BOAS surgery for flat-faced breeds in Chilliwack
At Promontory Animal Hospital, we perform BOAS surgery for flat-faced breeds — Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs — at our clinic on Thomas Road in Chilliwack. Snoring, snorting and struggling on warm days are often signs of a blocked airway, not just part of the breed, so we examine and treat it here.
What is BOAS surgery for flat-faced dogs?
BOAS surgery treats Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, the narrowed airway common in flat-faced breeds such as Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. It usually widens tight nostrils and shortens an overlong soft palate so air moves more easily. At Promontory Animal Hospital in Chilliwack, our veterinarians perform it in-house.
Signs of bulldog breathing problems
Flat-faced dogs are called brachycephalic, which means short-headed. The short skull leaves less room for the airway, so many of these dogs breathe through a passage that is too narrow. Watch for:
- Loud snoring or snorting, even when awake
- Noisy, effortful breathing after light exercise
- Overheating quickly on warm days
- Gagging, regurgitating or trouble swallowing
- Sleeping sitting up or with the chin propped up
- Tiring fast on walks, or collapsing after exertion
What brachycephalic surgery involves
BOAS is not one problem but several that often appear together. Narrow nostrils, called stenotic nares, pinch the airway at the front. An elongated soft palate, the soft back part of the roof of the mouth, can hang into the throat and partly block it. We aim to open these points during surgery so your dog works less hard for every breath. It is one of the procedures on our pet surgery page that our own veterinarians perform in-house.
Before recommending surgery, our veterinarians examine your dog, listen to the breathing and explain which parts of the airway are involved. Flat-faced dogs need extra care under anaesthesia, so we support every procedure with modern anaesthetic monitoring, comprehensive pain management and attentive recovery care. You receive a written estimate you approve before any procedure begins.
When to talk to us about BOAS surgery
Not every flat-faced dog needs surgery. The answer depends on how much the airway affects daily life: exercise, sleep, eating and coping with heat. We start with an examination, and if your dog is also due for spay or neuter surgery, ask us about doing both at the same visit.
If your dog's gums or tongue turn blue or grey, or your dog is fighting for breath, that is urgent. Call us on 604-991-2745 during opening hours, 8:00am to 8:00pm, seven days a week, and see emergency and urgent care. We are not a 24-hour hospital.
Performed in-house
BOAS surgery is performed by our own veterinarians at our clinic on Thomas Road in Chilliwack.
Does my flat-faced dog need BOAS surgery?
Not every flat-faced dog does. Surgery is considered when a narrowed airway affects breathing, exercise, sleep or heat tolerance. Our veterinarians examine your dog and explain whether surgery would help before anything is decided.
How do I know if my French Bulldog is struggling to breathe?
Watch for loud, effortful breathing, tiring quickly, overheating on mild days, or sleeping sitting up. Blue or grey gums, or collapse, are urgent: call 604-991-2745 right away during our opening hours, 8:00am to 8:00pm.
At what age should BOAS surgery be done?
There is no single right age for every dog. Timing depends on how severe the signs are and on your dog's general health. Our veterinarians talk through timing with you at the examination.
How much does BOAS surgery cost?
We do not publish prices, because the work depends on which parts of the airway are involved. You receive a written estimate you approve before any procedure begins. We accept pet insurance. We provide the invoices and documentation you need to submit your claim.
Book a breathing check for your flat-faced dog
We open in late October and are accepting new clients. Join the waitlist, or call 604-991-2745 to ask about BOAS surgery.
What you can count on
- A written estimate you approve before any procedure begins
- Open 8:00am to 8:00pm, seven days a week
- Accepting new clients, opening late October
- On Thomas Road in Chilliwack, with free parking