments to apply or specific care depending on the individual.
